Friday, January 15, 2016

Opening lines: The Wailing Frail by Richard S. Prather, 1956

I bought the ebook edition of The Wailing Frail—the 12th in the popular 40-plus Shell Scott Detective Mystery series by Richard S. Prather—thinking I’d review it for Friday’s Forgotten Books over at Patti Abbott’s blog Pattinase. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish reading it in time.

Patti is hosting a Richard S. Prather special today and had I finished the book, it’d have been my first by the American mystery novelist who has a cult following among fans of the genre.

I’m a little more than halfway into this hardboiled racy novel and I already like Prather’s style, particularly his use of short sentences that are as crisp as a fried South Indian papad, lines like “Beasley's mouth was working, but he didn't say anything.” He lives much to the reader’s imagination.

I also liked the opening lines a lot. I have a feeling that’s how most of his novels open, with more than just a hint of suspense and humour.

She yanked the door open with a crash and said, "Gran — "but then she stopped and stared at me. She was nude as a noodle.

I stared right back at her.

"Oh!" she squealed. "You're…not Grandma!"

"No," I said, "I'm Shell Scott, and you're not Grandma, either."

She slammed the door in my face.

Yep, I thought, this is the right house. 

 
I will be reviewing The Wailing Frail in coming weeks.

20 comments:

  1. I wonder why I've not heard more about this writer. Need to check him out

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    1. Charles, I heard about Prather a few years ago though I never read any of his books. This story, as I'm sure others too, is reminiscent of hardboiled mysteries of mid-20th century.

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  2. Oh, that is certainly quite an opening line, Prashant! Wow! Little wonder you liked it so well. I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and I hope you'll post a review when you've finished it.

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    1. Margot, those lines instantly tell you what to expect from the author. I like it when writers leave their narrative stamp on their books. The novel is less than 200 pages and I hope to read and review it soon.

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  3. I read a couple of his novels way back. Liked him then and like him now.

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    1. Oscar, I discovered Prather's work quite recently and I'm looking forward to reading this and some of his other books.

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  4. Prashant, you'll finish this Shell Scott in record time! All of Prather's books are quick reads!

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    1. That's what I thought, George. I will have to rely on his ebooks as I have yet to come across a paper book.

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  5. Not tried him and I don't think I've got anything by him either.

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    1. Col, Prather would be right up your reading alley, I think.

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  6. You've got me guffawing here, Prashant, and I'm even hungry now for fried South Indian papad (which I've never tried). Glad you're enjoying the read.

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    1. Mathew, "papad" or "papadum" is a South Indian knick-knack that can be had with drinks or as an accompaniment with meals. It can be fried or roasted and can be embellished with spices, onion, and tomatoes.

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    2. I think maybe I did have papad years ago when I lived in a rooming house at the U. of Wis. with students from India and Pakistan. We all took turns cooking, and I developed quite a taste for curries and the like. If papad was on the menu, I did not know what to call it, but from your description it sounds familiar.

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    3. Mathew, thanks for sharing that little anecdote about your exposure to Indian and Pakistani cooking. I hope you got to try butter chicken. Papad can be a knick-knack or an appetiser depending on when, or with what, you are having it.

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    4. Don't think we ever did butter chicken, Prashant, but is sounds delicious. How about a recipe? ;)

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    5. Mathew, butter chicken is delicious and is to be had with the roti or nan, a traditional Indian flat bread popular in my part of the world as well as in the Middle East and Turkey. I believe a lot of Indian restaurants in the US serve butter chicken.

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  7. Prashant, I will be looking forward to the full review. This looks like one I will try. I can't read all 40 plus of them though, even if they are fairly short.

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    1. Tracy, I have never read Prather before and this one book is already encouraging me to read some of the others in the Shell Scott series.

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  8. Nice opening! and great cover. Not a writer I am familiar with.

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    1. I agree, Moira. His style is distinctive but then I feel that way about every new author I read.

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