MYSTERY

Alive!: A Valentino Mystery

by Loren D. Estleman
Forge: Tor. Apr. 2013. 284p. ISBN 9780765333315. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466800649. M
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Actor Craig Hunter's life was on a downward trajectory that ended with his death from a beating in a San Diego bar. Valentino, among the last of his friends, feels guilty for ignoring Craig's final pleas for help. The deceased's ex-wife feels guilty too, but she might have a hidden agenda: it turns out that Craig had unearthed the legendary missing film reels of Bela Lugosi's horrible audition for Frankenstein. A rare find brings out the worst in collectors, and Valentino has trouble narrowing down which one crossed the ethical line. His formidable suspect list includes a mob boss, an elitist collector, and that ex-wife. Valentino's sleuthing resources may be limited, but his graduate assistant is a steampunk devotee, and his posse assists in a memorable showdown.
VERDICT The UCLA-based film detective series, now at number three (after Alone) packs an impressive amount of film history into a tidy amateur sleuth entry. Leisurely paced and impressively researched, this is just the ticket for film buffs. [See Prepub Alert, 11/04/12.]
Reviewed by Teresa L. Jacobsen , Mar 01, 2013
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