DOWN FOR THE COUNT

The Toby Peters mysteries by Stuart Kaminsky are period pieces with an enjoyably wry style. Narrator-hero Peters, a luckless, self-deprecating private eye in 1940s Hollywood, helps famous clients and interacts with a colorful cast of supporting characters. In this outing the guest celebrity is heavyweight champ Joe Louis, who proclaims his innocence of murder but who also seems to have something to hide. Tom Parker serves the story well. The bad guys require the “dems” and “doze” of hard- boiled slang while eccentric characters, such as a Norwegian midget and a near-deaf landlady, offer a range of other vocal challenges, all of which he handles well. Most importantly, Parker makes Toby Peters someone you like and root for. G.H. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]