The Corpse Steps Out

By Craig Rice

Radio star Nelle Brown is known coast-to-coast for her sweet and sultry voice. But her press agent and manager, Jake Justus, is familiar with another side of the darling of the airwaves: her crackpot marriage to a penniless tycoon, disastrous string of lovers, and propensity for flying into spectacular fits of rage. Now, it appears she's being burned by an ex-flame who's holding her scandalous love letters for ransom. The missives could ruin Nelle's career, but so could the scoundrel's murder. For Nelle and Jake, reporting the crime is out of the question—not to mention pointless, as the corpse has vanished along with the incriminating evidence.   John J. Malone, Chicago's rumpled yet resourceful legal beagle is tasked with finding both. But as every new unscrupulous lead turns up dead, Malone isn't sure whether Nelle is orchestrating a killer cover-up to save her pretty neck or if she's about to belt out her own swan song.   The first writer of detective fiction to appear on the cover of Time magazine, former crime reporter "Craig Rice was a funny lady, [and] a good writer undeservedly forgotten . . . She's worth remembering" (Jon L. Breen, Edgar Award-winning author).   The Corpse Steps Out is the 1st book in the John J. Malone Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: mysteriouspress.com
• Release date: Nov 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781789540055

Craig Rice

Craig Rice (1908–1957), born Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig, was an American author of mystery novels and short stories described as “the Dorothy Parker of detective fiction.” In 1946, she became the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Best known for her character John J. Malone, a rumpled Chicago lawyer, Rice’s writing style was both gritty and humorous. She also collaborated with mystery writer Stuart Palmer on screenplays and short stories, as well as with Ed McBain on the novel The April Robin Murders.  

Reviews for The Corpse Steps Out

[booksandscones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The corpse of Paul March, a charming no-good blackmailer, keeps appearing and disappearing in various parts of Chicago, pursued by lawyer J. J. Malone, press agent Jake Justus, socialite Helene Brand, and radio star Nelle Brown, all fueled by an ocean of rye, gin and beer. Nelle's very indiscreet letters to March must be recovered as the four protagonists and a group of their friends try to locate the wandering corpse, who keeps being moved from location to location. Jake & Helene are trying to get married, but the wedding keeps being postponed by a fresh crisis. All problems are improved - and sometimes caused - by having another drink. The amount of booze consumed is truly stunning, so if this behaviour is boring or obnoxious to the reader, they might not like this book. I thought it was hysterically funny, although I could see that, if all the books in the series feature these drinking binges, it could become repetitious. Really enjoyed this one.

[montzaleew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Corpse Steps Outby Craig RiceThis book was first published in 1940. The story is based on radio actors and singers. Because of the era of the publication, I found a couple of phrases that would certainly be banned today. I also checked out the author and although the name is that of a man, she is really a woman using an alias.The story really is pretty good. A fun plot where it seems everyone had found the dead body and no one reported it! Then the body disappears! Different people have different ideas of who might have done it and try to cover for said person. So many people are messing around! It's quite clever and silly. I thought it was insanity at its best! Soon another body is found! Now what? If the publisher had corrected the phrases then it would be a solid 5 star just for the zany body capers!