Another early book in the writing career of Max Allan Collins, written first chronologically, but published second in the Mallory series.

It's a quick read, and generally pretty good, but as I said, it's early in the author's career, and while there are glimpses of greatness, the writing is somewhat adolescent. Not bad, but growing. ( )

Collins' Mallory series is not as well known. He started writing this series in writer's workshops in 1969 and finally published it in the early 80's. Mallory is a college-age mystery writer in Iowa as the Vietnam
War is winding down. There are five Mallory novels, including The Baby
Blue Rip-Off (1983), No Cure for Death (1983), Kill Your Darlings 1984), A Shroud for Aquarius (1985), and Nice Weekend for a Murder 1986).

In this volume. Mallory is at the bus station in Port City, Iowa, to meet a friend John on leave from military service in Southeast Asia. Mallory has been trying to strike up conversation with a blonde for about an
hour when a man the size of Frankenstein threatens her. After an epic battle, he rescues the fair damsel and buys her a cup of coffee. Janet Taber tells him her life story. A few hours later, Mallory meets John's father, the sheriff, at an accident site and realizes the mangled blonde woman is the same one whose acquaintance he just made. Strange coincidence or perhaps someone wanted her dead and got her good and dead. The sheriff tells Mallory to butt out.
He chases down leads and, in addition to meeting a woman who makes his jaw drop, finds that Janet was somehow tied into the
wealthy family that runs the political life in the area. As Mallory scratches his head, the bodies and the suspects add up.
An enjoyable mystery well worth reading. Collins has a real easy writing style that draws the reader in. ( )

Another quick, fun mystery read from Collins. Certainly not as good as the Quarry books, but worth reading for Collins' fans. Our hero is a good guy who finds himself in a tangled web of murder & cover ups. There is a theme of racial equality that is a bit heavy handed, but not terrible. ( )