Three Strikes You're Dead

By Robert Goldsborough

A Snap Malek Mystery, Book One

In the shadowy metropolis that is 1938 Chicago, Steve Malek is a Tribune police reporter in a city gripped by the Kelly-Nash political machine and the post-Capone crime syndicate. In Malek's depression-era world, the Tribune is the largest of the town's fiercely competative daily papers. With the winds of change blowing in, Malek senses the story of a lifetime when a reform candidate for mayor is gunned down by an unknown assailant.

Incurring the anger of his editors, Malek ranges far beyond his beat, plunging into a maverick investigation of the murder that soon spins beyond his control. However, it's the other side of the law, displeased with Malek's inquiries, that leaves him dangling on the edge of life and death.

Along this precarious journey, Malek is dazzled by actress Helen Hayes, and crosses paths with Richard J. Daley, legendary Tribune publisher Robert R. McCormick, Al Capone, and pitching great Dizzy Dean, who after being traded to the Cubs at the start of the '38 season, helps lead the race for the pennant, never imagining he will be the key to Malek's very survival!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Echelon Press LLC
• Release date: Jan 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781590804254

Robert Goldsborough

Robert Goldsborough is an American author best known for continuing Rex Stout’s famous Nero Wolfe series. Born in Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and upon graduation went to work for the Associated Press, beginning a lifelong career in journalism that would include long periods at the Chicago Tribune and Advertising Age. While at the Tribune, Goldsborough began writing mysteries in the voice of Rex Stout, the creator of iconic sleuths Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Goldsborough’s first novel starring Wolfe, Murder in E Minor (1986), was met with acclaim from both critics and devoted fans, winning a Nero Award from the Wolfe Pack. Archie Goes Home is the fifteenth book in the series.  

Reviews for Three Strikes You're Dead

[jenj5 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

February 2010 COTC Book Club Selection.

While the story was somewhat enjoyable, in part because of the Chicago connections for me, this was really not written very well. The plot was strung together a little loosely for me with famous people thrown in without regard for whether or not it made sense to the story. There was very little actual detecting, our hero stumbled on most things by chance. The pace was too slow - not enough relevent events for the page count. It just felt like someone who was learning to write and needed more editing rather than a polished work. I don't feel like I wasted my time, but I'm not looking to read more by this author either.