“Mrs Parker,” said Alexander Woollcott, “how
about a friendly little game of Murder?”
–
A Friendly Game of Murder
As I mentioned in the review for You
Might as Well Die, you might want to read up on the
Infamous Round Table and the members who lunched daily at
the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 through 1929. I’m quite
certain this intellectual assembly and the historical era
they lived will mesmerize you.
It’s New Year’s Eve in New York. Where better
to celebrate than the Algonquin Hotel with Douglas Fairbanks
and Mary Pickford? The main characters, Dorothy Parker and
Robert Benchley, want to be where all the fun is…. After
all isn’t that what New York and the 1920s are all about?
When Drama Critic Alexander Woollcott asks Dorothy Parker
to join him in a little game of murder, she declines –
until she spies the ultimate whodunit author in the Hotel
lobby –Arthur Conan Doyle (Sir Arthur). When the Hotel
is quarantined due to a case of smallpox. Parker’s wish
comes true as she spends the night with Benchley and Sir Arthur.
Well, sort of… They actually spend the night trying
to find out who murdered Bibi Bibilot - the naked Starlet
whose only goal in life is to get attention and keep it. Be
prepared: Sleuthing and romance put Parker and Benchley in
some sticky situations that will make you react.
A Friendly Game of Murder is as entertaining as
New Year’s Eve in New York can be (in print) - partying,
drinking, nudity, murder and madness. What I enjoy most about
this series is the humor. It’s reminiscent of the lighthearted
black and white movies - plenty of humorous quips that catch
you off guard. Personalities abound with this quirky set of
characters, and Sir Arthur is a great addition to the storyline.,
Who better to give Parker a lesson in sleuthing?
A Friendly Game of Murder is a laugh-out-loud mystery
you’ll want to share with others…
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