The second Toler Chan epic has the novel setting among the divorcees of Reno, Nevada - who are depicted as smoking cigarettes and going to nightclubs. Chan gets dragged in because a divorcee accused of murder is an old friend from Honolulu - her divorcing husband is convinced she's innocent and asks Charlie to help, which gives this a different, more mature impulse because there's a subplot about a couple reuniting. Number Two Son takes a break from college studies in LA to help out and winds up arrested.
This was a lot of fun, being full of wisecracking divorcees, and Slim Summerville provides some amusing comedy as a slow talking local detective who uneasily teams with Charlie. There's also Richardo Cortez as a shady doctor, Number Two Son gets a romance, the mystery is strong with some hypodermic needle action, and Norman Foster directs briskly. Toler isn't that good as usual but it isn't as noticeable here because Summerville and Number Two carry as much of the action.
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