Harry Lipkin, Private Eye

By the end of page two I was completely in love with Harry Lipkin. He's charming and quite funny. The mystery is easy going, after all Harry is 87. Since I have a passing relationship with a Mrs. Weinberger, who has had some jewelry and other items stolen, I knew, almost from the beginning what the outcome would be. But, because of Harry I finished the book and I am already eagerly awaiting the next episode in Lipkin's career.

Remember that summer when there were two killer asteroid films out at the same time? Or the Broadway season with two musicals based on the epic poem The Wild Party? Well, as improbably as it seems, this is the second comic mystery featuring an 87-year-old, Jewish detective I've read this month. Yes, they were the exact same age! I tell you, it's hard to predict what's going to be in the cultural zeitgeist these days.

Unfortunately, author Barry Fantoni is the loser in this scenario, because the prior novel, Don't Ever Get Old, the debut of Daniel Friedman, was such a consummate charmer and slam-dunk in every way, it highlighted to me even more just how sub-par this book was. I'd probably rate it at 2.5 stars, but a truly uninspired show more ending leads to a rare instance of me rounding my stars down. I'm so uninterested here, that I don't even feel like summarizing much.

In short, an uber-wealthy Miami matron has come to Harry because she believes one of her staff has stolen a trinket from her, a pill box. This is what passes for humor:

"Since my pillbox was stolen, Mr. Lipkin, I haven't had a wink of sleep."
"You think maybe the thief is planning on stealing something else?"
"My sleeping pills are in the box."

That's also a good example of the caliber of the dialogue. "Uninspired" is the kindest word that comes to mind. What follows is a fairly unexciting and by the book investigation of the staff, leading the novel's notably unsatisfying dénouement. In addition to the complaints above, was the fairly non-existent character development. Harry, in addition to being not especially likable, doesn't seem in any way elderly. One example is his apparently flawless memory, which he never doubts for even a moment.

At 224 pages, Harry Lipkin, Private Eye is a novella that can be read in no time flat. The fact that I found something this short as pointless as I did speaks volumes. I could continue to criticize this book, but my final word would be better spent directing readers who like the premise to read Daniel Friedman's Don't Ever Get Old, which I can't recommend highly enough. show less

What can I say....I loved Harry Lipkin, Private Eye! Detective books are not usually my choice in reading matter, but the description of this book in the Early Reviewers list drew my attention. I'm so glad I was chosen to receive this book, otherwise I would have missed out on an enjoyable read.

Harry Lipkin, Private Eye was an ARC copy with many typos and punctuation errors, which normally would irritate me to no end, but I loved Harry from the start. I loved to "hear" him talk and how he thought, how he lived and interacted with the other characters, and the typos, for the most part, went virtually unnoticed. I also enjoyed the whole storyline, beginning to end. The only exception being the death of the drug dealer, which I didn't show more think was a necessary part of the storyline. Perhaps it was just to show how Harry handled the situation in his own style. As for the ending, the mystery unfolds from an unexpected place, but one that will resonate for anyone who has taken care of an aging relative.

Thanks to Barry Fantoni for bringing Harry Lipkin to life. This book didn't win me over to detective fiction, but if there is ever a Harry Lipkin sequel, count me in. show less

Harry Lipkin isn't your average private eye. He's 87 years old and still in business. His current case involves another senior citizen, a widow with a problem. Items of sentimental value are disappearing from her home, and only her household staff has access. Lipkin investigates the five staff members to identify the culprit.

The book is as much about aging as it is about crime solving. Harry's mind is still active, but his body has slowed down. He can't do things the way he would have done them when he was younger. He's not intimidated by physical threats. After all, he's 87 years old. What does he have to lose? The story is entertaining, but not particularly memorable. The author seemed to know when enough was enough. The novelty of an show more 87-year-old PI would have worn thin in a longer book, but 200 pages (give or take a few) feels just about right.

This review is based on an advanced reading copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. show less

He's a man who's not afraid of anything - not even a cup of caffeinated coffee at midnight. He's Harry Lipkin, the world's oldest private detective. His client wants to know who is stealing precious objects from her, and the cast of suspects is fairly typical (butler, maid, chef, chauffeur, etc). Using his contacts from his years on the force, Harry investigates whodunit, throughout 200 enjoyable pages. He's a great character, and while the culprit was not a surprise to me, I'm so glad that I got to know Mr. Lipkin. I'm recommending this to all of my mystery-loving friends.

(One small quibble that I know will be corrected in the final copy - there are an amazing amount of typos that hampered my enjoyment of the book [it kept pulling me show more out of the story, and they're on virtually every page], so if you're reading this as an ARC, keep that in mind.) show less

This is an enjoyable cozy ‘who done it’ mystery with a good sense of humor that retains enough bite to keep you reading. Harry Lipkin is 87 years old, Jewish, and a private eye. As he investigates a series of thefts from his client, he digresses with random stories from his past and he talks about his aches and pains – just like you would expect from an 87 year old former cop – and it all adds up to make him a very likable character.

I enjoyed this story, and look forward to reading about Harry Lipkin's future cases. Harry is an interesting and likeable character and, being 87, he doesn't have a lot of time to waste. Which is why I felt sorry for him at the end of this book. Always be careful of making assumptions...Like other reviewers, I saw the ending a mile off, but nevertheless, this is a fun, light, and easy-to-read book.