Killed in the Fog: A Matt Cobb Mystery [Hardcover]

William L. Deandrea (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Matt Cobb mystery | Publication Date: November 1996

Matt Cobb's job as vice-president of special projects is a strange one. All of the network's problems end up on his desk. Over the past few years, these problems have included everything from dealing with murder and mayhem to making sure that the right person is picked up at the right time by the right car. After years of dealing with this as well as with the eccentric and arrogant personalities that only the world of network television could produce, Matt Cobb has had it. He's decided to call it quits. Unfortunately, Tom Falzet, president of the network, simply can't allow one of his key associates to leave - at least not permanently. Especially since, in addition to all the work he does, Matt also happens to be engaged to one of the network's principal stockholders. So, by way of compromise, Matt is convinced to take an extended leave of absence. He, the beautiful Roxanne, and their dog Spot pack their bags and move to a splendid house in London where Matt seems sure to be able to escape the pressures and tensions of big-time media security. But for Matt, life is never that easy. And, of course, his plans for a life of leisure go out the window. First the executives of TVStrato, a London network affiliate, assume that Matt's been sent across the pond to keep an eye on them during a time of great change. That means they greet him with all the enthusiasm that the Brits have always showed invaders. Once they realize that Matt is not there to spy on them, they decide that maybe he can help solve some of their security problems. Lady Pamela Arking, the president of TVStrato, asks Cobb to take care of just one simple matter (for old times' sake). His mission: to deliver an envelope to anassociate outside of the local Planet Hollywood. However, seconds after Cobb makes the delivery, shots ring out and Cobb finds himself in jail for murder. And with no support from the locals, it's a race against time for Cobb to clear his name. It's a race so tense and dangerous th

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Implausible from the outset, Matt Cobb's latest outing (after Killed in the Ratings) is laden with too many sour notes for the kind of natural warmth this series has previously generated. Matt, the house detective for an American TV giant known as the Network, flees the odious charms of the media biz for a vacation in England with his beloved Roxanne, who has overcome an early life of drug addiction to become wealthy and beautiful and cloyingly besotted with Matt, who loves her nearly as much as he loves himself. Matt does a favor for Lady Pam Arking, the head of a European TV network: he hands over a package?then watches the man to whom he delivered it die. Then he runs afoul of the London coppers and gets accused of the murder. DeAndrea's fixation on all things terribly English wears thin. He's not as bang up to date as he should be (e.g., new books are now discounted in England) and turns elitist and/or stridently anti-French at the drop of a hat. The actual crime stuff about phony schools offering courses that guarantee foreigners easy entry visas carries as much wallop as a glass of warm beer. Nothing works quite right, from mousy femmes fatales to the bizarre fact that Matt, after a few short weeks in London, knows more worthless local facts than could be accumulated in a lifetime spent within the sound of the Bow Bells.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For his eighth sleuthing adventure, New York TV network exec Matt Cobb, burned out from his previous case, takes off with his rich near-fiancee for a refreshing breather in London. Seemingly on vacation himself, DeAndrea (Killed in Fringe Time, LJ 11/1/95) sets up his multimurder plot in fine style, with plenty of British color, but opts for a ho-hum denouement, perhaps signaling, unfortunately, like Lilian Jackson Braun's mini-industry "Cat Who" books, that his series is becoming driven by characters rather than story. Pleasant but disappointing.?David Bartholomew, NYPL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 222 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1ST edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068483054X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684830544
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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