Review: enjoyable mystery worth reading
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 18, 2013
Max Allan Collins is a very prolific writer whose work ranges from finishing the few remaining Mickey Spillane novels, to penning the Dick Tracy comics, to publishing numerous graphic novels, and writing several of his own mystery series.  He is well known for his Nathan Heller series, a detective placed into historical situations including dalliances with Amelia Earhart and Marlin Monroe.Collins' Mallory series is not as well known.  He started writing this series in writer's workshops in 1969 and finally published it in the early 80's.  Mallory is a college-age mystery writer in Iowa as the Vietnam War is winding down.  There are five Mallory novels, including The Baby Blue Rip-Off (1983), No Cure for Death (1983),  Kill Your Darlings (1984), A Shroud for Aquarius (1985), and Nice Weekend for a Murder (1986).In this volume. Mallory is at the bus station in Port City, Iowa, to meet a friend John on leave from military service in Southeast Asia.  Mallory has been trying to strike up conversation with a blonde for about an hour when a man the size of Frankenstein threatens her.  After an epic battle, he rescues the fair damsel and buys her a cup of coffee.Janet Taber tells him her life story.A few hours later, Mallory meets John's father, the sheriff, at an accident site and realizes the mangled blonde woman is the same one whose acquaintance he just made.  Strange coincidence or perhaps someone wanted her dead and got her good and dead.  The sheriff tells Mallory to butt out.He chases down leads and, in addition to meeting a woman who makes his jaw drop, finds that Janet was somehow tied into the wealthy family that runs the political life in the area.As Mallory scratches his head, the bodies and the suspects add up.An enjoyable mystery well worth reading.  Collins has a real easy writing style that draws the reader in.  Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.