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The Corpse Steps Out (The John J. Malone Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Craig Rice (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
A Chicago cad blackmails a torch singer in this thriller: “Why can’t all murders be as funny as those concocted by Craig Rice?” (The New York Times)
 
Radio star Nelle Brown is known coast-to-coast for her sweet and sultry voice. But her press agent and manager, Jake Justus, is familiar with another side of the darling of the airwaves: her crackpot marriage to a penniless tycoon, disastrous string of lovers, and propensity for flying into spectacular fits of rage. Now, it appears she’s being burned by an ex-flame who’s holding her scandalous love letters for ransom. The missives could ruin Nelle’s career, but so could the scoundrel’s murder. For Nelle and Jake, reporting the crime is out of the question—not to mention pointless, as the corpse has vanished along with the incriminating evidence.
 
John J. Malone, Chicago’s rumpled yet resourceful legal beagle is tasked with finding both. But as every new unscrupulous lead turns up dead, Malone isn’t sure whether Nelle is orchestrating a killer cover-up to save her pretty neck or if she’s about to belt out her own swan song.
 
The first writer of detective fiction to appear on the cover of Time magazine, former crime reporter “Craig Rice was a funny lady, [and] a good writer undeservedly forgotten . . . She’s worth remembering” (Jon L. Breen, Edgar Award–winning author).
 
The Corpse Steps Out is the 1st book in the John J. Malone Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
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  1. Book 2 of 14
    The John J. Malone Mysteries
  2. Print length
    196 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
  5. Publication date
    November 14, 2017
  6. File size
    3.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 14 books in this series.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the John J. Malone Mysteries
“Call it screwball noir, call it hard-boiled farce, call it whatever you want . . . Craig Rice did it with John J. Malone, her ne-er-do-well bibulous attorney.” —Thrilling Detective
 

About the Author

Craig Rice (1908–1957), born Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig, was an American author of mystery novels and short stories described as “the Dorothy Parker of detective fiction.” In 1946, she became the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Best known for her character John J. Malone, a rumpled Chicago lawyer, Rice’s writing style was both gritty and humorous. She also collaborated with mystery writer Stuart Palmer on screenplays and short stories, as well as with Ed McBain on the novel The April Robin Murders.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B076PYSVMT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (November 14, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

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Craig Rice

Craig Rice

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
70 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book humorous and fast-paced.

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4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, with one describing it as a "sometimes LOL book."

"I really enjoy these old fast-paced, humorous mysteries by Craig Rice. She’s one of the best...." Read more

"...Craig Rice’s John J. Malone mysteries, this is a fast-paced and sometimes LOL book with entertaining characters...." Read more

"...Oh, and they are funny, also. I am in the process of procuring everyone of Ms. Rice's works." Read more

"Not great literature, but good fun...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book.

"I really enjoy these old fast-paced, humorous mysteries by Craig Rice. She’s one of the best...." Read more

"The second of Craig Rice’s John J. Malone mysteries, this is a fast-paced and sometimes LOL book with entertaining characters...." Read more

"...Quick, fun read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kristen L Kowalski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great old time radio Chicago high speed read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoy these old fast-paced, humorous mysteries by Craig Rice. She’s one of the best. This one is right up there with my favorite of the series so far, Trial by Fury.
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  • R. Jones
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun And Lively Old-Fashioned Whodunit
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The second of Craig Rice’s John J. Malone mysteries, this is a fast-paced and sometimes LOL book with entertaining characters. The mystery itself isn’t especially clever or hard to figure out, but the writing is so amusing that it doesn’t really matter. There are a few things reflective of the time in which it was written that a modern reader may find offensive, but not enough to dismiss the book as a whole. If you enjoy a light, quick, easygoing mystery, this is a great choice. (And while it isn’t necessary to have read the first book in the series, Eight Faces At Three, to enjoy this one, it does help set up the dynamic between the main characters that Rice continues in this book.)
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  • Helen Joy Dhar
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Corpse Steps Out
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2014
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    I would recommend all of Ms. Craig Rice's mysteries! They all contain many twists in the plot, which keeps you wondering Who-Did-It! The always broke but brilliant lawyer, John J. Malone, is hard drinker and gets help from all sorts of people to solve the most difficult mysteries. Oh, and they are funny, also. I am in the process of procuring everyone of Ms. Rice's works.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Customer Cathy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Malone to the Rescue
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2018
    John J. Malone, the best lawyer in Chicago, has to figure out another strange murder. Jake’s client is accused of killing her ex and Jake is, once again, in trouble. Other people are trying to save her too, so they move the body, start a fire, and even lie to Malone.
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  • Patto
    4.0 out of 5 stars Multiple murders, arson, body snatching & a car chase keep the plot lively
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The trouble starts when Paul March tries to blackmail star radio singer Nelle Brown, and then Marsh gets shot. Since March had compromising letters of Nelle's, and Nelle found the corpse, she's in a tight place. Her press agent Jake Justus and her lawyer John Malone struggle desperately to save Nelle from jail, but it becomes harder and harder as the body count mounts -- every murder somehow benefiting Nelle.

    But everybody loves Nelle, even though she sleeps around. And everyone wants to protect her.

    This is no country cozy featuring prim villagers. The characters smoke, drink non-stop, cheat on their spouses, and commit traffic violations. Worse, they engage in cover-ups that invariably involve body snatching.

    There are really three investigators: the rumpled lawyer Malone, Jake, and Jake's rich and beautiful fiancée Helene. Jake's incessant wisecracks and hair-brained schemes only make matters worse, but Helene is consistently useful -- brilliant at disguises, good at concocting convincing lies when needed, and a daredevil driver. Malone thinks a lot. The trio is fueled by alcohol.

    Craig Rice drank as hard as her characters, which may explain her early death at 49. She belongs to the booze-soaked hard-boiled school of mystery writing that arose in the Thirsty Thirties. The plot of The Corpse Steps Out (1940) is so zany, that I wasn't sure I liked it at first. But then suddenly I did, very much. I'd certainly recommend it to any fan of vintage mysteries.

    The succinct introduction in this Rue Morgue edition summarizes Rice's life and describes her era. There's also a very helpful list of her books, with publication dates.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Lou
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good fun
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2020
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    Not great literature, but good fun. Wouldn't pass muster these days, as laws are broken right and left without consequence, but the books hold one's interest. Quick, fun read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Nash Black
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Old Who Done It.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2012
    THE CORPSE STEPS OUT by Craig Rice was published in 1940 and was the last mystery novel she wrote. It is a wonderful blend of humor and who-done-it set against the world of radio.
    Craig Rice during her brief career taught many later day writers how to write with fantastic style. THE CORPSE SETS OUT may be her best.
    Jake Justus is a press agent whose job is to keep his client, Nellie Brown out of trouble and the newspapers until her renewal contract is signed. Nellie has talent, real talent for messing up her life and the lives of those around her.
    Paul March is a louse who has letters written by Nellie that could destroy both her career and her marriage. He attempts to blackmail Nellie, but then ends up shot and before the police arrive his body disappears.
    Jake must now find the body, protect Nellie, find a murderer if it isn't Nellie, and try to get married before the love of his life, Helene Brand vanishes from his life forever.
    Great reading and great story telling.
    Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Neil Holman
    2.0 out of 5 stars Screwball? I guess...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    From the description and my previous reading I thought this would be a lighthearted comedy-mystery, like the 1940s films with Bob Hope or Red Skelton. Instead, this is a story which features people drinking on almost every page. It becomes the leitmotif of the story - drinking, finding places to drink, going to the corner to buy more liquor, etc. I found it hard to wade through all those drinks to find the story. Ms. Rice plots well, and some of the characters are amusing when they aren't drinking. There are two protagonists, PR man Jake Justus and attorney John J. Malone. Justus is at least semi-interesting, but Malone is not. I wouldn't recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • BDE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2018
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    A period-piece Mystery....
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  • Cranky Auntie
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I remembered
    Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I first read this book about 8 years ago and thought at the time it was pretty funny. Those old paperbacks have type that's too small for my eyes anymore, though, so I was glad to see it for the Kindle at $1.99.

    Reading it again, I didn't enjoy it so much. The story gets lost in the ocean of booze the characters drink morning, noon and night. Every problem is improved - and sometimes caused - by having another drink. I found myself getting bored or annoyed instead of entertained. I agree with the American reviewer about the old screwball comedy movies being so much better.
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