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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles (Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery #1) in Books

Apr 9, 2025  
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles (Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery #1)
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles (Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery #1)
Elizabeth Crowens | 2024 | Humor & Comedy, Mystery
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Old Hollywood with a Dash of Mystery
The year in 1940, and Babs Norman and Guy Brandt have set up a detective agency. But it is struggling to bring in any money, which is why Babs has just been evicted from her apartment. But the potential for positive cash flow comes when they learn that Hollywood isn’t going to the dogs since their dogs are disappearing. Basil Rathbone’s dog has been kidnapped as has the dog that plays Asta in the Thin Man movies. Since a new Thin Man movie is supposed to start production soon, the studio is desperate to get their canine star back. Can Babs and Guy figure out what is going on?

The draw for this book is old Hollywood, and it is fun spending time with the stars. They are an active part of the plot and at times outnumber the fictional characters. Sadly, the plot is uneven with too much time spent on the antics of the stars. While it does reach a satisfactory conclusion, the plotting is clunky with elements introduced roughly. And there’s a subplot that feels forced and isn’t really resolved. While most of the book felt right historically, I did find a blatant historical error early on. The writing kept us at arm’s length, making the characters thin. This is a book to read for the old stars. If you want a good mystery, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
  
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Anand Wilder recommended Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack & J.J. Johnson in Music (curated)

 
Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack & J.J. Johnson
Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack & J.J. Johnson
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Obviously that's a great soundtrack, and also my favourite blaxploitation film. I kind of remember growing up [thinking] blaxploitation films were silly, like I remember, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, but then once I started getting into them, I was like, oh wow, they are really political movies that don't really exist any more, and what I wanted to highlight was the score by J. J. Johnson. He's pretty much up there with Quincy Jones, but I would love to see a biopic about someone like that who has this really long career spanning from bebop and going to Hollywood and starting to score for blaxploitation films towards the end of his career. These guys are just genius arrangers, composers, players, and while their struggle was within the Hollywood system, it's not like it was a face you know from a college dorm poster like Miles Davis or something - it could be played by anybody you know."

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