The Dan Fortune series began in 1967 with the novel Act of Fear, a work that earned Lynds the 1968 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The character's success led to 18 more installments until 1995. The background provided in the series debut is that Fortune's original name was Daniel Tadeusz Fortunowski of Polish-Lithuanian ancestry. His family's last name was shortened. Fortune, a 5'-10” 160-pounder, grew up in the Chelsea district of New York City and his father was a cop. Fortune would later live in places like London, Paris, Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Tokyo. He's worked as a seaman, waiter, tourist guide, farmhand, private cop, actor, and newspaperman. His best friend is bartender Joe Harris, a relationship that Fortune has kept since childhood. He also has a steady girlfriend, a showgirl named Marty.
When Fortune was a kid he straddled the line of criminality. With the help of Harris, Fortune tried looting a ship's hold but fell and broke his left arm. The appendage was shattered in so many places that the surgeons, working under a sense of urgency, had to amputate. Thankfully, Fortune is a really smart private-eye that is right-hand dominant. He isn't a knock'em sock'em type of hero, instead the author focuses more on Fortune's mental fortitude in solving challenging crimes.
In Act of Fear, Fortune is approached by a young man named Pete to find his buddy Jo-Jo, who has only been missing a day or so. Pete states that Jo-Jo would never leave their employer, an old garage specializing in fixing up cars and motorcycles, and that Jo-Jo was just obsessed with engines. No drugs, no girlfriends, no trouble. Fortune takes a mere $50 to help the kid out.
As Fortune digs into the possible whereabouts of Jo-Jo he begins to suspect that Jo-Jo is on the run from a variety of likely suspects. The first clues may be two girls that were chasing after Jo-Jo. The other option is something related to a cop being mugged and his summons book, gun, and wallet all taken. But, there is also a local kingpin named Andy that Fortune ran around with as a kid. As the case changes from cloudy to clear, the investigation pushes Fortune into the backgrounds of two dead women. Oddly, Jo-Jo's family of fierce and proud Norwegians seem to hold the secret.
Fortune is extremely likable and I love the fact that Lynds doesn't incorporate some of the more stereotypical private-eye stuff from the mid 20th century – overly glib, heavy on satire, sarcastic dialogue from the hero, and the romancing of every damsel in distress. Fortune is a vulnerable hero who can't engage in too many fisticuffs with the bad guys. It also is a unique premise that Fortune already has a girl. These things are fresh ingredients for a late 1960s gumshoe novel.
The lone stereotype I did enjoy was the “police pal”. Every private-eye has one. The law-enforcement officer that allows the detective a long leash to dig into cases and gain inside clues from the precinct house. Fortune has Captain Gazzo, an elderly veteran cop that likes and respects Fortune. Their chemistry together is something really special and often humorous.
Act of Fear was an entertaining read that is well-equipped for the smarter PI audience. Brains over brawn is such a clique but it certainly describes this detective quite well. I loved Dan Fortune and I'm excited to wade into this series.
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