Alive! (Valentino Mysteries)
The third in Estleman’s always-entertaining series starring film archivist Valentino again delivers a delightful mix of comedy, mystery, and movie history. This time the archival jewel that inspires murder and puts Valentino in hot water is a long-lost screen test of Bela Lugosi trying out for the role of Frankensteins monster that would eventually go to Boris Karloff. A down-and-out actor and onetime friend of Valentino’s was trying to peddle the screen test before he was murdered. The cops like Valentino for the crime, leaving Val no choice but to find the Lugosi snippet and clear himself. The backstory on Legosi, Karloff, and the horror-movie genre in general will have film fans salivating, and, as always, Estleman seamlessly incorporates the movie bits into the mystery plot. And, for good measure, this time he throws in—equally seamlessly—a subplot involving a gaggle of steampunkers who come to Val’s aid in the hunt for the screen test. Great fun on multiple fronts. --Bill Ott