The Brass Cupcake

The Brass Cupcake by John D. MacDonald was originally published in 1950 and, although he had been writing short stories for the pulp magazines for several years prior, this book has the distinction of being considered his first novel. This novel is a fine example of the hard boiled/noir traits that he was to become known for.

Set in the rich Florida tourist town of Florence Beach, the main character is a tough but straight shooting investigator for an insurance company. He is given the task of getting back the jewellery that was stolen from a rich woman tourist, but unlike most professional robberies, the victim in this case was murdered. The story twists and turns through murders, robbery, and insurance fraud while our steely jawed hero show more deals with police corruption, the crime syndicate and assorted other members of a picturesque rogues gallery. Along with the violence there is also an interesting romance.

The Brass Cupcake was a thrilling and fun story that eventually got nicely resolved and left me with a smile on my face. show less

Cleverly plotted with a surprise climax

The device used to catch the bad guys was right out of the early and mid fifties. I still recall having access to one when I was ten or eleven. My grandchildren would need to have it explained. Don't want to say more for fear of leaving a spoiler.
Some reviewers object to MacDonald characterization of women. I believe his characterization reflects the behavior and activity of that time. We can condemn those social mores, but need to recognize that time laid the foundation for the world we have now: freedoms and warts both.

A little less well put together than MacDonald's later novels, but a hard-to-put-down story nevertheless, even if there is a lot to dislike about the protagonist (running down people with a car), the story itself (chock full of extreme male chauvinism, with more than one character hitting his woman to get her to think straight), and some of the most over-the-top purple prose I have ever had the displeasure to read whenever MacDonald's describes a love scene. The conclusion is satisfying, however, and there are some clever twists that remind you what a great writer MacDonald was on his way to becoming.

Excellent pace with characters you will care about. This book also gives the reader a feel for police corruption in small town america of the fifties.

MacDonald's first book (I think). Slightly hardboiled in the sense that the protagonist is a cynical ex-cop who got busted out of the police force because he wouldn't stand for the railroading of an innocent kid.

He becomes an insurance adjuster, and he's called on to recover stolen jewels by making a payout of a percentage of their value to the thieves. During the robbery the jewelry owner was murdered, and that's an undercurrent flowing through the whole story.

It's a very well-written and very atmospheric book, and the characters are pretty compelling.

After writing a few average SF short stories and novels MacDonald turned to Thrillers and never looked back. Thank God for John D. MacDonald. If ever a writer had his finger on the pulse of the human animal it is him.

Good 1950s thriller with glimpses of writing greatness to come.

BRASS CUPCAKE was written in 1950. Cliff, an ex-cop, works for insurance company. When an elderly Bostonian visiting Fla. is robbed & killed Cliff tries to recover her jewelry. Along the way he falls in love with her niece. With this excellent whodunit I can visit Fla. vicariously after shoveling snow. --