He Done Her Wrong

Toby Peters, Book 8

By: Stuart M. Kaminsky

Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby

You can't trust a man who's dressed as Mae West, especially not in Mae West's house. One of Hollywood's earliest sex symbols, the whip-smart blonde's star has fallen since the Hays Code cracked down on the racy repartee that made her famous. Her latest project is a thinly veiled autobiographical novel, whose only copy is stolen just after she finishes her first draft.

Tonight she's having a Mae West party, with every guest a man dressed as her. The thief is among those in drag, and P.I. Toby Peters has come to tear off his wig. He's there as a favor to his brother, a brutal cop who had a fling with West when she first moved to Hollywood. But this is more than a theft. The crook wants to destroy Mae West, and he has murder on his mind.

©1983 Stuart Kaminsky (P)2013 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Shades of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. If you think Stuart Kaminsky doesn't have a feeling for the best of both authors, you are in for a surprise." ( San Diego Union-Tribune)

Unfortunate reader

Unfortunately Mr Bowlby seems not to understand the joy/humor of the series. His voices are OK not brilliant. His narrator, Toby, is monotonous and too hard boiled. Compared to the sterling narrations of Jim Meskimen, he is disappointing

Lack of understanding Kaminsky’s Humor

This occurs a lot with audio versions of PI stories. First person narrative is character, and Bowlby’s interpretation is far too “tough guy hard boiled,” missing much of Kaminsky’s (and Toby’s humor). Mae West impersonation notwithstanding the story is read too straight. This isn’t helped by this being one of Kaminsky’s weakest of the series — Toby’s mistakes are epically stupid in this one. Not the best of the series, but as always, enjoyable in the main.