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The Big Midget Murders (The John J. Malone Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Craig Rice (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 37 ratings
It’s murder backstage for a cynical Chicago attorney—from “the Dorothy Parker of detective fiction” (William Ruehlmann).
 
It’s part casino, part nightclub, and part circus. For its new owners, Jake Justus and his socialite wife, Helene, it’s also a gamble. Luckily they have Jay Otto. Next to a bouncy burlesque bit, Otto’s high-wire act is the hottest draw in the joint. But the crowd isn’t the only thing left breathless. The performer has just been found in his dressing room, doped up, dead, and hanging by eleven silk stockings. The method is fetching. The probable motive? Otto was the nastiest, most hateful, devious, blackmailing little cuss on the circuit.
 
But Jake’s friend, attorney John J. Malone, thinks this is more than a case of justifiable homicide—especially when Otto isn’t the last on the bill to get all choked up. Now Malone has a lot of secrets to untangle so he can collar the killer, because Jake and Helene’s necks could be next on the line.
 
The Big Midget Murders is “expertly timed . . . and frenzied . . . with lavish accompaniment of good wise-cracking. Verdict: Superior” (TheSaturday Review of Literature). “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).
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  1. Book 6 of 14
    The John J. Malone Mysteries
  2. Print length
    324 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
  5. Publication date
    August 14, 2018
  6. File size
    5.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

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 ‏ : ‎ B07DPFX54Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (August 14, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 14, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

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Craig Rice

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
37 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • charlie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Screwball Noir Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Another entry in the hilarious screwball mystery series from the 1940s. The murder of a show biz midget whom everybody feared and hated brings lots of plot twists and goofy suspects. Lots of surprises.Great fun.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Fun, humorous story. Very quick, light read. Think along the lines of The Thin Man series! Can’t wait to read the other books in this series.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2014
    The prejudices of the day regarding "midgets" was slightly off-putting, but otherwise, this book was fun! This was my first Craig Rice book and now I'm reading them all. This one just got funnier as it went along - a screwball kind of comedy. I recommended it to a friend, who also enjoyed it.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • R. Jones
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Weaker Entry In The John J. Malone Series
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the sixth of Craig Rice’s John J. Malone mysteries and, in my opinion, the weakest so far. (I’m reading them in order.) This time Malone and his friends Jake and Helene Justus are investigating the murder of an entertainer at Jake’s night club, the “Big Midget” of the title. (Be aware that if you find the word “midget” offensive, this is not the book for you. The word is on virtually every page.) The plot is fine, though the murderer is pretty obvious, but the characters just aren’t as funny or entertaining as previous books in the series. It’s not a bad book, but it lacks a certain spark found in earlier entries. Still, if you’re a fan of Craig Rice and John J. Malone, it’s worth checking out.
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