Vintage Golden Age Mystery
Scavenger Hunt Category: Map
Date Finished: June 10, 2016
TBR #52

Another one for which I’ve got two copies sitting here. The first is the Dell mapback edition, which will qualify for the Map or Chart category. The action here takes place mostly on Miami Beach, as Shayne makes the final decision to return to Miami from New Orleans. Lucy has also returned with him, though she is soon attacked and is mostly unconscious for most of this novel. A number of star rubies have been stolen, with high insurance payouts. When a bracelet worth $180,000 is stolen, Miami Beach police chief Peter Painter somehow blames Shayne. To clear his name, as always, he gets involved and works out a way to get a big payday. There are very few suspects here, however, so the reveal isn’t all that surprising. Still it moves along well and Shayne keeps the cognac drinking to a believable amount.