Death Likes it Hot [Paperback]

Edgar Box (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1964

In Death Likes it Hot, dashing P.R. man Peter Sargeant travels out to a posh beach community to help a wealthy socialite plan an end-of-summer party. His enjoyment of the sun, the surf, and the company of a lovely young fashion reporter is interrupted by the death of the socialite's niece: she mysteriously drowns while swimming on a crowded beach. No one suspects murder until the police find a lethal dose of sleeping pills in her system. As Sargeant watches the police's investigation unfold, he keeps an eye on the grieving socialite; the victim's famous painter husband; a suspiciously cheery brother and sister; and a garrulous tabloid columnist. Now, instead of planning guest lists, wine choices, and menus, Sargeant is faced with a killer unlike he's ever faced: highly sophisticated, devilishly clever, and just as smooth as he is.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A first-rate comedy of manners" —Anthony Boucher, Los Angeles Times

“The case of the missing author is over.  Gore Vidal has emerged from behind the facade of Edgar Box.” —The New Republic --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Gore Vidal is the author of twenty-three novels, five plays, two memoirs, numerous screenplays and short stories, and well over two hundred essays. His United States: Essays, 1952–1992 received the National Book Award. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Signet; Mass Market Paperback edition (1964)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451014847
• ISBN-13: 978-0451014849
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Missing Gore Vidal, November 4, 2011

By 

Author James - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death Likes It Hot (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) (Paperback)

The book was recommended to me by the artist of the book's cover, Evan Gaffney. He knows my passion for this genre of fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and read it quickly.... shoot. I thought it was very well done, visual and offered a great finish. You can smell the sea salt as you are ready...

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific amateur sleuth, April 10, 2011

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Likes It Hot (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) (Paperback)

Wealthy socialite Mrs. Veering hires Manhattan based public relations specialist man Peter Sargeant II to announce her end of summer gala. Peter leaves Manhattan via the Long Island Cannon Ball Express for the posh North Dunes of Easthampton on a job he looks forward to performing as a summer escape from the heat of the city.

He enjoys sunning and playing in the surf especially with Harper's Bazaar fashion reporter Liz Bessemer. However, his fun in the sun ends when his client's niece Mildred Brexton dies while swimming near a crowded beach in what everyone assumes is a horrific accident. When the police find an overdose of sleeping pills in Mildred's stomach, they believe she committed suicide but do not rule out homicide. While the cops investigate, Peter watches the reactions of family members of the victim to include his client, the victim's cramp spouse, and her two siblings. He knows the predator is debonair, intelligent and sophisticated.

This is a terrific amateur sleuth supported by an amusing clash of the classes; mindful of the movie Laura. Fast-paced with a wicked and timely lampooning of the New York upper crust, Death Likes It Hot is a fabulous tale from the moment Sargeant and Veering meet and never slows down while he observes the rich and famous go about their lives as if a death is tea time.

Harriet Klausner