Harvey Mapes

Created by Lee Goldberg

Just what the world needs now: an over-educated and under-employed slacker twenty-something security guard with private eye wet dreams.

HARVEY MAPES works for Bel Vista Estates, one of those ubitquious SoCal gated communities, working the night shift and not exactly setting the world on fire. Though having a stapler that works would be nice.

But it turns out he’s more than he appears (and more entertaining than he sounds, too).

When one of the community’s wealthy residents hires Harvey to tail his wife, he jumps at the chance, figuring on finally realizing a lifetime of P.I. fantasies, nurtured by a steady stream of detective novels and TVLand reruns.

Easy-peasy, he figures.

But when things turn out to be far more complicated–and far more dangerous–than he counted on, the rookie gumshoe rises to the occasion, showing some unexpected grit and ingenuity.

The original hardcover edition of this book (Yeah, that’s it over there) is long out-of-print, but has gone through several permutations (and covers) since, with new Kindle and paperback editions,  released under the title Watch Me Die, with a much spiffier cover.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Goldberg is a New York Times bestselling author and TV writer and producer. The Edgar and Shamus nominee’s writing and/or producing credits include Diagnosis Murder, Nero Wolfe, Spenser: For Hire, The Cosby Mysteries and Monk, and his other off-kilter gumshoes include Charlie Willis, who works as a studio fixer/security guard, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detective Eve Ronin. He’s also co-written the Fox and Hare series with Janet Evanovich, and is the founder of Brash Books, which has brought back more more great lost books from the Shamus Game than you could count. His non-fiction works include His non-fiction books include Successful Television Writing and Unsold Television Pilots.

UNDER OATH

• “As dark and twisted as anything Hammett or Chandler ever dreamed up….”
  — Kirkus (starred review)
• “Approaching the level of Lawrence Block is no mean feat, but Goldberg succeeds with this engaging PI novel.”
  — Publishers Weekly
• “Goldberg has a knack for combining just the right amount of humor and realism with his obvious love for the PI genre and his own smart ass sensibilities. […]A terrific read. Goldberg is the real deal and should be on everyone’s must read list.”
  — Crimespree Magazine

NOVELS

• The Man with the Iron-On Badge (2005; aka “Watch Me Die”) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!

Report respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.