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Toby Peters #21
A Few Minutes Past Midnight
Book by Kaminsky, Stuart M.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Stuart M. Kaminsky
162 books216 followersStuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.
Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.
His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.
Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.
Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.
Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.
His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.
Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.
Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 1, 2018
A wet man with a knife shows up on the doorstep of Charlie Chaplin and warns him to stop work on the film that would become Monsieur Verdoux and to stay away from Fiona Sullivan or he'll be killed. The problem is that Chaplin has never heard of Ms. Sullivan and he has no intention of stopping work on his film. Enter Toby Peters, Hollywood's favorite P.I. to figure out what is happening with the help of his cadre of friends and associates.
The plot on this one was Byzantine. To be fair, Peters recognizes this in the end by telling the villain he was too clever by far. I wonder if at this point Kaminsky was a bit tired of Peters and was ready to move on. It's not that the book is bad. It was adequate. But the plot, besides being convoluted, really didn't make much sense. The villain started a chain of events that ultimately didn't really need to happen in order for him to meet his goals. I probably would have written this off as the least successful book in a series that really hasn't had much in the way of peaks or valley's but has been largely very entertaining the entire way through. Then I hit the epilogue. And...yeah it was schmaltzy. But I fell for it. It was a lovely piece with Ruth Pevsner and a bit of a rapprochement between Toby and his brother Phil. And that put me in mind of a nice scene earlier in the book between Toby and Alice Butler. Really...for whatever faults the book had, or the series for that matter, Kaminsky has made me care about the cast of characters. And I'm sorry to see I only have three books left to spend with them.
The plot on this one was Byzantine. To be fair, Peters recognizes this in the end by telling the villain he was too clever by far. I wonder if at this point Kaminsky was a bit tired of Peters and was ready to move on. It's not that the book is bad. It was adequate. But the plot, besides being convoluted, really didn't make much sense. The villain started a chain of events that ultimately didn't really need to happen in order for him to meet his goals. I probably would have written this off as the least successful book in a series that really hasn't had much in the way of peaks or valley's but has been largely very entertaining the entire way through. Then I hit the epilogue. And...yeah it was schmaltzy. But I fell for it. It was a lovely piece with Ruth Pevsner and a bit of a rapprochement between Toby and his brother Phil. And that put me in mind of a nice scene earlier in the book between Toby and Alice Butler. Really...for whatever faults the book had, or the series for that matter, Kaminsky has made me care about the cast of characters. And I'm sorry to see I only have three books left to spend with them.
September 24, 2023
The second of these books to feature Charlie Chaplin, although he doesn't make much of an impression. It's more the mystery which carries this one through.
October 2, 2021
Lots of fun. Dialog like an Abbott and Costello movie, characters out of Dickens.
October 25, 2012
Toby Peters, Private Investigator to the stars! And in this case Toby finds himself involved with Charlie Chaplin who is planning a film entitled 'Lady Killer'.
But thereis one man out there who feels that 'Lady Killer' is a bit too near the truth for him to take so he embarks on a project to kill Chaplin.
He has already seen the back of a number of ladies and is after another whose name becomes known to Toby Peters. He sets about trying to find her and also to protect Chaplin.
A roller-coaster ride follows as the pair duck and dive to try and keep out of the way of the killer and also as Peters tries to find the missing lady.
Chaplin goes into hiding, with Mrs Plaut, who calls him Mr Voodoo and won't believe he is Chaplin while Peters enlists the help of his brother, who is a cop, to try to unravel the mystery. Needless to say he eventually does so and there follows a most sympathetic and heart-wrenching ending, which all goes to make the book an enjoyable read.
But thereis one man out there who feels that 'Lady Killer' is a bit too near the truth for him to take so he embarks on a project to kill Chaplin.
He has already seen the back of a number of ladies and is after another whose name becomes known to Toby Peters. He sets about trying to find her and also to protect Chaplin.
A roller-coaster ride follows as the pair duck and dive to try and keep out of the way of the killer and also as Peters tries to find the missing lady.
Chaplin goes into hiding, with Mrs Plaut, who calls him Mr Voodoo and won't believe he is Chaplin while Peters enlists the help of his brother, who is a cop, to try to unravel the mystery. Needless to say he eventually does so and there follows a most sympathetic and heart-wrenching ending, which all goes to make the book an enjoyable read.
August 23, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and hopefully will have a chance to read the entire series over the next year.
March 11, 2026
Stuart M. Kaminsky’s twenty-fourth Toby Peters book shows the author still going strong with this series. I loved that Charlie Chaplin played a large role in this book; Kaminsky demonstrates an understanding both of Chaplin’s personality and his precarious position in America due to his political stance and his sexual mores. The usual supporting characters all get their moment to shine, the mystery is compelling and the pace is brisk. Just like a Chaplin film, this book will break your heart at the end. The author deftly mixes humor and pathos in a memorable installment in the series.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 1, 2020
The last peters book I loved due to Kaminsky's writing of W.C. Fields. This one was just a good story and good writing. Again i could hear Chaplin in the writing of dialogue.
This entry is also better due to less focus of side characters and weird dream sequences. Still a bit too much of poems and presentation of an amateur writers, though this latter folded in well with the Chaplin story this time. Settings were better written and characters are excellent.
I also love the ending.
Bottom line: I recommend this book: 8 out of ten points.
This entry is also better due to less focus of side characters and weird dream sequences. Still a bit too much of poems and presentation of an amateur writers, though this latter folded in well with the Chaplin story this time. Settings were better written and characters are excellent.
I also love the ending.
Bottom line: I recommend this book: 8 out of ten points.
June 24, 2021
Not my favorite Toby Peters book. I'd read the W.C. Fields book just before this one, and that one might be my favorite of the whole series. So this one, about Charlie Chaplin, had a lot to measure up to, and couldn't pull it off. It's still fun, though. Mr. Kaminsky's Toby Peters character is a hoot, and I have a lot of affection for him. The only element I don't care for is Toby's near-stalking of his ex-wife.
June 12, 2019
I've enjoyed reading all of this series! The main character of a Private Investigator in 1940's LA, so every book he has a celebrity client. In this case it is Charlie Chaplin. Kaminsky shows he has great deal of film history knowledge. He has also created an interesting cast of supporting characters to help to the PI with his mysteries. It's fun, fast read.
June 25, 2019
There he goes again. Kaminsky makes me laugh. In this episode Toby's client is Charlie Chaplin who is portrayed as a controversial celebrity because of his comments about World War II. Always a light read but with interesting interpersonal dynamics, Kaminsky's crime drama is more like a three ring circus.
February 28, 2022
Kaminsky’s Toby Peters books were all good fun. Kaminsky manages to weave real historical facts about the Hollywood legends he includes in his mysteries. The books are perfect entertainment for movie buffs. This one gives Chaplin the inspiration for his black comedy Monsieur Verdoux.
December 8, 2024
I frankly found this little mystery not very gripping. The addition of Charlie Chaplain
to the cast of characters probably kept me at the book, otherwise I may have laid it aside. I just didn’t ever get engaged with any of the characters.
to the cast of characters probably kept me at the book, otherwise I may have laid it aside. I just didn’t ever get engaged with any of the characters.
April 17, 2019
Really splendid time period and characters that have you trying not to pee from laughter.
November 17, 2019
4.5 best one yet , I think!! it's been so many years since I started this series and do enjoy them all!
February 2, 2021
One of Kaminsky's best!
May 23, 2021
Quite an enjoyable noir. Having Chaplin and other celebrities show up in the pages adds to the fun of this series. Not necessarily classic, but well written and a story to keep your interest.
July 13, 2024
O vip deste volume é Charlie Chaplin e o nosso herói magoa-se novamente.
Não me canso do fino humor do autor , faltam apenas 3 para acabar a série, sem me ter sentido aborrecida em nenhum momento.
Não me canso do fino humor do autor , faltam apenas 3 para acabar a série, sem me ter sentido aborrecida em nenhum momento.
January 11, 2026
I must be one of the few cinephiles who's not a fan of Chaplin's. Here, though, I loved him. The ending made me nearly tear up. This series is wonderful!
July 11, 2014
One of the weaker efforts in the Toby Peters' series. Also,sometimes the discrepancies evident from book to book are annoying. The Faraday (Farraday) building where Peters' office is located. Is the building 4,6 or 8 stories high? Is his office on the on the top floor or one floor below?
Just how tall is Gunther Wherthman?...3 feet,just below 4 feet or in between?
Mrs. Plaut's boarding house: Do the rental rooms have locks or don't they? and does Toby's room have a bed and mattress or just a mattress? Mrs. Plaut's husband's (The Mister) car which sits in the garage: What is the model and year? How many languages is Gunther proficient in? 4,6,8 or 12? Does he have a car or doesn't he?
Of course there more of the same and I'm probably being a bit anal here. Still, you would think the editor(s) would notice and fix these inconsistencies at some point.
Despite these proverbial bumps in the road I really enjoy this series as well as the Inspector Rostnikov and "Rabbi" Abe Lieberman series.Kaminsky is an adept stylist and his plotting is very good.
It's a shame he passed away in 2009. He will be missed.
Just how tall is Gunther Wherthman?...3 feet,just below 4 feet or in between?
Mrs. Plaut's boarding house: Do the rental rooms have locks or don't they? and does Toby's room have a bed and mattress or just a mattress? Mrs. Plaut's husband's (The Mister) car which sits in the garage: What is the model and year? How many languages is Gunther proficient in? 4,6,8 or 12? Does he have a car or doesn't he?
Of course there more of the same and I'm probably being a bit anal here. Still, you would think the editor(s) would notice and fix these inconsistencies at some point.
Despite these proverbial bumps in the road I really enjoy this series as well as the Inspector Rostnikov and "Rabbi" Abe Lieberman series.Kaminsky is an adept stylist and his plotting is very good.
It's a shame he passed away in 2009. He will be missed.
February 23, 2024
Re-read.
Charlie Chaplin's being threatened. It's Toby and friends to the rescue!
I am surprised by the frequent oddities that make it seem like Kaminsky's never read this series, before. Outside Toby's office is an empty lot, when it's always been a brick wall of an alley. Anita has already been established as someone Mrs. Plaut knows, but she meets her, today. A few more. Makes me wonder if this was an older story that didn't get published, originally? Weird, either way.
Same adventure, mystery, and convoluted plans by criminal "masterminds". Fun.
Charlie Chaplin's being threatened. It's Toby and friends to the rescue!
I am surprised by the frequent oddities that make it seem like Kaminsky's never read this series, before. Outside Toby's office is an empty lot, when it's always been a brick wall of an alley. Anita has already been established as someone Mrs. Plaut knows, but she meets her, today. A few more. Makes me wonder if this was an older story that didn't get published, originally? Weird, either way.
Same adventure, mystery, and convoluted plans by criminal "masterminds". Fun.
April 16, 2016
Toby Peters is back! The battered detective who specializes in cases involving the movie industry gets a call from Charlie Chaplin, who has been threatened by an unknown man. Investigation indicates that the man is a serial killer, afraid that Chaplin's new movie will expose his methods. But Peters digs deeper and finds that first impressions may be wrong. Fans will be glad to get back to wartime Los Angeles, but there's a sadness in this one that weighs down the usual merriment in Kaminsky's books.
February 10, 2015
Another entertaining story from Stuart Kaminsky. The characters are as quirky as ever and the humor makes me want to read excerpts aloud to my family. This Toby Peters story brings a good mystery embedded in a comedy of errors and misfits-- all with big hearts and plenty of laughs. I look forward to more Kaminsky novels, especially the Abe Lieberman or Toby Peters series.
November 8, 2009
Excellent; Continuing character: Toby Peters; a serial killer appears to be after Charile Chaplin and Toby and his pals come to the rescue
September 8, 2015
I'm constantly amazed at all the details the author puts in. He must do an incredible amount of research.
June 30, 2009
Toby Peters w/ Charlie Chaplin
January 9, 2016
The plot is not orderly, but the rambles are fun.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews