This week I read three stories from Valentino: Film Detective by Loren D. Estleman, published by Crippen & Landru in 2011. The collection contains 14 short stories, all starring Valentino. He is no relation to the actor, Rudolph Valentino, but he does look like him and is constantly getting comments noting that resemblance. All of the stories in this book were originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine between 1998 and 2010.
On Estleman's website, Valentino is described as "a film detective for UCLA who inadvertently becomes an amateur sleuth."
The first story I read, "Dark Lady Down," was a bit of a disappointment. It was one of the shorter stories, and it is solved too quickly. But the next two stories in the book were very good so I have high expectations for the rest of the stories.
In "The Frankenstein Footage" Valentino gets a call from an old friend, Craig Hunter, who is in San Diego. He assumes he is asking for money as usual and hangs up on him. The next morning two homicide detectives from San Diego come to see him. Craig Hunter was murdered the previous night, beaten to death. He answers their questions. After they leave he does some investigating on his own.
In "Director's Cut" Valentino is trying to complete the Film Preservation Department's collection of Justin Ring's films. He is seeking a copy of the director's student film. The director insists that he burned every print and the negative years before. Months later Justin Ring's motor craft is lost at sea. Eight years later Ring's nephew shows up with a copy. This one got a bit confusing for me but it was interesting and entertaining.
The stories are told with humor, and Estleman reveals his love of movies and deep knowledge of film history.
Loren D. Estleman is a very prolific and well-known author who has been publishing novels since 1976. He has published seven mystery novels starring Valentino since 2008. He is also the author of the Amos Walker series, the Peter Macklin series, and many standalone novels, including many Western novels. He lives in Michigan.
Indeed, something of a Detroit specialist in CF. And usually at very least amusing in his fiction...I missed this one, so thanks for the pointer!
ReplyDeleteAs you mention, Estleman is a very prolific writer. I have read dozens of his books, but have dozens waiting to be read on my shelves. Valentino: Film Detective is one of those books I haven't read yet, but I'll move it up in the Read Real Soon stack. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read these stories, Tracy, but Loren Estleman has talent, so I'm not surprised you liked two of the three stories so much. I hope you enjoy the rest!
ReplyDeleteCompletely new to me but he is amazing.
ReplyDeleteTodd, so far most of what I have read by Estleman is humorous, but I haven't read that much by him. I have some of his books to read soonish, though.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, Estleman is a prolific writer but I have read only one of his novels, the first in the Amos Walker series. I need to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I haven't read much by Estleman, but I know he has a good reputation so I am planning to read more by him.
ReplyDeletePatti, I was surprised to find that we had this book of short stories since 2015, nearly 10 years. I have books in the Peter Macklin series, the Amos Walker series, and the Detroit series that I have not read.
ReplyDeleteA film detective who becomes a sleuth? ... quite a premise & combo. I have not heard of these. I look forward to hearing more about the stories and Estleman.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I suppose it makes sense that someone who has to track old, possibly lost, film footage would also be good at deduction in other areas. Amateur sleuths are not my favorites but it really depends on the author to make them believable and worth reading about.
ReplyDeleteI will be reading the first novel in the Valentino series sometime this year, I hope.
Not heard of either the author or character. But love the cover of this book. Will search for a book by this author.
ReplyDeleteNeer, I will be interested to see what you find by this author. I haven't read much of his writing at all, but he has written a lot. Most of his mysteries are based in Detroit, Michigan and he has several mystery series. He also wrote Westerns. I have only read one book in the Amos Walker (private investigator) series, but I also am interested in his Detroit series.
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