Donald Lam (newly hired will become the top operative of Bertha Cools B.L. Cool Detective Agency) is to serve divorce papers on Morgan Birks, who vanished after involvement in a slot-machine scandal; Alma Hunt's friend Sandra Birks charged him with abuse. Sandra's brother "Bleatie" knows Morgan's mistress=Sally Durke can lead Lam to Morgan; Lam & Alma follow Sally to a hotel. Lam serves the papers on Birks, then leaves with Bertha Cool. After Lam gets abducted & released, he starts a new investigation, flies to Yuma (AZ) & winds up absolving Alma Hunt from guilt as he provides enough info for CA to round up Birks' gang.
Reviews: This complex tale rewards readers amply by its finale. Its regrettable that this series fell out of print in the 1970s as Gardner really seemed to have fun w/these two sleuths who at their best were cynically witty, self-effacing and made an excellent team. Therapsheet A solid series featuring a memorably mismatched pair of private eyes.Thrillingdetective
Reviews: This complex tale rewards readers amply by its finale. Its regrettable that this series fell out of print in the 1970s as Gardner really seemed to have fun w/these two sleuths who at their best were cynically witty, self-effacing and made an excellent team. Therapsheet A solid series featuring a memorably mismatched pair of private eyes.Thrillingdetective
