Customer Reviews

The Naked Detective

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

when i heard laurence shames had a new book out- i made haste to get it. I had read all of his previous books and loved them for their quick diologue and original and diverse characters. i assumed Naked Detective would have more of the same- and discovered it had none of that- the entire book has about 4 characters- and with the exception of a cap driver/tennis bum- all are totally bland and forgetable. It seems like mr shames rushed this one off the fullfill a publishing contract- it is a very very slow moving book- with main characters who are wooden and artificial- it is hard to believe that the same man who created "bert the shirt" could paint in such tiresome colors. I sincerely pray this will be the only shames book with pete amsterdam- but like another Lawrence- Sanders- i fear once an auther has sucess- and an easy tiresome formula- IE- the McNally books- they never are able to recapture their past glory- To me this book is a cop-out- a quickie which tricks mr shames loyal readers into thinking they are in store for more of the wonderful same- yet to get though this book is a real trial..it is that boring and humdrum

At about the time of its publication I perused a copy of Florida Straits, Laurence Shames first novel, and was struck by the author's vivid description of garbage accumulating on a New York City street corner. I read the book and became a fan. Mine is the perspective of one who has read each of Laurence Shames' novels in the order by which they were written. All of them are very good, but some are better than others. The Naked Detective is some of Shames best writing yet.

The formula for the author's eighth novel is familiar Shames: colorful Key West denizens reluctantly or unwittingly drawn into a zany plot involving farcical criminal capers, with overtures of lust and ever present danger. This book -- as the others -- are simply fun to read. This plot is slightly less farcical than we have come to expect, but the prose, as always, is wonderfully refreshing.

The Naked Detective is somewhat novel for its style, it is the first book Shames has written in the first person, but it showcases his splendid writing skills wonderfully. Shames' descriptive techniques are superlative; spirited dialogues come alive with vibrant descriptions of body gestures, posture and (his specialty) hand movements. And of course there is the ever present artfully drawn tapestry of Key West.

A slight disappointment is that there are no cameo appearances by now familiar characters, such as Joey Goldman or Burt the Shirt, nor are any ailing pets woven into the story line (I hope the chihuahua is still alive), but several new characters are introduced and fans can only hope that one day they will all meet at a Key West sunset cocktail party in a forthcoming Shames story.

Although I read voraciously (154 books this year so far) and check out Amazon's editorial and customer reviews on an almost daily basis, this is the first time I've been motivated to write a review. This is the most disappointing book I've read in years, most likely because I was excited about a new book by Shames. His early works are among my favorites, with offbeat characters and laugh-out-loud moments. I hate to kick an author when he's down but, sad to say, this one's as dead as the rodents Pete Amsterdam finds in his hot tub. Skip this, and read his other books.

The name's Amsterdam. Pete Amsterdam. A tough no-nonsense Key West private eye solving cases with style and ease like a modern day Philip Marlow. Yeah, right. A wacky caper that could only have been dreamed up by Laurence Shames, The Naked Detective is the story of a reluctant gumshoe who would rather be drinking wine naked in his hot tub instead of trying to solve a puzzling murder mystery.

Pete Amsterdam never wanted to be a private eye. He only opened Southernmost Detection on the advice from his accountant. A write-off. A legitimate tax dodge. Butt naked in his hot tub, Pete is approached by a woman (who turns out to be a man) looking to hire a detective. Amsterdam declines to take the case and the next day, the would-be client turns up dead on Sunset Key. Coincidence? Pete decides to investigate and find out for himself. The results are both amusing and intriguing. A fast moving mystery that will keep you guessing whodunit up until the very end.

Laurence Shames has a knack for making the reader feel like he's in the middle of the action. It's not as good as some of his previous books, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I am anxiously waiting for the day when he writes a Key West novel featuring all of his memorable characters (Charlie Pont, Bert the Shirt, Ziggy Maxx, Tommy Tarpon, Arty Magnus, Joey Goldman, Sukie Sperakis, etc.) Wouldn't that be a hoot?

This is a very weak book by a writer who knows better. I laughed out loud at Shames' first novel, and chuckled at the second and third. Now, by the time THE NAKED DETECTIVE has rolled around, he's out of jokes and ideas. It should be said that the first-person detective tale is not something every writer can pull off - and the first-person detective novel with humor is very dicey - especially when Rober Parker is out there for comparison. But Shames didn't even seem to try with this one. And despite the promo push the publisher is giving it, I'd recommend you stay away.

As a licensed private detective, he can carry a gun, but has no plans to use his "profession" except as a tax dodge. When Pete Amsterdam came into some money, he retired to a small Key West cabin. He plays a lot of tennis and rides a bicycle. When he wanted to install a wine cellar in his home, his accountant suggested Pete advertise as a shamus so he can claim a deduction for an "office."

While Pete relaxes in his hot tub in the buff, a woman approaches him to beg him to help her. Pete refuses, but the woman strips to reveal she is a male, Kenny Lukens, who allegedly killed himself some years ago. Apparently, Kenny stole two satchels containing money belonging to his boss, but one of the bags held something else. Kenny vanished when his boss threatened to kill him. With his boss dying, Kenny wants to regain the satchels, but Pete still says no. Kenny dies in an attempt to secure the two bags. Kenny's friend Maggie visits Pete next. Although he tries to stay out of sleuthing, Pete ends up in the middle of alligators.

Imagine Woody Allen starring as Jim Rockford and you will understand the satirical essence of the NAKED DETECTIVE. The anti-hero is a delightful odd duck. He behaves valiantly even as his gut pleads with him to remain mellower than Major Bummer by staying out of the mess. Additionally, Laurence Shames paints an inviting picture of Key West. Readers who enjoy a reluctant sleuth tale will receive much pleasure from this tale and want more stories starring Pistol Pete.

Harriet Klausner

OK, so this author is no Carl Hiaasen (as the blurbs on the book jacket might lead you to believe). But this book serves its purpose: one that entertains for a while, but will disappear from your memory within a week. The main character is likeable enough, the major female character is sort of annoying and you'll end up wishing the tennis bum/cab driver made more appearances. This is a good book to borrow from the library.

The Naked Detective is a decent book to read if you have never read any previous books by Laurence Shames. If you are a follower of LS (as I am), this book is marginal at best. The characters just seemed to exist. I never fell in love with any other them, except for the tennis playing cab driver. The first chapter or two was written in his usual entertaining style, but then something went very wrong. Laurence Shames seemed to disappear. I hope that "The Naked Detective" is not a preview for his future works. I will patiently await LS's next book in the hope that he will once again write as brilliantly as he did in his other books.

Larry Shames' hilarious, knowing new Key West mystery appropriately starts in a hot tub where 47-year-old Pete Amsterdam is enjoying his early retirement from up north. He's devoted to tennis, music, good wine--and taking it easy.

Oddly enough, he's also technically a PI--but that's only something he got into as a very complicated and slightly preposterous tax dodge. He doesn't ever take on clients, though, until a sultry blonde drags him into a case after he rejects her plea for help and she's murdered.

As the plot thickens, Amsterdam is soon worrying that he helped kill a mob boss, and facing death threats. Amsterdam's wry voice is confident but human; the story zips along; and the Key West setting is as lustrous and colorful as the book's seductive heroine.

Shames is a terrific writer with real heart and this loving spoof of PI novels is funny, suspenseful, romantic and wise, a book made for dreamers.

I read "The Naked Detective" because it was recommended by Amazon.com. under crime fiction books. The author apparently has written other crime fiction books which were well-received. This one is sort of hard to believe. His characters are not well enough fleshed out to be believable. His love of music and wine are apparent, but in Key West? The plot itself is forced and the premise that anyone this laid back and self absorbed could be a credible PI is hard to believe. I would pass on this book.