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Shell Scott #12
Strip for Murder
Suspiciously dangerous accidents were happening, and people were dying, including the private eye I had been sent to replace. I didn't like it. But hey, that's what I'm hired to do, I'm use to murder and mayhem. The real problem came when I had to go undercover...UNCOVERED in a nudist camp..or as they liked to call themselves, "naturalists." Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against naked, especially when it comes in the form of one gorgeous blond tomato, but how am I supposed to protect her when I have nowhere to conceal my gun? Read by Heath Kizzier. 7 CD's 7.1 Hrs.
161 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1956
About the author
Richard S. Prather
159 books38 followersRichard Scott Prather was an American mystery novelist, best known for creating the "Shell Scott" series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 27, 2023
While most of the titles in Prather’s Shell Scott series seem humorous but unrelated to the subject matter, Strip for Murder seems to be on point. Known for risqué scenes and lengthy descriptions of the anatomy of female characters, Prather went all in this one – setting a significant part of the action in Fairhaven, a secret nudist colony somewhere near Los Angeles.
If you don’t enjoy your detective fiction with a side of humor, then this isn’t for you. But it’s rolling-in-the-aisles funny when Scott rushes to protect a damsel in distress -Laurel- also heir to a fifteen million dollar fortune and when he rings the bell, a hide woman runs up to the gate. He doesn’t get it when told he should leave his clothing in the green room. Nor does he get it when he is told he is to pretend to be the new athletic director and lead the hundreds of nudies in morning calisthenics. But first of course he must interview for the position before the council and he can’t even carry his gun because his would that look.
There are so many odd scenes with Scott, who generally spends half a chapter maneuvering a young damsel to see his aquarium fish, be completely uncomfortable and wholly out of his element with these nudists who do everything in the nude. He can hardly concentrate and doesn’t know where to look when speaking to someone. Of course, he nearly faints when forced to judge the women’s sprint. Apparently this type of scene existed long before the hippies and the sexual revolution.
The other rip-roaring humor Prather threw in is the notion that, when the nudist colony is invaded by gun-toting hoodlums masked but otherwise blending in at the colony and intent on killing Scott, he escapes by means of a hot air balloon. It’s, we get the amazing spectacle of a still clothing-free Shell Scott tied to a few balloons (no basket) floating over downtown Los Angeles and next to city hall (the tallest building in the city at the time) where all the secretaries recognize him and Captain Samson can’t stop laughing at the spectacle.
Believe it or not, there is serious detective work in this novel as Scott is asked to investigate a new son-in-law that a rich old lady suddenly has and figure out if he is a money-grubbing leech. By the way, she tells Scott when hiring him, the previous detective on the matter was murdered last night. This leads Scott to tangle with hoodlums, joust at a castle reminiscent of the future gambling palace Excalibur, and brawl at a nightclub with hoods with names like Garlic and Egg Young Foo.
Although it sounds goofy, it actually works as a detective novel with a few humorous bits thrown in.
If you don’t enjoy your detective fiction with a side of humor, then this isn’t for you. But it’s rolling-in-the-aisles funny when Scott rushes to protect a damsel in distress -Laurel- also heir to a fifteen million dollar fortune and when he rings the bell, a hide woman runs up to the gate. He doesn’t get it when told he should leave his clothing in the green room. Nor does he get it when he is told he is to pretend to be the new athletic director and lead the hundreds of nudies in morning calisthenics. But first of course he must interview for the position before the council and he can’t even carry his gun because his would that look.
There are so many odd scenes with Scott, who generally spends half a chapter maneuvering a young damsel to see his aquarium fish, be completely uncomfortable and wholly out of his element with these nudists who do everything in the nude. He can hardly concentrate and doesn’t know where to look when speaking to someone. Of course, he nearly faints when forced to judge the women’s sprint. Apparently this type of scene existed long before the hippies and the sexual revolution.
The other rip-roaring humor Prather threw in is the notion that, when the nudist colony is invaded by gun-toting hoodlums masked but otherwise blending in at the colony and intent on killing Scott, he escapes by means of a hot air balloon. It’s, we get the amazing spectacle of a still clothing-free Shell Scott tied to a few balloons (no basket) floating over downtown Los Angeles and next to city hall (the tallest building in the city at the time) where all the secretaries recognize him and Captain Samson can’t stop laughing at the spectacle.
Believe it or not, there is serious detective work in this novel as Scott is asked to investigate a new son-in-law that a rich old lady suddenly has and figure out if he is a money-grubbing leech. By the way, she tells Scott when hiring him, the previous detective on the matter was murdered last night. This leads Scott to tangle with hoodlums, joust at a castle reminiscent of the future gambling palace Excalibur, and brawl at a nightclub with hoods with names like Garlic and Egg Young Foo.
Although it sounds goofy, it actually works as a detective novel with a few humorous bits thrown in.
May 21, 2021
Richard S. Prather wrote over three dozen Shell Scott novels as well as numerous short stories published in the likes of 'Manhunt' and 'Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine'. There was even a 'Shell Scott Mystery Magazine' that was published for a while in the 1960s. This novel was fairly early in the series, first published in 1956. The early books were a little inconsistent and one gets the idea that Prather was wrestling with just how he wanted his main character to be. Some were more hard-boiled like Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer and others tended toward the outlandish and comedic. But by the time this book was written, I would have thought the character had settled into a more or less consistent style. But now I’m not so sure.
Many readers regard this one as among the best of the Shell Scott novels. Here, Shell finds himself hired by a wealthy mother to investigate the background of a man who her daughter has married rather impulsively. Is it genuine love or is the guy a gold digger? To add to the intrigue, Shell discovers his predecessor on the case, another private eye, was found murdered.
Shell’s investigation takes him to a nudist (‘naturist’) colony where he goes “undercover” so to speak as a health and fitness instructor. Of course, in the world of Shell Scott, the women (or ‘tomatoes” as he often refers to them) are almost always gorgeous and willing. The plot is still hardboiled but is interrupted plenty of times with screwball situations, such as his leading the entire nudist colony in calisthenics. His own corny sense of humor is on full display as well. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the double entendre).
The investigation takes him to other locales as well, some very hard boiled while others more of the outlandish type such as a scene where Shell dresses as a knight and uses a lance to fight off some toughs. The mystery is actually fairly complex with a number of red herrings and Shell is adept at following the clues in a logical manner. I felt a little thrown back and forth, going from one serious life-threatening scenario into a wacky situation almost immediately. But for all that, Shell Scott is a fun character to follow and I will keep doing so.
Many readers regard this one as among the best of the Shell Scott novels. Here, Shell finds himself hired by a wealthy mother to investigate the background of a man who her daughter has married rather impulsively. Is it genuine love or is the guy a gold digger? To add to the intrigue, Shell discovers his predecessor on the case, another private eye, was found murdered.
Shell’s investigation takes him to a nudist (‘naturist’) colony where he goes “undercover” so to speak as a health and fitness instructor. Of course, in the world of Shell Scott, the women (or ‘tomatoes” as he often refers to them) are almost always gorgeous and willing. The plot is still hardboiled but is interrupted plenty of times with screwball situations, such as his leading the entire nudist colony in calisthenics. His own corny sense of humor is on full display as well. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the double entendre).
The investigation takes him to other locales as well, some very hard boiled while others more of the outlandish type such as a scene where Shell dresses as a knight and uses a lance to fight off some toughs. The mystery is actually fairly complex with a number of red herrings and Shell is adept at following the clues in a logical manner. I felt a little thrown back and forth, going from one serious life-threatening scenario into a wacky situation almost immediately. But for all that, Shell Scott is a fun character to follow and I will keep doing so.
Read
August 23, 2009My friend Al Raman in Philadelphia recommended this book to me. So I bought it and read it. We are both getting ready to read Inherent Vice, the latest Thomas Pynchon novel and as it is a detective novel (and set in LA) we started chatting about detective novels we liked and he liked this author, Richard S. Prather.
Strip for Murder is apparently one of a series of stories featuring the character Shell Scott "a guy with a pistol in his pocket and murder on his mind" from the back cover. The interesting twist in this rather typical and easy to read detective story is that some of the action is set in a nudist colony and it is set in LA (as is the newly released Pynchon). The Scott character does not have very much introspection or subtle thought and the nude scenes are mostly played for laughs or rather dated and typical male sexual interest in in naked women. It certainly could have been explored with much more subtly and context.
Still, if you are looking for an enjoyable and dependable private eye story this one fit the bill. It has some scenes that were imaginatively done; knocking out a man dressed as a knight in front of a gambling hall set up to look like a castle and dressing in the knight costume in order to gain entrance; escaping the nudist colony in the nude on a rope ladder suspended by hot air balloons and drifting into LA in the buff on the 4th of July for instance.
The character is such a hot hotblooded heterosexual that I enjoyed reading some of the scenes and changing the pronouns from her to him and imagined Shell Scott staring at and fantasizing over naked men instead of women.
A nice, light read. I might read another in the series if I came across it.
Strip for Murder is apparently one of a series of stories featuring the character Shell Scott "a guy with a pistol in his pocket and murder on his mind" from the back cover. The interesting twist in this rather typical and easy to read detective story is that some of the action is set in a nudist colony and it is set in LA (as is the newly released Pynchon). The Scott character does not have very much introspection or subtle thought and the nude scenes are mostly played for laughs or rather dated and typical male sexual interest in in naked women. It certainly could have been explored with much more subtly and context.
Still, if you are looking for an enjoyable and dependable private eye story this one fit the bill. It has some scenes that were imaginatively done; knocking out a man dressed as a knight in front of a gambling hall set up to look like a castle and dressing in the knight costume in order to gain entrance; escaping the nudist colony in the nude on a rope ladder suspended by hot air balloons and drifting into LA in the buff on the 4th of July for instance.
The character is such a hot hotblooded heterosexual that I enjoyed reading some of the scenes and changing the pronouns from her to him and imagined Shell Scott staring at and fantasizing over naked men instead of women.
A nice, light read. I might read another in the series if I came across it.
October 17, 2016
This is the most preposterous Shell Scott novel I've read. From nudist colony to gas air balloons to a lossey goosey plot, Prather seems to have thrown this together for a deadline.
The story is pretty linear and bad guys established early. It's the settings that are the stars in this book. The nudist colony is oddly written in the acceptance of Scott as an educational component of the facility and the immediate implementation of him is amongst the farfetched elements in this tale. There are fire works that are operated in ways that is impossible. There is the impossible locating of a bullet in a cliff that is retrieved in a silly way. There is a shooting spree that local police apparently aren't aware of. Municipal police handle a county police issue.
This is certainly a fun story to the point of science fiction and the characters are fun, too. There are characters named Foo and Garlic. The settings are really well detailed.
Despite the above detail issues...
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 6 out of ten points.
The story is pretty linear and bad guys established early. It's the settings that are the stars in this book. The nudist colony is oddly written in the acceptance of Scott as an educational component of the facility and the immediate implementation of him is amongst the farfetched elements in this tale. There are fire works that are operated in ways that is impossible. There is the impossible locating of a bullet in a cliff that is retrieved in a silly way. There is a shooting spree that local police apparently aren't aware of. Municipal police handle a county police issue.
This is certainly a fun story to the point of science fiction and the characters are fun, too. There are characters named Foo and Garlic. The settings are really well detailed.
Despite the above detail issues...
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 6 out of ten points.
March 31, 2020
Not bad although it is dated.
It's not a bad book for a beach read or a travel companion. Although, these days people are more likely to peruse social media on trains, plane's and automobiles. Seriously, it could be about 100 pages shorter and still tell the story. It drags somewhat in the middle. I think some writer's like Chandler or Stout age well. The story and atmosphere hold up. This one got a little tiring and a little dated. Not a bad novel as such. But, it didn't leave me wanting more.
It's not a bad book for a beach read or a travel companion. Although, these days people are more likely to peruse social media on trains, plane's and automobiles. Seriously, it could be about 100 pages shorter and still tell the story. It drags somewhat in the middle. I think some writer's like Chandler or Stout age well. The story and atmosphere hold up. This one got a little tiring and a little dated. Not a bad novel as such. But, it didn't leave me wanting more.
April 3, 2021
When I picked this up I thought it was going to be some trashy Erotica - I wasn't far off, it's a bad detective story from 1959. Once I realised that I was getting into a.whole different genre than I was expecting I decided to keep trucking because I've never read an old detective story before.
To be blunt, this just wasn't good. I'm not sure what palate it would be satisfying because the "WhoDunIt" nature here was kind of missing. And for a detective story they didn't really focus on the mystery. But for a nude woman on the cover and a nudist colony setting it was the most tame thing I've ever read that even eluded to sex.
I learned that this type of book just isn't for me. But not only that, the hook that reeled me, and many more in, wasn't backed up by a good story or good storytelling. 🤷♂️
To be blunt, this just wasn't good. I'm not sure what palate it would be satisfying because the "WhoDunIt" nature here was kind of missing. And for a detective story they didn't really focus on the mystery. But for a nude woman on the cover and a nudist colony setting it was the most tame thing I've ever read that even eluded to sex.
I learned that this type of book just isn't for me. But not only that, the hook that reeled me, and many more in, wasn't backed up by a good story or good storytelling. 🤷♂️
January 11, 2024
As a period piece, this was a fun read. Published in 1955, Shell Scott is a private detective tasked with investigated a suspicious man interested in a rich woman's daughter. This leads Shell to take on the role of "health director" in infiltrate "Fairview", a naturists' club outside of LA, though Shell would rather call it a nudist club.
This book was a funny read and the verbiage and lingo was very interesting to see in context. The misogynistic things various men said were often chuckled at and wholly accepted by the female characters. Shell actually spend very little time in the nudist camp throughout the book and is instead running down clues and shakin' down "hoods". It was an entertaining book, especially to glimpse into the detective genre of 1955.
This book was a funny read and the verbiage and lingo was very interesting to see in context. The misogynistic things various men said were often chuckled at and wholly accepted by the female characters. Shell actually spend very little time in the nudist camp throughout the book and is instead running down clues and shakin' down "hoods". It was an entertaining book, especially to glimpse into the detective genre of 1955.
February 2, 2019
A fast moving yarn that never takes itself seriously. It’s filled with stock characters and set ups but the winking moments keep it fun. From a nudist colony shootout and balloon ride to a drunken burlesque dancer who can’t resist dancing every time she hears the St Louis Blues to a medieval castle casino, you’re getting something off the beaten path here. It’s also pretty hilarious how the slang for women in the 50s was “tomato”. Is this high art? Heck no, but as far as hard boiled detective stuff goes, it was solid.
February 3, 2021
Well, this was a blast from the past. It had been many
years since I had read this originally and I picked it up
for old time sake. You have to look past how dated it
was,and how that era would write PI novels and just
enjoy the ride. This one, however, seemed to pulled
out all the stops between nudist camps and baloon
rides. All would have been forgiven if the actual
crime(s) had been solved more cleverly, but alas
it was pretty much a kludge all the way through.
I still like Shell Scott (I have a few more of them
to re-read), but this one was more tarnished than not.
years since I had read this originally and I picked it up
for old time sake. You have to look past how dated it
was,and how that era would write PI novels and just
enjoy the ride. This one, however, seemed to pulled
out all the stops between nudist camps and baloon
rides. All would have been forgiven if the actual
crime(s) had been solved more cleverly, but alas
it was pretty much a kludge all the way through.
I still like Shell Scott (I have a few more of them
to re-read), but this one was more tarnished than not.
April 26, 2022
Each successive Shell Scott novel seems to get more satirical and, at times, cringe-worthy by today's standards, but they're always good for a laugh. Strip for Murder has more than a few laugh-out-load moments.
The novel finds Shell Scott working a nudist colony. Hilarity ensues and ends in one of the funniest Shell Scott scenes ever.
The novel finds Shell Scott working a nudist colony. Hilarity ensues and ends in one of the funniest Shell Scott scenes ever.
January 25, 2024
Laugh-out-loud funny. Prather at the top of his game.
June 13, 2024
Fun, dated, hard-boiled, silly, naked romp. Perfect pulp fiction read on this sunny day.
June 26, 2015
Strip for Murder features Shell Scott, private detective. I like the Shell Scott books. They tend to be a lot of fun, pretty campy and over the top and a bit of a send-up of the hardboiled detective novel.
Richard S. Prather imagines a world where the criminal underclass is identifiable by their nicknames and their Dick Tracy-like villainous physical identifiers. They speak in hood-speak, a linguistic code known to few outside of criminals, tipsters and our hero, Shell Scott.
Shell Scott has a weakness for women. It's done in a humourous, bordering on ridiculous manner, but it usually draws a laugh, since he can't seem to think straight or keep his mind on his objective when there's an attractive woman in close proximity.
Strip for Murder involves Shell Scott investigating a nudist colony. A surprising number of Shell Scott novels involve the detective being obligated to be around women with clothing deficits, and it usually means our detective is unable to make his brain fully function. He gathers clues through his criminal underground telegraph, and blunders around until he solves the mystery and saves the day.
A couple of elements from Strip for Murder seem a bit recycled, and the mystery isn't much of a trick for those who can decipher hood-speak, but it's still fun. Richard S. Prather tries to include a little more characterization than usual for the love interest, having her demonstrate a few emotions from time to time, but quickly breezes past that to get on with the plot. The big set pieces, involving a knight in armor, and the finale with the balloons had me chuckling out loud, and that's why I like to pick up the Shell Scott books.
Richard S. Prather imagines a world where the criminal underclass is identifiable by their nicknames and their Dick Tracy-like villainous physical identifiers. They speak in hood-speak, a linguistic code known to few outside of criminals, tipsters and our hero, Shell Scott.
Shell Scott has a weakness for women. It's done in a humourous, bordering on ridiculous manner, but it usually draws a laugh, since he can't seem to think straight or keep his mind on his objective when there's an attractive woman in close proximity.
Strip for Murder involves Shell Scott investigating a nudist colony. A surprising number of Shell Scott novels involve the detective being obligated to be around women with clothing deficits, and it usually means our detective is unable to make his brain fully function. He gathers clues through his criminal underground telegraph, and blunders around until he solves the mystery and saves the day.
A couple of elements from Strip for Murder seem a bit recycled, and the mystery isn't much of a trick for those who can decipher hood-speak, but it's still fun. Richard S. Prather tries to include a little more characterization than usual for the love interest, having her demonstrate a few emotions from time to time, but quickly breezes past that to get on with the plot. The big set pieces, involving a knight in armor, and the finale with the balloons had me chuckling out loud, and that's why I like to pick up the Shell Scott books.
March 29, 2014
One of the funniest PI mysteries ive read.
Just finished rereading an old favorite murder mystery "strip for murder." It ended exactly the same way as it did the first time. Second time around is just not as good. I read this book about 50 years ago and really liked Richard Prathers books with the PI Shell Scott. Would have given it a big 5 stars then, but only rates about a 3 now.
Just finished rereading an old favorite murder mystery "strip for murder." It ended exactly the same way as it did the first time. Second time around is just not as good. I read this book about 50 years ago and really liked Richard Prathers books with the PI Shell Scott. Would have given it a big 5 stars then, but only rates about a 3 now.
March 27, 2013
In Richard Prather's world, all men are eggs and all women are tomatoes. And Shell Scott, a private eye with a distinctive Race Bannon countenance, was the most hardboiled egg of them all.
October 27, 2014
The funniest of the series. My current favorite Shell Scott book so far.
December 20, 2022
li a segunda vez e po ruim de mais rapaz
June 15, 2013
These books are a blast to read
April 13, 2017
This was both a great detective book but hysterical as well.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews