Page 14 - Boca Exposure - August '21

Page 14, Boca Exposure
Book Review

Gone To Dust walked east toward France “And another thing, Special Agent Peterson, I do not
Avenue, passing the movie put out on a first date.”
By Nils A. Shapiro theater and a clothing “Then I’m not buying you lunch.”
A couple of years ago, boutique and cosmetics “If you want to start our relationship that way, be my
I was flipping through the bar, whatever the hell that guest.”
pages of the Sunday New is. I turned right at Sur La If that brief taste isn’t enough of a convincer, here are
York Times Book Review Table after catching a bad brief comments about Gone to Dust from several New
section when I was startled case of Le Creuset envy York Times best-selling authors:
by the following big, bold from the window display, “The perfect PI novel – smart, spare, sarcastic, and
headline: “I want more and then continued half a completely heartbreaking.”
of Nils Shapiro.” After block south to the Edina “A clever mystery that starts with a unique crime
staring at it incredulously Grill, an American bistro scene, mixes in a package of red herrings, and tops off the
for a minute or two, I featuring local favorites plot with Nils Shapiro, a private eye who is as interesting
realized that it was part of like wild-rice soup and as his name.”
the review of a book, Broken Ice, by author Matt Goldman Fulton beer. I found a spot “Sharp wit, complex characters, and masterful
– a crime novel involving a private investigator named at the bar and ordered a soda with bitters, to honor plotting makes Goldman a writer to watch. Irreverent
Nils Shapiro! In all my life, I have never come across Ellegaard, and a bison burger, to mock Robert Somerville. and insightful, private detective Nils Shapiro is sure to
anyone who shares my name, an unusual one because – “Thirty seconds later, a dark-skinned black man become a fan favorite.”
while Shapiro is a very common Jewish name – Nils (in wearing rimless sunglasses, a blue suit, white shirt, and There are now four titles in this series. This one
my case, pronounced as in miles) is a Scandinavian name silver tie sat next to me. takes place in the small town of Edina, Minn., a suburb
(traditionally pronounced as in hills). “How you doing today?” he asked. of Minneapolis, where Shapiro is a private investigator
(At the time I was born, there was a popular “Not too bad. How about yourself?” with close ties to the local police department. He is
Scandinavian actor in Hollywood named Nils Asther; “I’ve been warmer, I’ll tell you that much. Happy to unconventional, has no patience for b.s., and isn’t shy
my parents mispronounced his name, and I have be inside the Edina Grill.” about being sarcastic with people he doesn’t like –
had to explain the proper spelling of my name – “no He pronounced Eh-deena. Common mistake for an including using some four-letter words you should know
e” – thousands of times, whenever I have to provide out-of-stater. I said, “Good day for lobster bisque. That about before you open to the first page, if you are prudish
information for registrations, documents, etc.) and a cup of coffee will bring you back to life.” about such things.
I immediately called the publishing company, which “Thanks for the suggestion,” he said. “I appreciate For this month’s review, I went back to this first book
graciously put me in touch with the author, Matt Goldman. it.” in the series, Gone to Dust, in which Goldman introduces
It turns out that Matt began his career as a stand-up comic, “If you don’t mind another suggestion, next time his lead character. We learn that he has been divorced
then became an Emmy Award-winning writer for Seinfeld you’re walking around in weather like this, leave the from a beautiful wife, Micaela, with whom he is still
and other TV shows before his present great success as five-hundred-dollar leather-soled shoes at home.” in love, that he lives in (I will refer to it as a “crummy”
an author, including four highly praised and successful “You don’t like my shoes?” apartment, although Shapiro uses a more colorful term
crime novels featuring private investigator Nils Shapiro. “I like your shoes. It’s just the sidewalks and streets not suitable for this newspaper), and that the local police
When I contacted him, he was as delightfully surprised are full of salt – they’ll eat those shoes alive.” chief invites him to help in the strange case of a woman
as I was by the coincidence and explained how he had “How do you know I’ve been walking around? Maybe who has been murdered in a room that was then so heavily
come up with such an odd name for his main character: I parked out front.” blanketed with dust emptied from many vacuum cleaner
Matt himself is Jewish, and he figured there aren’t many “If you’d done that, those transitions lenses you’re bags that there is no evidence from which to trace the
literary private eyes of the faith ... and a close childhood wearing would be warm enough to transition back to murderer.
friend of his was a boy whose family had emigrated from clear. But when they get cold, it takes ‘em forever to turn As usual in a small town where everyone knows
Scandinavia, so he selected Nils as an homage to his old back.” everyone else, there are several suspects – among them
buddy. He took off his glasses and looked at the lenses. local lifelong friends of Shapiro, including the victim’s
I read that book, Broken Ice, and was able to honestly “Damn, I thought it was dark in here.” He put his glasses ex-husband and recent wealthy boyfriend, and each is
recommend it in my review column as one of the most back on and studied the menu for a few seconds, then investigated in turn. Shapiro is not above the use of
intriguing, best written crime novels I had ever read. flipped it over. “I don’t see the soups.” techniques requiring trickery or deceit – whatever is
Setting aside completely my personal interest in the lead “Check under FBI special agent specials.” called for. And when feminine beauty shows up, Shapiro
character’s name, the fact is that the only contemporary “He laughed. The game had ended before it started. is, after all, only human ... although lingering feelings
author whose flair for narrative and dialogue comes “Special Agent Delvin Peterson.” He extended his right for his ex-wife tend to complicate matters.
close to Matt Goldman is Stephen King! This is such a hand. Finally, when the list of suspects narrows, chances are
fast-paced read that each time you turn a page your hand “I shook it. “Nils Shapiro, private investigator. And this private eye will be way ahead of you.
will be reaching for the top of the next right-hand page just so you know, Delvin, the town you’re in is pronounced Failing to introduce yourself to private investigator
before you have even read halfway down the left page! Ee-dinah, not Eh-deena. They should have taught you that Nils Shapiro by getting a copy of Gone to Dust may not
Here is a brief excerpt of the author’s writing style: before you left D.C.” be a crime. But it is at least a misdemeanor – punishable
I left my car in the bank parking lot, crossed 50th, and “I’ll be sure to mention it in my Yelp review of the by your missing out on a really good thing.
Hoover Building.”

Everyone deserves a doctor who they

trust and like. One who listens and

takes their time to answer questions

and address concerns. A doctor who is

available when you need them most.

PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY I provide proactive, preventive, wellness & sick care to

In the Comfort of Your Home
THERAPY CHANGES LIVES | Get the Right Team to Help you is Key! adult patients at my concierge medical practice.

To discuss your health needs, and my care model, you

are invited to a complimentary meet and greet with
me - by video, phone or, when the pandemic permits,
in-person at my practice.

Please call 561.368.0191 to schedule your meet and
Strength Training ● Stroke Recovery greet with me. I look forward to meeting you.
Neurological Conditions ● CardioPulmonary
Chronic Diseases ● Dementia Care ● Low Vision Steven E. Reznick, MD, FACP
Orthopedics ● Aging-in-Place Certified Recognized as a “Best Doc”. Practicing in our community since 1979.
Medicare Part B | Humana | Private Pay
Serving Palm Beach & Broward Counties
Call us at: 561-409-4490 | www.annerose-otcare.com 7280 W. Palmetto Park Road | Suite 205N | Boca Raton | 33433
7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 210 | Boca Raton FL 33433 ww.BocaConciergeDoc.com
Locally Owned & Operated by Therapists