Alone

Starred review from October 26, 2009
Shamus-winner Estleman's captivating second mystery to feature L.A. film detective Valentino (after 2008's Frames
) focuses on legendary screen actress Greta Garbo. In 2005, Matthew Rankin, an elderly department store mogul whose late wife was a close friend of Garbo's, hosts a party honoring the 100th anniversary of Garbo's birth at his Beverly Hills mansion. During the party, Rankin offers to donate a copy of a rare promotional film that Garbo made when she was a salesgirl in Sweden, How Not to Dress
, to the UCLA Film Preservation Department if Valentino will dig up dirt on Roger Akers, the tycoon's assistant, who's been blackmailing him. A few days later, Valentino walks into Rankin's study to find the mogul holding a smoking gun and Akers lying dead in front of his desk. Rankin claims he shot Akers in self-defense. Is Rankin telling the truth? Readers will eagerly turn the pages to learn the answer.

You'll want to share this delightful Hollywood romp with others. This is the second Estleman book featuring Valentino, an erstwhile film archivist who always seems to stumble into a good mystery. This time Valentino attends an event celebrating the 100th birthday of Greta Garbo (who died in 1990). There the host tells Valentino he's being blackmailed by an aide, who is then found dead in a room with the host literally holding the smoking gun. The story's a lot of fun, and William Dufris gives the lighthearted performance you'd expect. He makes the listener chuckle at all the goings-on right along with him. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine