Little Elvises

By Timothy Hallinan

JUNIOR BENDER UNTANGLES ONE OF THE WEIRDEST MYSTERIES IN TINSELTOWN
 
LA burglar Junior Bender has (unfortunately) developed a reputation as a competent private investigator for crooks. The unfortunate part about this is that regardless of whether he solves the crime or not, someone dangerous is going to be unhappy with him, either his suspect or his employer.
 
Now Junior is being bullied into proving aging music industry mogul Vinnie DiGaudio is innocent of the murder of a nasty tabloid journalist he'd threatened to kill a couple times. It doesn’t help that the dead journalist’s widow is one pretty lady, and she’s trying to get Junior to mix pleasure with business. Just as the investigation is spiraling out of control, Junior's hard-drinking landlady begs him to solve the disappearance of her daughter, who got involved with a very questionable character. And, worst news of all, both Junior's ex-wife and his thirteen-year-old daughter, Rina, seem to have new boyfriends. What a mess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781616952785

Timothy Hallinan

Timothy Hallinan is the author of nine widely praised books: eight novels—including the Bangkok thrillers featuring Poke Rafferty—and a work of nonfiction. Along with his wife, Munyin Choy, he divides his time equally between Los Angeles, California, and Southeast Asia.

Reviews for Little Elvises

[danhammang · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Think of combining Henry James and Robin Williams and setting the result loose on a romp through the nooks and crannies of Los Angeles in the person of Junior Bender, a burglar for our own times. The somewhat strange title quickly makes sense as Hallinan weaves a story that involves our cultural penchant for trying to replicate big successes. I really did laugh out loud and even read a few of the passages out loud to my wife. Junior is hard not to like. It was a treat to read. I will be back for more.

[fmrox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of all it only gets 3.5 stars because the narrator is annoying. I don't think the protagonist's voice is suppose to be that annoying. If I was reading it, I would have given it 4 stars.Junior Bender, professional burglar is black mailed into to helping a crooked cop clear his crooked uncle of a recent murder. Along the way, Bender's current landlord asks him to find her missing daughter.Great plot, nicely woven and intricate. Just when you think it's going to be over, another mystery slides it way in. New characters are presented and compelling, old characters, such as Junior's daughter, Rena, are further developed. Although, I don't enjoy the narrator, I enjoy this series and will continue on.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Imagine you're a burglar. But not just any burglar; you're a very good burglar, who has been breaking into homes since you were 14, and never been caught. Not only are you good at your job, you're intelligent, self-educated, particular about grammar, a caring dad, and a loyal friend. And, you're being framed by a cop who wants you to do a bit of detecting to get his somewhat slimy uncle off the hook for a murder it looks like he committed. Got it? Good. You've entered the world of Junior Bender. This was my second foray into Junior's world, and I still like it. I feel like I've found a successor to two of my favorite authors, who have gone to the great beyond, and left me pining for Spencer and Dortmunder. Junior takes on the "invitation" to investigate the murder of a somewhat skeezy reporter, a murder which looks to be pinned on a former big shot in the music industry of the 1950's (aka Uncle Vinnie to a corrupt cop). Uncle Vinnie made his fortune back in Philly, promoting young singers in the style of Elvis and Bobby Darin. Add in the attractive widow of the dead reporter, who seems to be more interested in Junior than her husband, alive or dead, the missing daughter of Junior's landlady, new romances for both his ex-wife and his teen-age daughter which create distinct pains in various parts of Junior's anatomy, a heist of valuable jade, two missing former child music stars represented by Uncle Vinne, and a growing cast of good supporting characters, and Little Elvises takes on a beat of its own. Plus, Hallinan gives a really thorough and interesting history of the pre-Beatles music, blended skillfully into the story. A third Junior Bender came out last week, and I've already put in a request for it.

[joeydag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author has developed a smart and smart-mouthed thief in the character Junior Bender. He tells a involved story that has to include the motivation for the thief to be obligated to figure out a crime and deal with the issues involved in his complicated life. I'm sure I'll be ready to go on another Bender.

[toobusyreading · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The good guy in this story is a bad guy, a burglar who has to solve one crime so a cop doesn't frame him for another crime. But this bad guy is thoroughly likable, well aware of his own numerous shortcomings, most of the time anyway. And he just keeps trudging on anyway.There is gore in this story, but not huge, gross, horrible amounts of it. Well, except for Fronts - a pretty interesting character in his own right. Three different mysteries are intertwined, well, three main ones anyway. Some surprises, some terrific writing, some funny bits."Jesus. Vinnie, Paulie, Popsie. Where are Vito and Sonny? Why not just hang some neon sign in the window, Mobs R Us?""For a while, he'd worn bangs, but he had a natural curl in his hair,and the bangs flipped up at the ends with a twee effect that made him look like a hitman for the Campfire Girls."I have not read the first book in this series but I'm definitely going to have to read it and then keep my eyes out for the next one.Great characters, fresh and funny writing, an entertaining plot add up to 4 stars overall, 5 for this genre.I was given a copy of the book for review, for which I am grateful.

[cathyskye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First Line: From behind his little pile of crumpled Tootsie Roll wrappers, DiGaudio said, "We can make you for the Hammer job." Junior Bender has made a name for himself in Los Angeles-- as a first-rate burglar... and as a competent private investigator for the criminal element in town. (After all, to whom are the crooks going to turn when they have a problem, the cops?) This private eye gig isn't all it's cracked up to be because it's a no win situation. Regardless whether he solves the crime or not, someone dangerous-- suspect or employer-- is going to be unhappy with him. In this second book in the series, Junior has been bullied into proving that an aging music industry mogul didn't murder a nasty journalist whom he'd publicly threatened to kill. The journalist's pretty widow doesn't help matters when she tries to get Junior to mix pleasure with business. Just when his investigation starts going out of control, Junior's landlady begs him to solve the disappearance of her daughter-- and then he learns that both his ex-wife and his thirteen-year-old daughter have new boyfriends. But Junior knows better than to ask if things could get any worse. Somehow, some way, Junior Bender has to make as many people happy as possible because he most definitely wants to survive to live another day. Ever since 1968 and the television series "It Takes a Thief" starring Robert Wagner, I've had a thing for handsome, smart aleck burglars with devilish smiles and nine lives. This "thing" grew to embrace Cary Grant, David Niven, Maltese Falcons, and the debonair Remington Steele among others, so you have to know that I was thrilled to discover Junior Bender. Sure, Junior doesn't have a cool name like Alexander Mundy or the aforementioned Mr. Steele, but he's more than a match for them all when it comes to a sense of humor, a heart of gold, and quick wits.Timothy Hallinan has to have a blast when he writes these books. He gets to bring in bits of Los Angeles and Hollywood history as well as his opinion of Southern California in general. He gets to create some hilarious characters, some downright scary characters, and a few characters that really know how to tug on the heartstrings.As much as I love the people Hallinan has created, his plots are every bit as much fun. Although I do like to attempt to puzzle things out as I read a mystery, I throw my hands up when reading about Junior Bender. Hallinan's plots are even more crooked than San Francisco's Lombard Street; just as I think I know how one thing is going to be resolved, the author proves that I couldn't be more wrong. It's better to just sit back, fasten your seatbelt, and put your tray table in its upright and locked position. You're in for one fantastic ride-- and you're going to be cheering for Junior Bender all the way.

[bowedbookshelf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One picks up a book by Tim Hallinan to have fun. There’s a little murder, sure…sometimes a lot of murder…but it’s usually the bad guys that “get it” and we rest easy, knowing there is someone out there who’d rob us blind if he could, but who won’t take more than we can afford to lose.

Hallinan’s creation, Junior Bender, is the kind of guy you might ask back to your house for a party, after he’d robbed it, just to ask how he did it. He’s that amusing.

The Junior Bender series of books is based in Los Angeles and captures the vibration of southern California precisely. If you’ve ever found yourself missing the place, you might want to pick up one of Hallinan’s books for a cure. Hallinan lasers in on defining characteristics, and picks up those things we thought we’d fixed with botox, or managed to hide with designer advice. He is brilliant at describing environments, in this case an old art deco apartment building with a view of the city purchased by crooked Koreans. Crumbling and unkempt on the outside, it is gloriously restored on the inside, with secret escapes and hidden garages, just perfect for hiding ill-gotten gains or for a man on the run.

Junior has a code of ethics that is not taught in any religion, but like many southern Californians, is just something he created out of whole cloth and “evolved” into. But we like this code, just as we like him. He is a thief, yes, but his heart is in the right place. Everyone wants his help at some time or another, even the cops, and if they don’t, well, mostly they want to lock him up or kill him. Which keeps Junior on his toes.

Junior has a family, and in this episode, his thirteen-year-old daughter, Rina, shows she is growing up into someone he can admire. Do I need to say she has computer skills that put her father to shame? And while she is not old enough to have a boyfriend, she has a friend that is a boy who is as special and interesting as everyone else in the family. We yearn to see more of him, and watch him grow.

Hallinan writes crime novels that defy the type. One can imagine finding a sprung-binding massmarket paperback of his with its delicious, distinctive single-color cover and woodcut silhouettes and opening to the first page…only hours later surfacing to reflect that one had found gold.

[macabr_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nothing is ever easy for Junior Bender. He is a burglar; everyone knows that. He is never violent, he never enters a home when people are present. Everyone knows that, too. He has a foolproof alibi for the time of the robbery. So why is he in a police station being accused of breaking into the home of a judge and attacking the judge’s wife? Detective Paulie DiGaudio lets Junior know that his alibi is no longer foolproof. “My name mean anything to you?” “Sure,” I said. “It’s a synonym for all that is admirable in law enforcement.” “Beyond that.” I said, “Philadelphia in the fifties. Imitation Elvises. Handsome Italian kids with tight pants and big hair.”Those handsome kids were famous for fleeting moments but during those moments they made a lot of money and that money was managed by Vincent DiGaudio, Paulie’s uncle. The offer to Junior is straightforward. If he solves Vinnie’s problem, Paulie will make sure that alibi is foolproof again. Vinnie’s problem: something to do with murder.Since his divorce, Junior has been living in a series of motel rooms. The motel of the month is Marge ‘n Ed’s North Pole, a Christmas themed business where the rooms, as much as possible, were identified by the names of Santa’s reindeer rather than numbers. The bright spot in Junior’s life is his daughter, Rina, a thirteen year-old computer whiz who can find her way into any place that has information Junior needs. She easily discovers that among the Little Elvises Vincent DiGaudio managed was Giorgio, a man-child of exceptional beauty who was completely devoid of any talent and was absolutely terrified every time he stepped on a stage. Giorgio was a shooting star that flashed across the television screen and the movie screen and then disappeared while on a movie project in Hawaii. Giorgio is gone but not forgotten; he has his own star on the music industry’s walk of fame. Vincent DiGaudio wants Junior to investigate that previously mentioned murder. Derek Bigelow, a reporter for every supermarket tabloid in the US, has been found dead, his body resting on Giorgio’s star. Vincent had made it known that he intended to kill Bigelow but someone got to him first. Vincent had a hit all set up for the next night. Now the police are going to be coming for him; his threats are coming back to haunt him.In short order, Junior finds himself being chased by some murderous characters in a Humvee without any clue as to why. He meets Derek Bigelow’s wife, Ronnie, and before there is time to give it any thought, they become bedmates. And Marge, the owner of Junior’s motel of the month, comes to him, terrified, because her daughter Doris is missing. last seen with a decidedly unsavory character.Junior’s life becomes dangerously complicated when he finds a note on his windshield – CALL IRWIN. Irwin is Irwin Dressler, a man of incredible power in the state of California. That he was in his nineties didn’t make his less dangerous. Irwin Dressler was ” The power broker, the man who made things happen, the guy with the secrets. The Wizard of Was.” Despite all that, Junior decides not to call him so Irwin sends some friends to bring Junior to him. Irwin doesn’t mind if Junior discovers who killed Bigelow but he doesn’t want a connection to be drawn from Bigelow to Vinnie DiGaudi. If Junior agrees to this plan Irwin will owe him a very big favor and Junior knows that isn’t something to be sneezed at.As in all Timothy Hallinan’s novels, the characters, heroes, villains, and all the people in between, are perfect. Junior is not a hero in the truest sense of the word but when Junior gives his word, people know he can be counted upon to follow through on the promise. The rest of the characters are secondary in that, like CRASHED, LITTLE ELVISES is a Junior Bender book and make no mistake about it. Junior is the moral center of the books, honest as defined by his moral code. If Junior were a character in a fifties television Western, he would wear a white hat. Junior and Bret Maverick could be soul mates and the Maverick reference brings up something really interesting about the characters.Hallinan uses the term “the Wizard of Was” to describe Dressler and as the title of a section of the story. Junior is thirty-eight years old but this book plays to the readers who remember the real “Little Elvises” who had their moments of glory on American Bandstand. We remember Maverick and Matt Dillon and the stories about the mob wars in New York and Chicago and Las Vegas. It was a more innocent time, those early teenage years, before all innocence was lost on November 22, 1963, a watershed moment for the world. Hallinan captures those days in the fifties when songs on the radio were a couple of minutes long and singers weren’t expected to set their own versions of DANTE’S INFERNO to music. Payola doesn’t seem like such a terrible crime fifty years later. He also reminds the reader that the important things don’t really change. In writing about the girls who screamed for the Little Elvises, he describes their devotion. “They were crushes, not love affairs.” Describes Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers for today’s tweens.Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tim Hallinan book if there weren’t more than a few lines that sneak up on the reader and evoke laughter. “Want to join Marge in a glass of vodka?” “Sure, it there’s room.” This one took me awhile – “…Arthur Love Johnson…used to be called Algae on account of his initials.” Then there is the word problem that I swear was on a test.Hallinan has, again, written a story that is so much more than a good mystery. Buried in the funny lines and the character development are glimpses of life as everyone experiences it in one way or another. Be it Simeon, Poke, or Junior, Hallinan’s men are the good guys who do their best to do right. And Hallinan succeeds in writing some of the best books in the genre.And he manages to tie up all the ends of all the stories in LITTLE ELVISES, making it a completely satisfying reading experience.