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thatmeddlingkid's review against another edition
5.0
The fact I read it was a total fluke (I got it in a book exchange in a MWR in Iraq the last day I was there). It totally hooked me and I read it in a couple of hours. It's a very hard book to find so I consider myself lucky to have read it once. It was fantastic! I came back and ebayed a copy right away. The only bad thing about this series is they stopped publishing it and finding all the books is difficult, I can't say if reading them in order is really important since I've only read the first one, but I bet if you read any of them before the first one you just won't get the right feel for the character at all.
boleary30's review against another edition
3.0
I read them out of order, but I suggest you read this one first, if you like it, the rest are pretty much the same formula and you will enjoy them all
tombradleyjr's review against another edition
3.0
I purchased this book to get a feel for different writers and their styles, particularly in the mystery/detective genre. In addition, the cover art lured me in, as well as the fact it was the first in author Parnell Hall’s series about a reluctant gumshoe named Stanley Hastings.
The novel introduces us to Hastings, a licensed private detective who for some reason continually reminds us he does not consider himself a real private detective. I’m not sure why the author beat this drum throughout Hastings' first-person narrative, unless it was to underscore Hastings’ blatantly acute inferiority complex. A writer and former actor, Hasting now works for an ambulance-chasing law firm; the scenes describing this aspect of his PI career are well done, as the reader gains an insight into what it’s like for the ground troops in the personal injury wars to meet with clients and follow-up on their claims. From that standpoint, Hastings’ career choice seems rather monotonous, even though he has a loving wife and a young child to distract him. Until he meets a man who wishes to report a murder: his own.
At this point, I expected the novel to take off and keep me riveted. And while it was interesting and Hastings eventually does put the pieces together to determine whodunit, it seemed as if the author dragged things out a bit too much—with the aforementioned descriptions of his day-to-day work interfering with what could have been a crackling story.
Ultimately, while readable, this novel didn’t quite live up to my hopes and expectations. Perhaps subsequent Stanley Hastings adventures do, so I plan to read more of Mr. Hall’s work to see how his creation progresses as a private eye who doesn’t quite believe he’s a private eye. Maybe one day he will convince himself he is one.
The novel introduces us to Hastings, a licensed private detective who for some reason continually reminds us he does not consider himself a real private detective. I’m not sure why the author beat this drum throughout Hastings' first-person narrative, unless it was to underscore Hastings’ blatantly acute inferiority complex. A writer and former actor, Hasting now works for an ambulance-chasing law firm; the scenes describing this aspect of his PI career are well done, as the reader gains an insight into what it’s like for the ground troops in the personal injury wars to meet with clients and follow-up on their claims. From that standpoint, Hastings’ career choice seems rather monotonous, even though he has a loving wife and a young child to distract him. Until he meets a man who wishes to report a murder: his own.
At this point, I expected the novel to take off and keep me riveted. And while it was interesting and Hastings eventually does put the pieces together to determine whodunit, it seemed as if the author dragged things out a bit too much—with the aforementioned descriptions of his day-to-day work interfering with what could have been a crackling story.
Ultimately, while readable, this novel didn’t quite live up to my hopes and expectations. Perhaps subsequent Stanley Hastings adventures do, so I plan to read more of Mr. Hall’s work to see how his creation progresses as a private eye who doesn’t quite believe he’s a private eye. Maybe one day he will convince himself he is one.
plantbirdwoman's review
3.0
Failed actor, failed writer Stanley Hastings finds himself inexplicably in a role that he never anticipated playing or writing about - private detective. But the truth is, he isn't a REAL private detective, even though he possesses a license that says he is and and office with "Private Detective" on the door. What he really is is an ambulance chaser for a lawyer who specializes in personal injury lawsuits. Stanley goes out to interview the potential client and signs them up to be represented by his boss. He is really the most pathetic excuse for a P.I.
But Martin Albrecht doesn't know that when he sees Stanley's office with its "Private Detective" sign. He walks in and tries to hire Stanley for a real case in which he would serve as a bodyguard because Mr. Albrecht believes someone is trying to kill him. Stanley turns him away, but, sadly, Albrecht's suspicions were spot on. The next day Stanley reads in the newspaper that Albrecht has been murdered.
Guilt over the fact that he had refused to help the murdered man leads Stanley to resolve that he will, in fact, be a real detective - at least long enough to solve the mystery of his would-be client's murder. Little does he know that his investigation will lead him into the world of drug deals and mob operations in Miami and New York, a world that he is completely unprepared to navigate.
Still, even though he admits to being a coward, Stanley doggedly pursues his prey and begins to learn on the job what it is like to be a detective. Maybe this is a role he can play after all.
This 1988 publication was the first in what is now a long series of Stanley Hastings mysteries by Parnell Hall and it has some of the weaknesses of many first novels. The plot meanders around a bit, and we learn far too much about navigating the streets and highways of New York City and New Jersey. Stanley's wife and five-year-old son are tangential characters who seem like ghosts. The focus is all on Stanley, which is okay except that it doesn't really allow for much development of the other characters, some of whom we are simply told about but never actually meet.
The tone of the book is light and humorous. Stanley reminds us on several occasions that he is no Sam Spade. He doesn't own a gun. In fact, guns make him very uncomfortable.
Although he's something of a goofball, Stanley is a likable enough sort of guy and the story shows promise. I think it will probably be worth following to see where the series takes him.
But Martin Albrecht doesn't know that when he sees Stanley's office with its "Private Detective" sign. He walks in and tries to hire Stanley for a real case in which he would serve as a bodyguard because Mr. Albrecht believes someone is trying to kill him. Stanley turns him away, but, sadly, Albrecht's suspicions were spot on. The next day Stanley reads in the newspaper that Albrecht has been murdered.
Guilt over the fact that he had refused to help the murdered man leads Stanley to resolve that he will, in fact, be a real detective - at least long enough to solve the mystery of his would-be client's murder. Little does he know that his investigation will lead him into the world of drug deals and mob operations in Miami and New York, a world that he is completely unprepared to navigate.
Still, even though he admits to being a coward, Stanley doggedly pursues his prey and begins to learn on the job what it is like to be a detective. Maybe this is a role he can play after all.
This 1988 publication was the first in what is now a long series of Stanley Hastings mysteries by Parnell Hall and it has some of the weaknesses of many first novels. The plot meanders around a bit, and we learn far too much about navigating the streets and highways of New York City and New Jersey. Stanley's wife and five-year-old son are tangential characters who seem like ghosts. The focus is all on Stanley, which is okay except that it doesn't really allow for much development of the other characters, some of whom we are simply told about but never actually meet.
The tone of the book is light and humorous. Stanley reminds us on several occasions that he is no Sam Spade. He doesn't own a gun. In fact, guns make him very uncomfortable.
Although he's something of a goofball, Stanley is a likable enough sort of guy and the story shows promise. I think it will probably be worth following to see where the series takes him.
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