The Girls in the High Heeled Shoes

Alexander Brass #2

by Michael Kurland

It is 1935 and America remains in the depths of the Great Depression - Benny Goodman is the "King of Swing," Senator Huey Long was just assassinated, and Joe Louis has just beaten Primo Carnera in the boxing ring. To millions of Americans, Alexander Brass, newspaper columnist and radio personality, is the voice of Manhattan nightlife, and they rely on him for the latest gossip about the stars and the beautiful people, the gangsters and the lowlifes, who make up the scene. While researching his column at the latest hot spot, Alexander Brass learns that Two-Headed Mary, a renowned and beloved grifter who works the Broadway theaters, is missing and that her friends on the Street are worried. Brass runs a short item in his column about her disappearance and shortly thereafter he finds himself in the midst of a full-scale mystery. Not only does Mary's disappearance seem tied to the disappearance of an ex-chorus girl cum Broadway box-office ticket taker, but Brass learns that someone else out there is far too interested in Mary's whereabouts.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

aka Jennifer Plum

Michael Kurland has written many non-fiction books on a vast array of topics, including How to Solve a Murder, as well as many novels. Twice a finalist for the Edgar Award (once for The Infernal Device) given by the Mystery Writers of America, Kurland is perhaps best known for his novels about Professor Moriarty. He lives in Petaluma, California.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is New York in 1935 and while much of the continent is suffering from the Depression there is still a layer of people with jobs that actually pay well. Alexander Brass is a syndicated entertainment columnist with the New York World and his two assistants are Gloria Adams and Morgan Dewitt. People talk to Brass about all sorts of things and he has a clear policy of not talking about those things which shouldn't be mentioned and using careful phrasing about things that should be discussed. When Two Headed Mary disappears from the theatre scene it is a matter of concern so Brass mentions it in his column, although he calls her Matinee Mary in order to protect the guilty. This mention is just the beginning of a twisting tale of multiple names, vague origins, con artists, and murderers. It gallops along at a fine clip, tossing off famous names and musicals at every turn. I liked the feel for the time Kurland provides - two years after the end of Prohibition and everyone holding onto whatever job they have with desperation in case the boss decides he has to cut back on staff. Even Dewitt holds his tongue a few times because he doesn't want to annoy "the boss".
An interesting suggestion about drinking was that people had done it because it was illegal and therefor risky and daring. Now that it is legal again there isn't the thrill there had been so perhaps there won't be so many out drinking. On the other hand, night clubs and drinking had become so much an accepted part of life that it may just carry on. Exactly what people are saying about cannabis now.

[Farris Alloush · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girls in the High Heeled Shoes is a mystery novel set in depression era New York. It follows Alexander Brass, a journalist and popular radio sensation who investigates the strange disappearance of Two-Headed Mary, a popular Broadway swindler. Brass realizes there's someone sinister who's behind her disappearance and thus begins his investigation.

What this novel lacks is figurative Lagrange but it more than makes up for it for with descriptive writing. Kurland's descriptive writing really makes the reader feel like they're in mid 1930s New York, fully immersing the reader. The author makes sure to describe each scene in vivid detail, as though they were with Alexander Brass himself.

Kurland further immerses the reader by leaving subtle clues as to who may have been behind Mary's disappearance, in a sense making the reader feel like a detective as well. The reader pieces together clues in an attempt to figure out who the culprit is, just like the novel's protagonist.

Kurland also makes allusions to social issues we face today. One example would be of how alcohol is portrayed in the book. In the book, alcohol was seen as something cool to do because it was daring to drink due to it being illegal. However after it became legalized, alcohol lost its flair and was not so exciting anymore. This is clearly an allusion to cannabis in today's society. Before cannabis was legalized in California, it was very prevalent in pop culture and was thought to be cool by many. However, after cannabis was legalized, it lost its flair, just like how alcohol was portrayed in the novel.

In conclusion, this is a great novel for readers who want to get into the mystery genre. Although it lacked figurative language and the culprit was somewhat predictable, it's still a fun read and I would recommend it.

[F. P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgot to review this right after reading, but wanted to get a few impressions down...

Fun period piece. Quick to enter, easy to follow. You will probably identify the culprit fairly soon, but that is not too damaging. Characters are lively, colourful cast of supporting characters, too.

Light, entertaining, mostly well-paced. Would try another in the Brass series. Great sumer front porch reading...

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of the same characters as TOO SOON DEAD (previous review). This story – again narrated by the “amanuensis” to Alexander Brass, a “life style columnist” for the Daily World, focuses more on the lives of the people working on Broadway than did his previous book. (I had to look up amanuensis – means basically a person’s right hand helper who keeps track of everything and does errands.) One of the girls who had been a chorus girl (called chorines in the book) was moved to the ticket office and disappeared with two days ticket money. Also disappeared was Two-headed Mary, a well-dressed lady who collected donations for children in front of the theaters. Everyone knew Mary was a con-artist, but she was beloved on Broadway. Mary was a soft touch for the chorines and often gave them a bit of money to tied them over a really rough spot. Soon two other chorines were found murdered. What was going on? --- Not quite as much snappy dialogue as the previous book, but a lot of interesting characters!!

[GREGORY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not read the first book of the series first, but started with the 2nd one. I bought it at a library book sale and the book cover and time period (1930's) looked and sounded interesting. I have never heard of Michael Kurland and don't know if that says something about me or Mr Kurland. I didn't find the story/mystery very interesting, but made it through. Unfortunately, I found "The Girls In The High-Heeled Shoes" to be very underwhelming and would not recommend this book. Sorry MK.

[Sarah Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging mystery which shows depression era New York City from the point of view of a journalist (and would-be writer) involved with the theater. The “whodunnit” is that of the variety of which you couldn’t possibly have predicted the villain, who is unfairly sprung on you, but the book is still entertaining.

[Florita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1930s, I thought I would not like it but the story was good and there were great lines in the book that make me laugh out loud. Love the one-liners. Definitely going to look for other books by this author.

[Victoria Grusing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than the first one.

[Michelle L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. Light, sophisticated and ironic in the vein of 1930s classics. Shades of Nero & Archie, The Thin Man and Damon Runyon. Almost hard to tell from a genuine comedic period piece.

[Bruce Lahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Held

The book grabbed me and held me to the end. Never suspected anyone and then just enjoyed the romp. The local color of the thirties shown through.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun historical whodunit featuring journalist/reporter Alexander Brass anf his two assistants Morgan Dewitt and Gloria Adams. The case this time is the body ofa young woman found strangled and two sets of clothes belonging. The case was fun to follow. It was great.

[Jas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting unique plot sequence. Was kinda slow read for me, but enjoyed it.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girls in the High-Heeled Shoes is the second stand alone novel to feature Brass, Morgan and Gloria. I hadn't read the first book or any of the series featuring Professor Moriarty but I plan to do so very soon.
Morgan is a trusted employee of Brass alongside Gloria and Garrett. He is a struggling novelist who relies on his tact and wit to stay in employment. He isn't a New Yorker and doesn't understand the Broadway slang. So he is initially very confused when the team are asked to look into the disappearance of 'Two Headed Mary' and whether it is linked to the disappearance of Billie Trask and the murder of Lydia Laurant. Luckily Brass understood, and offered to help. They found that people were more willing to talk to them rather than the police.
I loved the humour throughout the novel, there are some cracking one liners, mainly from Morgan when he is describing the people of New York. The names of the characters as well, 'Pearly' Gates is just one of many. It's also very descriptive, I could imagine New York in the 1930s, recovering from the depression and prohibition. The theatre district and the bars/diners all feature strongly along with the people connected to both.
I loved this book, the author combines crime and humour very well.

I am very grateful to Titan Books for sending me this book to review, and to the introduction to an author I had never read before.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good but not great story set in New York and Broadway of the post prohibition 1930s. The main character is a columnist that solves crimes in his spare time. The story is told via the eyes of his young assistant who is learning about New York and hopes to write a novel some day. He does a lot of legwork for his boss-- so we are ‘close to the action but I didn’t get much of a feel for how the bosses brain worked that let him solve crimes.

[Cyn McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. The mystery is fair to the reader -- all the clues are there in plain sight, if you know how to see them. Set in the 1930s in New York City, and centered around the glittering scene of Broadway. Alexander Brass seems to know everyone and everything, which is fitting for a columnist on a major paper. Morgan DeWitt, his assistant and the narrator, reminds me a bit of Archie Goodwin.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars. Fun read. Takes you back to New York in the 20s ; in the days of Dorothy Parker and Walter Winchell; fedoras and trench-coats. Some very smart, witty dialog to go along with the sleuthing.
Solidly written characters and mystery.

[Peter Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun romp from the era of hardboiled gumshoes

The invented scenes with members of the Algonquin Round Table May have been a trifle overdone. The puns were amusing, the characters straight out of New York in the 1930s. An enjoyable detective story.

[milkt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot twist could have been delivered even better. Because the element surprise was there but it was meh. Because it made the whole detective work in the beginning feels lowkey useless and i was getting pumped up for nuffin. But its a good book wont read it again though

[Wordsandmovingpictures · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would say this is just ok. Its not bad but not particularly good either. Not a fan