Customer Reviews

The Remake: As Time Goes by

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked up this novel because of the famous name, and I wanted to see if Stephen could actually write, or if he was just flying along on his famous parent's coattails. I was pleased to find an amusing story and a good mystery and a fairly strong main character. However, the secondary characters left something to be desired, especially the character of Casey. I had no idea why RJ would be remotely interested in this woman. I was disappointed that Bogart didn't flesh out the character of Wendy a bit more, since she had promise, but she disappeared without a word, along with the evidence she was going to find for RJ. I also felt that there were a few too many loose ends left in the story. This can be a plus in some stories, but in this case all I saw were dangling threads. I hope that Bogart continues to write about RJ Brooks, because that character is very strong and enjoyable. And hopefully in his next install! ment we'll learn more about the characters that had to sit in the sidelines.

I picked up this paperback recently in the $1 store, only for its famous name and backcover promises. When I finally got around to reading it, I was instantly impressed with the author's clever and original turns of phrase, his captivating characters and a story that is just "out there" enough to be intriguing without seeming implausible. Stephen Bogart's female characters lack some depth, but the story is told from a man's POV, and so they are presented through a male lens, and I think this is the flavor of the novel. Detective RJ Brooks is a flawed human being, but a likeable mensch, and I'm eager to seek out Mr. Bogart's other writings.

Private Investigator R.J. Brooks is irate to learn that Andromeda Studios is planning to make a sequel to the classic movie, As Time Goes By, the film that co-starred his parents. Though in New York to escape Tinseltown, R.J. tells a reporter that he will do anything to stop the film from ever being produced since it would be an affront to the memory of his parents. This interview becomes national news when people from the studio start being killed. The police are positive that R.J. is the culprit since he basically confessed his plans. ......R.J. begins to investigate the series of murder destroying the project. He hopes to not only clear his name, but to locate the missing studio head at the bequest of the man's daughter. As more deaths occur, R. J. realizes that he must identify the culprit soon before he becomes the next victim of someone with a terrific grudge towards the production of the sequel. ......The author is the son of his namesake and Lauren Bacall, and he sprinkles references from their movies throughout his novel. However, readers need to realize that THE REMAKE OF AS TIME GOES BY is an excellent who-done -it regardless of the author's gene pool. R.J. is a fabulous private investigator whose escapades readers will enjoy. This novel and the first R.J. tale (PLAY IT AGAIN) are fun to read who-done-its because the mystery is quite good and the Hollywood footnotes add a unique touch. Readers will think that this is the beginning of a long friendship. ......Harriet Klausner

Stephen Humphrey Bogart's two novels were part of a forty-plus-year process of coming to terms with the death of his famous father. In Bogart: In Search of My Father, Bogart details this journey. So it's no surprise to discover that his hero is the son of two of the most famous film actors in history, or that their most lauded film carries a line from Humphrey Bogart's most famous picture. In the first novel, Stephen killed off his hero's mother, which may reveal more than he intended about his feelings about Lauren Bacall. Even so, he has crafted a clever, interesting, and sometimes puzzling noir thriller. He'll keep you guessing to the end, and that's what matters.