Raise the Devil

by Terence Faherty

How do you stop a vicious killer whose motive is vengeance and whose prey is a movie company on an isolated California ranch? In 1962, Scott Elliott, top operative of Hollywood Security, problem solvers of last resort, travels to Las Vegas to rescue a starlet, Beverly Brooks, who has fallen afoul of a move-struck gangster. When Brooks and the producer of her current film, a cut-rate Cleopatra, are later killed in a fiery plane crash, Elliott follows...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312266405
• ISBN13: 9780312266400
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Ah, what a good book! A gritty period piece!

This is the kind of mystery you enjoy reading so much that you're torn between wanting to know what happens next (so you want to read quickly) and just enjoying the book (so you want to read slowly to savor the pleasure). The setting is the Kennedy Administration in California during the making of a movie -- a movie that is meant to compete with Cleopatra, which is being filmed in Italy at the same time. The book begins with our hero, Scott Elliott, snatching a half-naked actress from the Las Vegas hotel where she is being held captive by a bad-news gangster. It reminds me of the opening of a James Bond movie, where you're immediately on a roller coaster but don't quite know what's happening. The action shifts to the California ranch that this movie is being filmed on -- the actress is the lead in this movie, and that's why Scott's security firm was hired to bring her back. Scott gets the feeling that he and the filming crew are in real danger now because the gangster is going to be very angry at him and he's going to want to get the actress back again. TO make matters worse, Scott's wife is one of the writers on the movie and he's concerned about her safety. Faherty is such a great writer that I felt like I was there as it was happening -- riding in the 1960 Tbird convertible with Scott down a remote California road, wondering when the gangster is going to show up again. I have read other books by Faherty but not in this series. I'm going to have to read more Scott Elliott mysteries -- this book kind of made me sorry that the early 60s are over.

Scott Elliot gets better with age

I really enjoyed this 3rd Scott Elliot mystery. The series gets better with each book, as do the characters. The plot's believable and complex enough to keep you interested, but not so twisted that you get lost. The setting feels right, and it's obvious that Mr. Faherty has done his research.

Enjoyable Mystery

In 1962, movie director Piolene, trying to take advantage of the filming of Cleopatra, is filming Warrior Queen on location in central California. The story based on the life of the Briton Queen Boudacia, stars Beverly "Bebe" Brooks. However, two-bit Vegas mobster Johnny Remlinger abducts Bebe from the set. Warrior Queen scriptwriter Ella Elliot recommends to Piolene that he hire Hollywood Security to rescue his starlet. With the help of his employer Paddy MaGuire, private investigator Scott Elliot daringly rescues Bebe.However, the rescue does not last long when a plane carrying Bebe and Piolene crashes into a hill with the latter at the helm. Unable to sit back and let the law enforcement types handle the case, Scott begins his own inquiries. Though the suspect list starting with Remlinger seems endless, no one has a clear-cut motive for killing the two movie personalities. Still, feeling deep pangs of guilt for bringing Bebe back to die, Scott continues to investigate what seems like a hopeless case to solve.RAISE THE DEVIL, the third Scott Elliot case is an enjoyable historical mystery that brings to life Hollywood during the Kennedy Administration. The vast ensemble slows down the story line with unnecessary detours that fail as red herrings because motives never surface. Scott is an interesting individual, but his deep remorse does not feel genuine even if it propels him to obstinately pursue a helpless case. Although the early sixties at the movies is fun for the nostalgic baby boomers and Scott is overall a top rate character, most fans will be better off with Terence Faherty's other series.Harriet Klausner