Alone by Loren D. Estleman is a marvelous mystery about the movies. Film archivist Valentino (no first name necessary with a last name like that) specializes in hunting for lost classics and convincing their owners to donate them to the UCLA film school. He doesn't mean to keep getting mixed up in murders, but with this cast of crazy characters, interesting things are bound to happen.

Valentino's life is a bit of a mess at the moment. He's trying to rebuild a much-loved but rundown old movie house, The Oracle, and he has come up against one devil of a building inspector. He's been kicked out of his temporary apartment at the theater and is rooming with his crazy colleague, Professor Broadhead (eggplant margaritas at 3:00 am, anyone?). His buddy, Matthew Rankin, has gotten himself into a real mess -- he confessed to Valentino that he was being blackmailed by his assistant, Roger Akers, and shortly afterwards Akers is dead and Rankin is holding the smoking gun. And through it all, the question: did the legendary Greta Garbo really write love letters to Rankin's wife? The big confession takes place at a party honoring Greta Garbo. Valentino's girlfriend, Harriet Brown, has a real shot at first prize in the lookalike contest.

What follows is a twisty little mystery, full of loony characters and film fantasies. Valentino is in deep trouble at The Oracle -- the building inspector seems determined to keep the project from moving forward and has insisted that he can no longer live on the premises. Valentino moves in temporarily with his colleague, Professor Broadhead, but that's not going to last. The crazy old coot is up at all hours and they are bound to clash over his very young girlfriend, Fanta. And his involvement in the murder case has gotten Harriet in trouble with her boss -- quite a big deal, since Harriet works for the police department. And he would love to get a peek at those letters! ( )

Film Archivist Valentino returns. A clever mystery that spans the decades from when Greta Garbo was acting until now. A murder, missing letters, forged letters and resentment of some ones' dead wife all come together in this colorful mystery. I like my mysteries with a touch of humor and Estleman delivers, with a deft touch and a large dose of movie history. I finished this so quick cause I couldn't put it down. I have never read any of Mr. Estlemans' book, but there are some that I will be picking up.

As Valentino is working on restoring the former movie palace, the Oracle, to it's former elegance he is thrust into a murder mystery. When a wealthy benefactor tells him that he will donate an unseen Garbo film to the UCLA film archives, Valentinos' day job, if Valentino will help him dig up some dirt on an associate things get interesting. Particularly when the associate turns up dead the next day. There are enough twists here to satisfy anyone who likes roller coaster rides. All the characters are great and the situations realistic, no twist seems out of place. And as in real life there are several subplots involved. Really looking forward to reading more.

"Alone" is the second installment in the Valentino mystery series by Loren D. Estleman. Having not read the other book in the series, "Frames," it was difficult at first to acclimate myself to the characters and their relationships. However, "Alone" truly makes me want to read "Frames" to find out more about these characters' back stories.

The protagonist, Valentino, works for UCLA as a film archivist who strives to recover lost movies and footage. This work brings him into contact with some of the people that were involved with old Hollywood. The focus in "Alone" surrounds a murder mystery that includes a scandal surrounding the late Greta Garbo. It falls to Valentino to play detective in sorting out the hints that are being dropped to him and the clues that the police are turning up, all the while dealing with the various aspects of his everyday life, friendships and relationships.

"Alone" is a quick read that is entertaining, informative, and surprising. All the characters, the good and the bad, can be related to, making the good ones likable and the bad ones sympathetic. There is a healthy amount of information on the transitional era of Hollywood from silent films to talkies and the life of Garbo.

For being only the second work in the Valentino Mystery series, it is a solid start to the series and it looks like it will only get better as the series grows. ( )

As I started reading "Alone," the characters sounded so familiar to me. I was thinking that I had read another story about Valentino before but wasn't sure. Then I read in another review that the author has written several short stories featuring the same character. The light bulb went on and I realized I have read another story in EQMM. I enjoyed that one and I enjoyed this book. Mysteries are one of my favorite genres and this did not disappoint. The story had a nice pace, no unfair clues or outcomes, the good guys were likeable and the bad guys had enough of a good side to make you feel sorry for them. I would have like to have a little more back story in the beginning once I realize this was part of a series, thinking that I would have to go back and read lots of previous volumes. But this is the second in the series, so there's only one to catch up with. I will definitely seek that one out and look forward to more installments in the life of Valentino and the Oracle theatre. Overall, I recommend this as a good read. ( )

The first Valentino novel, Frames, was very breezy, lightweight and amusing-but-insubstantial. the book's writer Loren D. Estleman put words into the characters mouths that were witty and clever; but it's unlikely anyone would ever actually speak that way.

This second Valentino murder mystery is several grades better-written than the first book. The characters have been developed into richer and more believable figures. The protagonist, Valentino has a real quandry to work through when faced with a blacmailer. And the plot is developed in a manner that is plausible (as compared with the first book's reliance on some really weak plot points).

All in all, this is a nicely devloped murder mystery. The action moves briskly, the characters are rich and believable, the writing is clever without being self aware, and the plot is complex without being obtuse. Recommended. ( )