THE STAN AND MO CHRONICLES
LAST BUT NOT FLEECED
PIER PRESSURE
It's summer, 1972, and Atlantic City psychic and part-time amateur detective, Stan Luca, knows the Boardwalk is anything but boring. How could it be when tack tourists, looney locals, and the spirits of the dearly departed are as plentiful as shells on the beach.
But it's not all fun in the sun. An ex-con from Philly is in town seeking revenge on an acquaintance of Stan's named Pinky. At the same time, he's working on a scam - and he's reached out to the darker side of the psychic community for help.
Stan reluctantly gets involved as does his girlfriend, Maureen "Mo" Kelly and her alter-ego of a 1940s hard-boiled detective. She's as quick to spot a clue as she is to spout noir-parody one-liners. Also on the case is Stan's spirit-helper - the ghost of the wildly popular 1960s Top-40 DJ Fabulous Frankie. Frankie only speaks in rhymes and his clues are given as riddles.
As the case turns personal, Stan calls on his group of psychally-gifted friends to help before everything he loves goes out with the tide.
Atlantic City Boardwalk psychic Stan Luca spends a lot of time conversing with the dearly departed - especially when they're helping him solve a case. In the summer of 1972, a woman seeks Stan's protection from a nasty ghost who, she claims, haunts her day and night
Stan soon receives assitance from spirit-helper Lyzander the Luminar, a vintge coin-operated fortune-telling machine who likes 60s music and prefers to be called Larry.
Also on the case is Maureen "Mo" Kelly, Stan's soul-mate whose alter-ego is a 1940s hard-boiled detective
With Larry dispensing clues a dime at a time, and Mo using her pulp-detective technique and spouting noir paraody liners, the evidence moutts that the ghost is that of Mo's ne'er do well father.
As the case twists and turns, chances increase that Mo will run out of noir one-liners or Stan will run out of dimes.
A fun romp up and down the Boardwalk with wacky characters and a great storyline. Thoroughly enjoyable read on par with Christopher Moore and Tammie Painter.
A nostalgic romp packed with humor and one-liners, an endearingly sympathetic fortune-telling machine, and plenty of 70s history, music, and lore.
