Page 9 - The Shores of Jupiter - August '21

The Shores, Page 9
Book Review

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

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