Mary Lou “Dunk” Bateson

Created by Lawrence Sanders
(1920-98)

Nope. Not a private eye at all, though she sure ends up making like one, trying to clear her name, six-foot two MARY LOU “DUNK” BATESON is a NYC rare coin specialist stuck in a jam. She’s been accused of swiping the valuable Greek coin she’s been hired to appraise in Lawrence Sanders’ The Eighth Commandment (1980), another entry in his “Commandment” series.

Coming to Dunk’s rescue (and competing for her affections) are a rumpled cop, and a slick private eye with the unlikely moniker of Jack Slack.

The blurb on the copy I read says “Lust and luxury clash with a vengeance in a tale of murder and venality among the New York rich.”

Gee, sounds like a blueprint for half of Sanders’ books. Although this one is a bit frothier than Sander’s usual typical blend of sex and violence, adding a healthy dollop of romantic suspense to the proceedings, as Dunk yoyos back and forth between men before coming to a decision that seems to have disappointed more than a few readers.

Mary Lou is yet another of the author’s almost-private eyes, whose dealings invariably involve the rich and powerful. If you get a kick out of Dunk, you should check out Joshua Bigg, Dora Conti, Samuel Todd, Timothy Cone or, if you’re in a more hard-boiled mood, Wolf Lannihan. Tired of NYC? Get out of there city and try Florida’s Archy McNally.

‘CAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO…

• “Thou shall not steal”
  — Exodus 20:15

UNDER OATH

• “I always thought “Lawrence Sanders” was the pen name for some woman (maybe, I don’t know, Loretta Sanders?) because Mr. Sanders always did such a wonderful job in characterizing women and understanding how they think. Take “Dunk” in The Eighth Commandment, the tall woman who became an expert on collectable coins, for example. I sort of figured, back when Lawrence Sanders started writing, that maybe a woman would have had a more difficult time getting detective stories published than a man would. After all, the detectives described were men, all crusty and wise to the ways of the world. Yes, I saw the pictures of Mr. Sanders on the back of his novel, but who was to say that was really him?”
  — Susan Berman

NOVELS

• The Eighth Commandment (1980) | Buy this book | Buy the audio | Kindle it!

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

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Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.