The Doomsday Brunette

by John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem

The hilarious sequel to The plutonium Blonde . In the year 2057, the last freelance private investigator, partnered with an experimental A.I. named Harv, solves cases involving androids, future tech wizards, and all sorts of mayhem...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756400902
• ISBN13: 9780756400903
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Interesting sci-fi twist on WhoDunIt?

Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last private eye on Earth - and he wouldn't have it any other way. When he receives a call at 3 am from Ona Thompson - the richest being on the planet - he really has no option but to do as she directs and come to her complex. There he finds her in the company of her siblings - Twoa, Threa and Fora. Of course, there is a problem - Fora is dead. This is made even more problematic because the Quads (as they are called) are nigh-invulnerable, having been genetically created by their genius father to be beautiful, intelligent and superior in every way. This resulted in their skin being slightly purple, but that only enhances their charm. Zach has to discover who killed Fora, and how it was accomplished. This is easier said than done, since it appears that almost everyone had not only the desire to murder her, but also means and opportunity. The book is filled with terrific characters - most notably the Quads themselves. Ona inherited her father's wealth, so she is a super-model and play-girl. Twoa is a super-hero - seriously - cape and everything. Threa is a fairy queen - she even has nymphs to follow her around. Fora was (to Zach) the most normal as an anarcho-goth who preached the dangers of materialism in New Vegas. HARV - Zach's computerized personal assistant - develops a keep interest in detecting in this novel and begins to change his appearance as a result, with often quite amusing results. Then there is W, the ancient butler who specializes in table setting; Opie, the silver-back mountain gorilla who has been genetically altered to have human intelligence and is a fan of practical jokes; the Pfauhans, who are identical "twin" cousins named Sturm and Drang who look like Teutonic power houses but have a shocking secret . . . as well as the return of Randy, Carol, Electra Gevada and Tony Rickey. There is also an amusing character in the person of the coroner, whose name has slipped my mind at the nano - he refuses to call anyone by name, as he feels that would personalize people and keep him from doing his job properly. Zakour has a true genius when it comes to creating memorable and interesting characters! These books are wonderful works of cross-genre fiction, mixing science fiction with PI noir in a delightful concoction that is sure to please fans of both types of books, as well as fans of a well-concocted bit of word play. Zakour has a lot of fun with language and it shows in his writing. This book is a definite "don't miss" from me!

Very good SF/detective story

Set in the middle of the 21st century, the Thompson Quads (short for quadruplets) are genetically engineered to be stronger, smarter, more beautiful and alluring, more everything than the average person. Ona, Twoa, Threa and Foraa (seriously) are supposed to be the pinnacle of humanity, but their personalities never caught up with their bodies. During a private dinner at Ona's private compound, attempting to patch up disagreements between them (which have grown to the size of the Grand Canyon), Foraa falls to the floor, dead, and apparently poisoned. Enter Zachary Nixon Johnson, the world's last freelance private investigator. The wine Foraa was drinking when she collapsed tests negative for all known poisons. An autopsy on Foraa is impossible because her skin, like that of her sisters, is impregnable to outside objects, including scalpels, saws, and even lasers used on asteroids. Johnson, who is assisted in his investigation by HARV, the world's most sophisticated supercomputer hardwired into his brain, doesn't lack for suspects. Perhaps the killer was aiming for Ona (she inherited all of Daddy's money when he died, and has become an arrogant, overbearing you-know-what) and miscalculated. After much investigation, and narrowly surviving an attack by a cybernetic suit of armor, Johnson feels the case is solved. During what is supposed to be the climatic scene, where the hardboiled PI calls together all the suspects in order to reveal the murderer, Johnson gets a call from the morgue. Foraa has woken up, gotten off the autopsy table and left. The final battle of the book takes place in a New Vegas casino that happens to be built on top of a real doomsday device, built by Daddy before he died. Fans of hardboiled detective novels will enjoy this story; science fiction fans will also enjoy it. The authors do a fine job throughout and this is well worth reading.

not your average SF & Hard Boiled Detective novel

I was first caught by the title, then by the wonderful cover art which does a fine job of capturing the quintessential look of a period Pulp Fiction magazine. The content is no less entertaining. Not many authors have been able to carry off a classic Hard Boiled Detective novel (or even less a Detective/Mystery novel) in the Science Fiction vein. It was an easy and entertaining read. I occasionally thumbed a few pages back to re-read a particulary amusing or well-written scene.....My only regret is that this was the *first* one I read and that I haven't read the first book. Even though I'm reading out of order hasn't diminished my enjoyment a Nano!

Excellent follow-up! You should buy this book!!

The 2nd book of the trilogy, The Doomsday Brunette, picks up shortly after the events of The Plutonium Blonde. She's super-smart, super-super-model gorgeous, nigh-invulnerable and a light shade of purple. Yup, purple. And she's 1/4 of the Thompson Quadruplet's. She is Ona Thompson and one of her sister's is dead. Zach Johnson, Private Eye extraordinaire (that's because he's the ONLY PI left on Earth), is hired by the richest being on the planet, Ona Thompson, to find out who killed her sister. Ah mayhem...murderous granny's, homicidal 13th Century Medieval suits of armor, golf ball-sized laser-firing security bots, zombie Vegas tourists (what! They're not REAL?!), and pheromones...sweet, sweet pheromones...What?! Where was I? Oh, yeah...one liner's, intrigue, acrophobia and more...all the ingredients for a fun-filled, fast-paced romp in the not-too-distant future of mid-21st Century. Can't wait for the 3rd book, The Radioactive Redhead. Don't make Zach's adventures a trilogy. We want more!!!

Exciting, and well done.....................

Bought this book by reading the reviews and did not regret it. Quick and easy pulp fiction read with excellent characters and plot. I read this book in two fun-filled days. Takes place in the future 2058, the story involves four identical sisters and our P.I. is called out to One's house because someone or thing has murdered her sister called Foura. I will not go into any more detail,just telling all you guys who Laurell's works and Jim Butcher's books to try this book. I really enjoyed it. Now John hurry up and finish up The Radioactive Redhead. YOU HAVE A NEW FAN.................