Story Shot 12, by Brian R. Wright  PDF Version, 24 November 2020

It’s the second book in the Philip Morris, private eye, series by late-bloomer prodigy Jack Kline. In Phil’s first big case, captured in But Not for Me[1]—for titles Kline likes suggestive tunes of the times (1930s, Kansas City)—Phil builds his business on an investigation into the missing son of city machine kingpin Tom Holloway. Holloway also has a beautiful daughter who proves to be something of a siren… and a quandary for the struggling-to-make-his-mark, yet thoughtfully confident, Mr. Morris.

Plenty of interplay with local Sicilian and Irish mob figures and assorted henchmen strongly suggesting that Phil look into other things. On the side, we get to be there for a prize fight, with a blow-by-blow account that puts you at ring side. At the end of it all, there’s a showdown that leaves Phil with some wounds to body and psyche, and a mixed reputation about town. One thing, he’s an excellent shot… even with a couple of ‘shots’ in him.

Rhapsody starts out lyrically. The second big case shows twists and turns from the gitgo—the case itself (we even have a house that many think is inhabited by ghosts), who is he, where’s his love life going, why’s he falling off the wagon after months of abstinence motivated by Case 1? From the Rhapsody back cover:

In 1935, Kansas City detective Phil Morris receives a call from candy heiress Cynthia Stuart. She claims Millbrook Chocolates, her dead father’s business, is hemorrhaging money. In addition, tenants leasing her childhood home believe the old Stuart house is haunted. Cynthia wants Phil and his team to investigate the loss of company funds and odd occurrences at her former home. Continue reading →