A detective tale in the Raymond Chandler - Dashiell Hammet style.

P.I. Peter Chambers witnesses the murder of Mrs. Rochelle Pratt Curtis in front of the Club Nevada. Shortly before he had been inside enjoying the show and having drinks. He had been approached by a friend who had a friend who needed his service, a Mr. Blair Curtis. Thus starts a tale of intrigue with numerous characters with names like Matty Pineapple, Augie Piazza, Grandma Ed Holly, the beautiful Edith Wilde and more. There are also a few more murders along the way.

Written in 1947, Chambers is one of the wise-cracking, tough talking, woman loving types. He never shows fear and has little hesitation when action is required. He enjoys fine clothes, classy living quarters, good booze and beautiful babes. He is good at what he does and knows it. In his own words; "I was flash. I was ready money. When I had it. I was the guy with plenty of padding in the shoulders of the special made-to-order suits, with stripes, with a suggestion of peg in the trousers, with jackets that had to be long enough for a guy that measured six feet tow. I was the guy that shot crap with the boys and took out the office help, when they were cute. I was the guy for the dames." He is at home with high-hats and the lowlifes and can get his information from both.

The story line is a bit complex and at times it is hard to see the connections between some of the characters. Secret lives, high-end jewellery heists, blackmail, a multiple murderer; everyone seems to have something to hide and Chambers is determined to find out what and if it helps solve the case. With people being unwilling to talk, Chambers has to do a lot of leg work and thinking to come up with the solutions. Yes, there is more than one mystery between the covers of this book. ( )