Case of the Vanishing Beauty

The first Shell Scott book from Prather. Highly satisfying, if a bit long-winded in the concluding pages where everything is wrapped up with perhaps one twist too many. Nice sense of humor underlying the grim proceedings.

This was the first novel Prather published in 1950, althouigh this particular copy must be the umpteenth printing as it has numerous other novels listed up front. The fact is I have read some score or so of Shell Scott mysteries and this is one of the best. It is one of the best because the author spends his time on characterization and plotting rather than have his alter ego (what else coujld a l6-0ffot teo-or-three inch tall adonis be to little Richard?) lasciviousoly licking his chops over numerous females. Oh, he does that a few times in this book, mostly humorously), but he sticks with the plotting and makes us meet the characters. We are there. In too too many of the Shell Scott fantasies, the reader is relegated to the role of show more voyeur. In short, this book left me wanting to read another of RSP's books. show less