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Alter Ego
Mystery writer Brendan Monroe is tormented by the fear that his flamboyant fictional detective P. I. Roy Barron has come to life. Is the author losing his mind? Or is someone making it seem that way? When Barron is found dead, Sergeant Dan Valentine of the Santa Monica police focuses his investigation on the local chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, where he faces the fascinating challenge of trying to trap a murderer whose profession is devising diabolical plots.
- GenresMystery
188 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
Elizabeth Linington
59 books5 followersLinington wrote under several monikers, including Anne Blaisdell, Lesley Egan, Egan O'Neill and Dell Shannon.
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921–April 5, 1988) was a prolific American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 tome, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
She was born in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois; and died on April 5, 1988 in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California. During much of her career she was represented by literary agent Barthold Fles.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages.
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921–April 5, 1988) was a prolific American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 tome, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
She was born in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois; and died on April 5, 1988 in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California. During much of her career she was represented by literary agent Barthold Fles.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 6, 2011
From the book flap: Mystery Writer Brendan Monroe is in torment--he's afraid that his flamboyant fictional detective P.I. Roy Barron has come to life!
It began, Monroe explains to Sergeant Dan Valentine of the Santa Monica police, when different items belonging to Barron--his grey monogrammed homburg, a pack of Pall Malls, his Colt .357--mysteriously started to appear. Worse yet, Monroe is finding corrections penciled onto his latest manuscript...in Barron's looping scrawl. Is the author losing his mind--or is someone attempting to make it seem that way?
When Barron is found dead, Valentine focuses his investigation on the local chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, where he faces the fascinating challenge of trying to trap a murderer whose profession is devising diabolical plots.
My take: An interesting plot and twist on the mystery story. Not the best written, but kept my interest to the end. Didn't figure out the why although I was pretty sure about the who about mid-way through.
It began, Monroe explains to Sergeant Dan Valentine of the Santa Monica police, when different items belonging to Barron--his grey monogrammed homburg, a pack of Pall Malls, his Colt .357--mysteriously started to appear. Worse yet, Monroe is finding corrections penciled onto his latest manuscript...in Barron's looping scrawl. Is the author losing his mind--or is someone attempting to make it seem that way?
When Barron is found dead, Valentine focuses his investigation on the local chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, where he faces the fascinating challenge of trying to trap a murderer whose profession is devising diabolical plots.
My take: An interesting plot and twist on the mystery story. Not the best written, but kept my interest to the end. Didn't figure out the why although I was pretty sure about the who about mid-way through.
Displaying 1 of 1 review