Tiddlywinks [Hardcover]

Louis Joseph Barbier Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009

On a stormy night in October in the Panama Canal Zone, a mundane and quiet life in paradise is about to be shattered. When murder takes place at the Tivoli Hotel, Chief Inspector Leopold "Lep" Burnside is assigned to the case. Security around one of the world's most important waterways is tight, but no one suspected that a murder would happen at the Tivoli, the favorite haunt of presidents, policemen, and ordinary civilians. With no sign of forced entry, the list of suspects shrinks to include only those known to the victim. The detectives soon discover the victim's identity as John W. O'Brien, of Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations. What was he investigating that someone had to kill to keep him quiet? What is puzzling is the "how" of the murder. With merely a small bruise behind the victim's ear, there is no obvious sign of how the murder was committed. The questions are many but one thing is clear, with Chief Inspector Lep Burnside on the case, the perpetrators had best start looking for cover.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The story begins with the mentioning of the game Tiddlywinks, which many of us played as kids and some of us still do. Tiddlywinks is a game of skill, strategy and luck. It is played with verve and fervor by worldwide winkers... Now let's consider that Murder is the worst thing you can do to someone! The first chapter opens... It was a dark stormy night in mid October. It had been raining quite hard for the last couple of days. But this was expected in October in the tropics. The grandfather clock in the reception area of the Tivoli Hotel located in Ancon in the Canal Zone chimed 11:30 PM. everything was quiet as a mouse as Mr. Harry Thomas Slocomb posted the charges for the entire guest list staying at the hotel. Harry had been with the Panama Canal Company for over 30 years. He had started as a bus boy in the main dinning area and through hard work and perfect attendance moved up to be Chief Night Clerk at the Tivoli Hotel. As he Neatly pinned in the date of 12 October 1955 on a clear page of the main ledger, he thought that the Panama Canal Company had made it possible to raise 12 children. There were 10 boys and 2 girls. All the boys were in the armed forces. They were scattered around the world. Harry had taken to Bookkeeping like a duck took to water. He had learned the basics at La Boca High School. He loved figures so when a position opened up at the Tivoli Hotel he had applied. That had been over 15 years ago. Life had been good.

From the Inside Flap

On a stormy night in October in Panama Canal Zone, a mundane and quiet life in paradise is about to be shattered. When murder takes place at the Tivoli Hotel, Chief Inspector Leopold "Lep" Burnside is assigned to the case. Security around one of the world's most important waterways is tight but no one suspected that a murder would happen at the Tivoli, the favorite haunt of presidents, policemen and ordinary civilians. With no sign of forced entry the list of suspects shrinks to include only those known to the victim. Thus begins Tiddlywinks the new novel by prolific author Louis Joseph Barbier. The detectives soon discover the victim's identity as John W. O'Brien, of Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations. What was he investigating that someone had to kill to keep him quiet? Is the security of the canal risk or are there other even more sinister motives behind the murder? With Lep on the case, the perpetrators must move quickly to avoid the ever-shrinking net the chief inspector has cast. What is puzzling is the "how" of the murder. With merely a small bruise behind the victim's ear, there is no obvious sign of how the murder was committed. The questions are many but one thing is clear with Chief Inspector Lep Burnside on the case, the perpetrators had best start looking for cover.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 137 pages
• Publisher: Vantage Press Inc (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0533159911
• ISBN-13: 978-0533159918
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,067,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling mystery, July 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiddlywinks (Hardcover)

The how is perhaps one of the most important questions in a mystery. "Tiddlywinks" is a story focusing on the how of murder. Detective Brunside is forced to solve a case where there are so many questions, but the only lead is a bruise behind the ear, something viewed as non-fatal and only leaves the detective baffled. A thrilling mystery, "Tiddlywinks" is highly recommended.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tiddlywinks... a great read!, February 8, 2009

By 

Louis J. Barbier "The Cocoli Kid" (Largo, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tiddlywinks (Hardcover)

Tiddlywinks

On a stormy night in October in the Panama Canal Zone, a mundane and quiet life in paradise is about to be shattered. When murder takes place at the Tivoli Hotel, Chief Inspector Leopold "Lep" Burnside is assigned to the case. Security around one of the world's most important waterways is tight, but no one suspected that a murder would happen at the Tivoli, the favorite haunt of presidents, policemen and ordinary civilians. With no sign of forced entry, the list of suspects shrinks to include only those known to the victim. Thus begins Tiddlywinks... Do you want to solve the murder? Then pick up this book and join Chief Inspector Burnside as his team of detectives go about solving the puzzle....