Angel Eyes by Robert Dietrich

Robert Dietrich aka E Howard Hunt.

If you watched my all 80 books read in 2023 in order from worst to best video, you might remember that last year’s number one book was Calypso Caper by Robert Dietrich. Also, a “Steve Bentely Thriller.”

Steve Bentley is not a private detective. He’s not a cop. He’s not a former cop. He’s not a lawyer. So, who the hell is this guy solving murders? He’s a CPA. Ha! It’s a good thing that Hunt can write intriguing crime because it’s the most ridiculous mystery protagonist job ever. If it was just a one-time plot, sure. But a whole series where the guy who does your taxes solves violent murders on the regular is ludicrous.

That being said, man this is good stuff. Essentially, it’s a private detective story. Bentley knows the local hoods, the mobsters, the detectives, street hustlers etc. And not by doing their taxes. He mixes it up with them. He’s tough with his fists, carries a gun, talks hard-boiled, gets laid…everything you need him to be doing. And luckily for the reader, he is never doing taxes. And to be honest, he’d be the last person I want balancing my accounts cause he’s got a lot of bullshit going on.

Bentley comes home from work one evening and the once vacant apartment across the hall is now occupied by a hot vixen standing in her doorway. She’s all liquored up. Barely clothed. Upset about being stood up. And now she is willing to take any man who happens to be standing in the hallway. Same old story, it’s happened to us all hundreds of times. Steven Bentley isn’t one to neglect a damsel in distress, so he heads on over for a drink. It’s the least he can do.

He's well on his way to having a great night when she passes out. Only slightly disappointed, he heads home. At two separate times in the night, he hears someone banging on her door. Each time he goes out and has a conversation. Morning rolls around and surprise, she’s been murdered. He takes it upon himself to put his tax business on hold and find the killer.

It’s Washington DC so we have some political players. There are also some hoods. Reporters. Mega rich power people. Working class shlubs. Curvy dames. And I mean curvy. The way Hunt describes one of them you’d think it was Raven De La Croix. Bentley also says things like, “with a body like that why would you ever want to be anything but a woman?” When commenting on one of the female characters career intentions. Needless to say, it’s a little dated but if you’re looking for a novel that will take you back to the fifties with all of its scars, this is it.

The story is smooth and uncomplicated with plenty of twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And a few that you do. I mean we’re kind of working off a hardboiled P.I. template here by 1961. Just like Hunt’s previous novel I read, The Calypso Caper, this one is fun and breathable. It cruises along at a nice pace. If you can forget that he’s a CPA and not a private investigator or some such job that would warrant solving mysteries, it’s a damn solid little novel.

Dell 1961

Cover art : Robert McGinnis