Sun 4 Nov 2018
Archived Mystery Review: GLORIA DANK – Friends Till the End.
Posted by Steve under Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Characters , Reviews[5] Comments
GLORIA DANK – Friends Till the End. Bernard Woodruff & Snooky Randolph #1. Bantam, paperback original; 1st printing, October 1989.
This light-hearted tale of murder in suburban Connecticut reminded ma a bit at first of Richard Lockridge, with a little less sparkle but with a lot more off-the-wall humor that eventually teeters into out-and-out wackiness. Hardboiled fiction it isn’t.
Dead (of poison) is the wealthy wife of a man who claims he was the intended victim, and to give him credit, he actually is the next target. Give this one a “2” (out of 10) for ingenuity of plot, and give Bernard and Snooky (who work out the solution together) a “6” or “7”.
The Bernard Woodruff & Snooky Randolph series —
Friends Till the End. Bantam 1989.
Going Out in Style. Bantam 1990.
As the Sparks Fly Upward. Doubleday 1992.
The Misfortunes of Others. Doubleday 1993.
[UPDATE] 11-04-18. Since I didn’t take the space to explain who the two mismatched detectives are in this series, let me do it now: Bernard Woodruff, a curmudgeonly children’s book author, and Snooky Randolph, who has never found a vocation and lives off a trust fund, are brothers-in-law who in spite of their differences somehow manage to solve mysteries together.
November 4th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
Unlike some of the books I reviewed back at the same time as this one, I remember at least the basic plot line. I also remember enjoying it. This was published at a time when a “cozy” mystery could be read by men as well as women.
What I don’t remember is reading another in the series, and right now, I’d like to.
November 4th, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Sounds more along screwball than cozy lines.
It was nice when cozies had a plot and a mystery as well as whatever made them cozy though.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:09 pm
You’re saying what I’ve been thinking for some time now, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read a current cozy, I’d have to say that I don’t know for sure. Maybe some of them DO have good mystery plots.
The only way to find out is to read one.
You first.
November 7th, 2018 at 1:09 am
I’ve just finished reading this based on your review. I enjoyed it. BUT. I found the detectives the least interesting part, so won’t be reading more. It reminds me a lot of Lillian Jackson Braun.
November 7th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Lillian Jackson Braun? Ouch.