Robert Wanless

The Hesitant Detective: and the Wreck of the Allard Robert Wanless

January 1953, the peaceful resort town of Palm Beach.¿ Fritz de Graat is killed driving hisAllard.¿ The wrecked car is towed toAaron Furman's, (Palm Beach's only Jewish auto mechanic).¿ Examining the car Furman suspects the wreckwas no accident. Furman tells Basil Simms (the 'HesitantDetective'), a young professional photographer, his suspicions.¿ Basil doesn't want to get involved.¿ But then things begin to happen.¿ Basil continues to vacillate between doinganything or staying out of it, but keeps getting in deeper, spurred on byevents, curiosity and conscience.¿ Whensomeone tries to kill him he finally talks to a police detective, thinking tobe done with it. Furman explains the meaning of 'For whom the belltolls'.¿ They decide do some'detecting'.¿ Basil tries toflush answers from Fritz's, handsome and apparently nymphomaniacstepmother.¿ Narrowly avoiding seductionHe solves the mystery, with a good 'photographer's eye', combattraining and chutzpah. Wanless describes the book as a 'Lite' murdermystery, an entertainment.¿ The book ispeopled with lively funny people and nice surprises.