Oops!: A Nudger Mystery [Hardcover]

John Lutz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

A grieving father hires Alo Nudger to look into the apparent accidental death of his daughter. When the father himself is found dead in a suspicious house fire, Nudger suspects the two deaths are connected. Joining Nudger is novice P.I. Lacey Tumulty, who can't decide which she'd like more--an answer to the puzzle of the recent deaths or a wild night with Nudger .

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his ninth mystery (e.g., Death by Jury, St. Martin's, 1995), private investigator Alo Nudger takes on a series of cases in St. Louis that begin with the apparently accidental death of a client's daughter. Nudger's novice partner Lacey, meanwhile, provides sometimes humorous complications. For most collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

St. Louis private investigator Alo Nudger doesn't usually accept referrals from other PI's, but this time Lacey Tumulty does the referring. Her friendship and his dwindling bank account induce Nudger to attempt to find out if Betty Almer's death was an accident, as the police believe, or something else, as her father contends. When the father dies in another accident, Nudger's sensitive, often prescient stomach forces him on, even though there is no one to pay his and Lacey's fee. Nudger is unique in detective fiction. He's driven by all the values that drive his more macho counterparts: loyalty, a sense of justice, morality, and a desire to fix the world. But he's saddled with two qualities a Spenser wouldn't understand: fear and doubt. Can he face danger yet again and survive? What if his junky car won't start? What if there were no Alo Nudger? Then we'd all miss a great reading experience. Wes Lukowsky

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Press; 1st edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312181523
• ISBN-13: 978-0312181529
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,588,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good addition to the series, January 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Oops!: A Nudger Mystery (Hardcover)

Loren Almer hires Lacy Tumulty to investigate the supposedly "accidental" death of his teenage daughter, who apparently tripped while going down a flight of stairs. Lacy has asked fellow St. Louis private investigator Nudger, a man she wants to make love with all night long, to assist on the case. Nudger thinks Loren and Lacy are crazy to feel foul play led to the death of Betty Almer. However, he reluctantly agrees to help Lacy on her case.

Nudger quickly changes his mind when Loren dies in a supposedly "accidental" house fire, Lacy is brutally beaten and crippled, and other individuals close to Betty begin to accidentally die. He realizes that he must uncover the identity of the culprit before he becomes the next target.

In his tenth outing, Nudger remains an interesting private sleuth though readers will wonder if he has stock in the pharmaceutical companies that make acid relievers. The support cast, especially the 110 pound dripping wet Lacy, who dares to go where no one would venture, is totally endearing. The story line starts fast, but OOPS! loses its OOMPH! before its over. John Lutz fans will enjoy this entry because it has all the Nudgering trademarks: donuts, antacid, plenty of action, and little ambition. However, most mystery fans who want to a more pleasant taste of Nudger would be better suited with one of the earlier tales such as DIAMOND EYES AND DANCER'S DEBT.

Harriet Klausner