Too Many Spies Spoil the Case [Paperback]

Miles Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

Hard-hitting, quick thinking and an irreverent mouth propel Doug McCool through a tight action thriller with plenty of bodies dropping, bullets flying and, of course, too many spies. Join the hippy detective as he takes you on a tour of San Francisco in the mid-70s.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Miles Archer has mastered the technique of character development. He describes each player with clarity and forthrightness. 3 stars. -- Inscriptions Magazine

Too Many Spies Spoil the Case is a promising start to what could prove to be a hugely entertaining series. -- Wicked Company, an iUniverse Community

About the Author

Miles Archer is the pen name of a Pacific Northwest writer who cut his mystery teeth on the classics in the genre, ie. Christie, Gardner, Chandler, Hammett, Stout, et al. He has had enough jobs for three lifetimes: reporter, clerk, process server, free lance undercover operative, executive and registered nurse. His mystery short stories have appeared in Blue Murder, Nefarious, Judas, Malone's White Fedora, Plots with Guns and the anthology Down These Wicked Streets. Two more books in the Doug McCool series are pending publication.

Product Details

• Paperback: 241 pages
• Publisher: Novelbooks; N edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591050375
• ISBN-13: 978-1591050377
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,121,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Many Spies Spoil The Case, July 1, 2002

By 

SUE HARTIGAN - See all my reviews

This review is from: Too Many Spies Spoil the Case (Files of Doug McCool) (Paperback)

TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE had me hooked before I even finished the first chapter. By chapter two there was no turning back, I had to keep reading until I finished the entire book. Mr. Archer takes you out of that comfortable chair, in which you are sitting, and plunks you right smack dab in the middle of San Francisco, and into the life of Doug McCool. Once there, there is no way out, except to stay on that ride until it is over. But that is ok, because you won't want to get off this roller coaster. In fact I liked the first ride so much, I am ready for another.

The life of a process server may be dull. That is if your name isn't Doug McCool. His life is everything but dull.

It is 1973, and Doug lives mostly in his modified VW Microbus, and works as a process server in San Francisco for AAA Legal Process Service. Most of the time the work is dull, and routine. But that suits Doug pretty well. He hasn't quite decided what he wants to do with his life, after Viet Nam, and this job leaves him plenty of time to party and enjoy the life that San Francisco holds for a single, good looking, young man. But every once in a while one of the clients make life a little difficult by ducking service, and Doug has to chase them down. Such was the case when he was asked to serve James Gunter for the Iranian government. All of a sudden Doug's life was anything but dull and routine.

What started out as a routine service of court papers, soon turns into murder, chases, gunfights, fast cars, drugs, international intrigue, elegant boats, loose women, and big money. Add to all of this a big time, high profile attorney and you have all the ingredients for a book you will not be able to put down. A fast paced, often humorous, hard boiled mystery, so very well written you breeze through the pages before you even realize it.

TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE is written with such passion. Each character is carved out in his or her own special way, and comes alive with their own personality jumping off the pages. Everyone from Doug's gay ex-army buddy Rick, and Jerome an old man who befriends, and wants to help Doug, to Barbara, his gal Friday and bed partner. Even Farrar, one of the Iranian secret agents becomes real, and even human. Mr. Archer brings humor into even the worst of situations, and makes you want to laugh, even when you should be crying over many of Doug's escapades and problems.

TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE is written in such a way that the story just flows, even though some of the situations get quite complex. You follow along without getting confused or lost, and just enjoy each and every word written.

I truly loved TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE. I hope to find that it will be followed-up by many, many more great books from this first time author. Mr. Archer certainly captures your attention, and holds it right to the end of the story. Leaving you wanting more.

For those of you who like action, mystery, and suspense all told with some humor mixed in, you can do no better than TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE by this very talented, first time author, Miles Archer. TOO MANY SPIES SPOIL THE CASE is a great start for the career of an author who is going to go far in the literary world. He has already become one of my favorites, and I am waiting to see where he takes Doug in the future. I know it is going to be interesting, and fun to find out. I can't wait for the next ride.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too Many Spies Spoil The Case, February 26, 2002

By 

Elizabeth V. Edwards (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Too Many Spies Spoil the Case (Files of Doug McCool) (Paperback)

Too Many Spies Spoil The Case
by Miles Archer

If Doug McCool and Cyndi Lauper had crossed paths, she would have switched the gender of her song to `Boys Just Wanna Have Fun,' and oh, boy, does he ever. Miles Archer provides his main character with all manner of opportunities to spice up his life as a process server, and Doug McCool takes advantage of all of them.

San Francisco circa 1973 is where 27-year-old Doug McCool calls home, or at least that part of it where his modified van happens to be parked at any given time. He virtually lives in it, part of the job description requirements, since people are often hard to catch so he can serve them with papers. One such servee is Mr. Gunter, an elusive target, forcing Doug to employ some methods he dislikes to use. The good news is that this particular job is going to change his life; the bad news is there's a heavy price to pay for it. The events that unfold in the pursuit and its aftermath are like uncovering each layer of Russian Stacking Dolls.

Mr. Archer lets Doug live life to the fullest, wherever the mood takes him; drugs, international intrigue, shoot-em-ups, fast cars, elegant boats, loose women, mega-moolah. Not your average process server perks, but Miles Archer, for the most part, manages to make each new level appear logical in terms of fate on a particularly frolicsome day.

The main character is well drawn, the players in his suddenly dangerous life-style, solid. Miles Archer has the knack of putting us into the landscape down pat; we're able to see, smell, and feel all that he wants us to.

The only source of questionable credibility might be the achievement of some of those aforementioned perks, but taken with the whole package of the time, the age of Doug McCool and the whiff of a James Bond-ish, let's-have-fun-with-this kind of theme, it works. The writing is sharp, spare, and entertaining. This reviewer's taste in reading material is eclectic, but I suspect men would find this book a more fantasy-satisfying few hours than many women would. But keep `em coming, Mr. Archer, it will be nice to see how Doug McCool grows and where life will take him next.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!, June 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Too Many Spies Spoil the Case (Files of Doug McCool) (Paperback)

I sat down to read this book and didn't stop reading until I was finished. Having spent a good part of my misspent youth as a recovery agent, this book sent me on a time-trip back to the adrenaline rush of working the field and associating with the skip tracers, the deadbeats and the general world of night people. I really enjoyed this book, and found it to be a very accurate account, actually a dead-on story consistent with what I know to be true. A very enjoyable read, written in a style that made me think I was in the office and on the street again. Well done!