Seeing the Elephant (A Thomas Dunne Book) (A Saxon Mystery) [Hardcover]

Les Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1992

The death of a boyhood chum sends actor-private eye Saxon back to his hometown of Chicago to find out the truth behind his pal's demise. By the author of Deep Shaker.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

L.A. actor/sleuth Saxon (Snake Oil, etc.) flies to Chicago, his hometown, to attend the funeral of Gavin Cassidy, a cop who moonlighted as an actor and was Saxon's mentor at the North State Street Theatre Guild. There, Gavin's former girlfriend Marian asks Saxon to investigate: Even at his alcoholic worst, she says, Gavin would never have also swallowed the amphetamines that killed him. As Saxon looks up their old gang, he quickly learns that Cassidy was recently suspended for soliciting bribes--from Saxon's own father, a political stalwart of the Fifty-fourth Ward who once went to prison for the party machine and who hasn't spoken to his son in over 20 years. Soon, Saxon and his dad are edgily making contact, and it seems that more political chicanery was at work, setting up Cassidy as the patsy to the benefit of former Guild members and the Ward. Before Saxon can return to L.A. and his adopted, black teenaged son Marvel, he must confront both his and Cassidy's past lovers (sometimes one and the same) to find the killer. Facile but oddly touching in the father-son rapprochement scenes. A semi-hardboiled trip down memory lane, then, guided by a capable old pro. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

...an intriguing overview of Chicago ward politics [and] the deromanticizing of an old relationship as well as an interesting mystery. -- Publisher's Weekly

Facile and oddly touching in the father-son rapproachment scenes... guided by an old pro. -- Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: St. Martins Press; 1st edition (March 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312070810
• ISBN-13: 978-0312070816
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,638,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Les Roberts is the author of 15 mystery novels featuring Cleveland detective Milan Jacovich, as well as 9 other books of fiction. The past president of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the American Crime Writer's League, he came to mystery writing after a 24-year career in Hollywood. He was the first producer and head writer of the Hollywood Squares and wrote for the Andy Griffith Show, the Jackie Gleason Show, and the Man from U.N.C.L.E., among others. He has been a professional actor, a singer, a jazz musician, and a teacher. In 2003 he received the Sherwood Anderson Literary Award. A native of Chicago, he now lives in Northeast Ohio and is a film and literary critic.

Visit his web site at www.lesroberts.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Wonderful, April 17, 1999

By 

E. Arthur (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeing the Elephant (A Thomas Dunne Book) (A Saxon Mystery) (Hardcover)

This book is difficult to find but worth the search. It was about Saxon going back to his hometown to his friend's funeral, but Roberts was able to make me remember a similiar time in my life. He so captured the feelings that they became mine. This book is truly extraordinary, and I recommend you hunt it down.