Backlot Requiem: A Rick Walker Mystery [Hardcover]

G.E. Nordell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2005

When a long-buried corpse is unearthed at the National Pictures Studio in Los Angeles, private investigator Rick Walker is called in to solve the thirty-year-old murder case.

The white-haired chairman of the studio steps forward and commands everyone’s attention. The cheerful executives jockey for position and the photographers take a few casual practice shots. The muslin cover is removed from the sign and flash-bulbs pop as the studio chairman announces future construction on this site—formerly Old Western Street—of a state-of-the-art film laboratory, to be the biggest and most advanced in Hollywood. The bystanders clap politely. The ceremonial shovel is handed to the chairman, and the photographers move around for better angles. The chairman sinks the long-handled shovel into the dark, soft earth and flash-bulbs pop again. The studio president takes his turn with the shovel. He is followed by a nervous dowager who struggles to lift a shovelful of earth from the deepening hole, then dumps it next to the growing pile of dirt. A large, gray-white object tumbles into the sunlight and the woman drops the shovel and screams. The reporters and photographers scramble forward to record the sudden turn of events.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Move over Raymond Chandler, G.E. Nordell's Rick Walker, P.I. has taken center stage. -- Mensa Bulletin, July 2006 (reviewer Tom Elliott)

From the Inside Flap

Rick Walker is a successful private investigator with a penchant for the Hollywood jazz scene. When a decayed corpse is discovered at National Pictures Studios during a groundbreaking ceremony, Walker is called in to help identify the victim before the situation gets out of hand.

As the studio attempts to keep the discovery under wraps, Walker tracks down the clues. Hired thugs kidnap Walker, opening up a variety of issues directly related to the seemingly-forgotten murder. From blackmail threats to mesmerizing women, Walker has his hands full.
When the main suspects in the original thirty-year-old crime start to die off, Walker races to finish his search before everyone who knows the truth is eliminated. The investigation leads to thrilling revelations about a dying film director and his wild daughters, a legendary film star of the silent film era – and a very discreet love affair. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 156 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595670687
• ISBN-13: 978-0595670680
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)