Occasionally I will make a note to myself to find and read a
certain book, usually because it relates to some research I'm
doing or because it deals with a subject I find interesting,
or, as is often the case on rara-avis, it comes highly
recommended in a genre I love.
A year or so ago, I found one of these notes to myself that
had lain around forgotten for some time. I could not at all
remember why I had made the note, but I did recall that I had
done so with some enthusiasm. All the note said was: "She
Died On the Stairway" by Knight Rhoades.
I put it onto my want list at www.abebooks.com and it finally
showed up a couple of months ago. I purchased it and was
delighted to see that it was a lovely little PBO with a gaudy
late-Forties cover (delectable dame lying somewhat the worse
for wear on a staircase).
Now I've read it. It was pretty awful, a cozy, old-dark-house
mystery disguised as a hardboiled. Nothing to recommend it,
even to cozy fans. Except:
It features a San Francisco homicide dick who keeps his
suspects distracted and off-balance by doing magic tricks
during his interrogations. One of his interrogees actually
recognizes the methodology and cries out suddenly,
"Wait a minute. You're not the-- the Sleight-of-Hand Cop, are
you?" "Yep, that's me," replies our hero.
As wacky as this is, it isn't implemented often or well
enough to make the book worth reading, even for a laugh. But
it reminded me of a friend who performs in a sketch comedy
company. He has a character called Magic Cop, who pulls
people over for fun and makes their drivers licenses
disappear, etc. "Let me ask you, sir, have I ever pulled you
over before?" Pretty funny routine. Lots funnier than this
book.
After this long-winded lead-in, I have a question. I can't
remember, even after reading the book, why on earth I ever
made note of it to seek out. I've not heard of the author,
Knight Rhoades, before, and nothing about the story seemed
noteworthy, either in execution or subject matter. I do a lot
of research into the source material for movies and
television shows, but I can't recall any connection between
this novel and any film or show I've ever heard of. Does
anyone have any knowledge of either the author or the book?
Rhoades writes like he wants to be a hardboiled writer, but
can't quite give up the Nick and Nora fans. (His cop's wife
accompanies him on the case, and she's written like a
bargain-basement Myrna Loy.)
Any input would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Jim Beaver
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