The Hoover Files
TOR Columbo Series Book 6
Forge
ISBN 9780812562743
ISBN 0812562747
I believe this is the final volume in this series. It was bittersweet to read it. But much as I can rewatch the episodes I could see rereading some of the volumes in this series again in the years to come. Over nearly a year I watched the complete run of Columbo, while researching an article I wrote as an overview on the series I discovered this novel and the other 5 in the series. I also found about casebooks, and even a cookbook. I thought I would try tracking down these books and give them a try. They do not disappoint. It was almost like watching an episode, his mannerisms, his process, and even his favourite foods. This was the sixth and I believe final in the series I have read in the series. I cannot see any fan of the series not enjoying this book and series; they were very good, I am thankful for some great reads! There is a little sadness that the series is coming to an end. I really wish there were more books available in this series.
The description of this book states:
“When a biographer threatens to reveal secrets buried in the Hoover files, Lt. Columbo must determine if a former FBI agent will stop at nothing--including murder--to keep those secrets hidden.”
Another description is:
“Tell-all biographer Betsy Clendenin was many celebrities' worst fear. But when she began writing a book that would expose secrets buried in the notorious Hoover files, someone decided she'd gone too far. A mail bomb soon sends her, and the evidence she's unearthed, up in flames. The killer thinks he's pulled off the perfect crime, but what he doesn't realize is that "perfect crimes" are Columbo's specialty.”
The dust jacket of the hard cover edition stated:
“For more than twenty-five years, Columbo has been the most popular, and persistent, detective on television. Columbo TV movies are as popular as ever, while the TV show is syndicated and continues to appear on cable. Now the lovable LAPD lieutenant is back at work in the land of the powerful and glitzy, armed with his keen wit, rumpled raincoat, and unlit cigar.
Betsy Clendenin is a tell-all biographer to whom nothing is sacred. Her latest project threatens to expose scathing secrets buried in the notorious Hoover files.
Frederick Kloss is a wealthy, retired FBI agent. To him, J. Edgar Hoover is nothing short of a god, and he never refers to Hoover except as "The Director." Kloss will stop at nothing to protect Hoover's memory— including murder.
Kloss has even more to lose than he realizes. Clendenin might uncover the fact that he personally helped Hoover assemble the files holding the key to America's biggest scandals and secrets. When Betsy Clendenin is killed by a mail bomb that blasts her house — and her damaging research — into oblivion, the LAPD turns to its most notable detective, Lieutenant Columbo.
Retired crime expert Kloss may be the perfect criminal, but if there's the tiniest clue, the famous Lieutenant Columbo will find it. Nothing gets past this rumpled, distracted detective, who always innocently asks "just one more little question."”
I have started a rewatching of the Columbo Television Series, mainly while cooking or eating to have something on in the background. I remembered I had two volumes in the series to finish. When I picked it up I devoured it in under 24 hours, over 2 sittings. I spent most of a Monday afternoon and evening reading later than I should have to finish it.
The first three stories in this series are based on real people and real events, even if extrapolated further out in time. The next two are completely fictional, and this one returns to a historic tie in. But this one also ties very closely to previous books in the series with a lot more crossover in characters and elements then previously. And it was masterfully executed.
This story has a lot of twists and turns. But the biggest if a former FBI agent trying to protect ‘The Director’s’ reputation, even years later. A sensational murder and a lot of writer who is working on a new book. A side case with a missing girl, a star with proclivities, and more. As Columbo digs he finds some people who may have wanted the writer dead for what she had already published, but feels certain it is more something new in the works. Can he gather the evidence needed to make an accusation of that nature. To find out you will need to read this excellent mystery!
This is in my opinion the best novel in the series. Unlike the tradition chapter method, each section of the story starts with a date and time or just the time, if on the same date. The story spans from Wednesday December 16 at 2:41 PM to Wednesday January 20 at 2:47 A.M. The epilogue takes the events out into the future but not as far as some of the others, this is the near future.
While researching for the review of the first volume in this series I discovered that there were also 6 Columbo novels in the 1970; 2 new stores and 4 novelizations of episodes and also a collection called The Columbo Collection of 12 stories by William Link. These 6 novels came out overlapping with the 6 of the last 8 episodes of the TV Movie Special Era.
This was another great read, in a good series. Fans of the series or for those who just like a good mystery or crime detective novel. I greatly enjoyed all the novels in this series, but 1 and it was good, just not great. I can recommend this book and series.
I will not I am trying to track down some of the other Columbo novels apart from this series that are mentioned above.
Books about Peter Falk or Columbo:
Columbo Phile - A Casebook - Mark Dawidziak
Shooting Columbo - David Koenig
The Columbo Companion, 1968-78: Investigating Every Detail of All 45 'Classic Era' Columbo Adventures - The Columbophile
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Related Posts:
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Columbo Books:
A Christmas Killing - Alfred Lawrence
The Dean's Death - Alfred Lawrence
Any Old Port in a Storm - Henry Clements
By Dawn's Early Light - Henry Clements
Murder by the Book - Lee Hays
A Deadly State of Mind Book - Lee Hays
The Columbo Collection – William Link
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Columbo Novels by William Harrington:
Grassy Knoll (1993)
The Helter Skelter Murders (1994)
The Hoffa Connection (1995)
The Game Show Killer (1996)
The Glitter Murders (1997)
The Hover Files (1998)
…
Other Books by William Harrington:
Which the Justice, Which the Thief (1963)
The Power (1964)
aka The Gospel of Death
Yoshar the Soldier (1966)
aka One Over One
The Search for Elisabeth Brandt (1968)
Trial (1970)
The Jupiter Crisis (1971)
Mister Target (1974)
Scorpio 5 (1975)
Partners (1980)
The English Lady (1982)
Skin Deep (1983)
The Cromwell File (1986)
Oberst (1987)
For the Defense (1988)
Virus (1990)
Endgame in Berlin (1991)
Town on Trial (1994)
Murder at the President's Door (2001)
with Elliott Roosevelt published posthumously.
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