KILLED IN FRINGE TIME: A Matt Cobb Mystery [Hardcover]

William Deandrea (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 1995

Matt Cobb, TV network vice president in change of special programming, finds himself lethally involved in a new mystery when his network's most popular talk-show host is suddenly murdered. By the author of Killed in the Ratings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As v-p in charge of special projects at a fictional television network in New York City, Matt Cobb is used to handling delicate egos and tricky situations. In this instance, Matt, whose job security is reinforced by his romantic relationship with the network's leading shareholder, must ease the paranoia of talk-show host Richard Bentyne, who has an old lover, a new lover, a hit show and morbid delusions on a grand scale. But Bentyne's delusions prove well-founded when he is fatally poisoned just before Clement Bates, a famous, wealthy eccentric whom no one but Bentyne has seen for 35 years, is due to appear on his show. Cobb often cracks wise and is frequently very funny; the suspect pool is more than deep enough; and the solution, tying up more murder and assorted motives, manages to play fair on all counts. The fringe time of the title is apparently media-speak for the period after the late news and before the morning news and chat shows, and in DeAndrea's able hands, it's a very scary place.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Series protagonist Matt Cobb, a vice president for a New York-based television network, tries to control Richard Bentyne, the network's expensive new talk-show host. Bentyne's successful but offensive mix of rude, crude, and "cool" annoys some guests and co-workers. Therefore, it is not surprising when someone kills him. Because he is on the inside track at the network, Cobb investigates with the help of the NYPD's Lieutenant Martin. Recommended.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (November 2, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684814986
• ISBN-13: 978-0684814988
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,789,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fast-paced, well-done, and very funny--4.5*s, August 13, 2007

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KILLED IN FRINGE TIME: A Matt Cobb Mystery (Hardcover)

It's pretty rare for me to laugh out loud reading a book, esp. a mystery novel--but that's what I did--time and again--with this book. I've read DeAndrea's fine "Hog Murders" with his other protagonist, professor Bennedetti. This was my first Matt Cobb series--I plan to read more. Most of the funny parts were in context--difficult to repeat here. But, I liked some of his observations--p. 16: "In order to be truly hip, you've got to spend a lot of money on really useless things." Also liked his reference to Sue Grafton--p. 229: "Kinsey Milhone could not have said it better." The tone of the book reminds me of Lawrence Block's burglar series, but it's even funnier. The mystery is good and the author plays fair with the reader too. I did figure out part of it, but there's an interesting twist at the end regarding motive. Enjoy! I intend to read more DeAndrea soon.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book in classic mystery tradition, May 12, 1999

By 

Bob Carrico (Irvine, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KILLED IN FRINGE TIME: A Matt Cobb Mystery (Hardcover)

Very cleverly constructed fair-play detective novel; reminded me of some of Ellery Queen's best. And DeAndrea has a talent for constructing engaging, appealing characters.