Hugh Pentecost (1903–1989)

I picked up this 1960 Dell paperback for the tasteful Robert Maguire cover, which honestly has no relation whatsoever to the plot. This paperback also offered the opportunity to try out Hugh Pentecost, an author I had heard of but never read. The story, set in New York City in the late 50s, has a strong Hollywood theme, with several major characters being actors, agents, producers, and so forth. Pentecost stuffs so many plot elements and characters into the story that it was a little show more exhausting to read. This book is apparently counted as number 2 in the Lieutenant Pascal series, but in addition to the lieuenant we also have an amateur turned detective and his private secretary sidekick. Then there's the large cast of suspects, several of whom are not differentiated enough until too late in the plot. Nonetheless it's an enjoyably fast-paced tale of a 24-hour hunt for a killer. show less

Pentecost seems to have a thing about women/girls calling wolf about sexual harassment. He always makes it plain that he doesn't tolerate actual harassment though. This story has a woman of questionable character (married an unrepentant Nazi), and boundless wealth, leaving her island to visit the Beaumont, Chambrun's domain. Bad things happen.

This series is set in the 1960s New York City, in an elite hotel. Pierre Chambrun is a man who holds his cards close to his chest, but the stories are told through his assistant's eyes, much like Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe, only without the very funny dialog. I enjoy it particularly since it takes place in a hotel, and I used to manage one. I find the details true to life from that aspect (at least the difficulties with the guests, and the efforts to maintain a calm façade for them).

I show more identified the villain very early in this, but still enjoyed the story. There were enough red herrings to make me doubt myself. Current culture would be unhappy with the way rape is portrayed in these stories, but I think the author does a good job of having his main characters hating the act, while realizing that lies can be told to ruin men as well. show less

This series is set in the 1960s New York City, in an elite hotel. Pierre Chambrun is a man who holds his cards close to his chest, but the stories are told through his assistant's eyes, much like Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe, only without the very funny dialog. I enjoy it particularly since it takes place in a hotel, and I used to manage one. I find the details true to life from that aspect (at least the difficulties with the guests, and the efforts to maintain a calm façade for them).

A show more notorious Naughty Rich Kids gang has checked into the hotel. Problem is, someone seems to be murdering them. While this is not a great loss to society, Chambrun will not allow his hotel to be used as a stage for revenge. This book, written in the 1960s, had a very good discussion of what it is like to be a successful "Negro" amongst the white race, even when they are friendly to you. A black man who has an excellent reputation as a lawyer is accused of rape by one of the women in the gang. While Chambrun doesn't believe it, he knows what a danger it is to the man. show less