The Count of 9

The Count of Nine is the eighteenth novel in the Cool and Lam series by A.A. Fair (also known as Erle Stanley Garner, creator of the Perry Mason mystery television show). Private detectives Bertha Cool and Donald Lam are hired to protect a wealthy client’s prize possessions during a party he is hosting. With Cool screening the guests and an x-ray machine built into the elevator going up to the penthouse, there should be no worries; however, after the party, it is discovered that the client’s blowgun and jade idols are missing! Lam is put on the case to retrieve the missing items and ends up with an additional job of defending the client’s wife from murder charges.

In this fast-paced mystery novel, you feel as if you are watching the story play out on the television screen of your mind, and you’ll be loving every page. The entire story kept me interested; I enjoyed reading of Lam’s unconventional detective skills that got the job done. Side note, I loved learning a new meaning for the words “cheesecake” and “fence.” This is the perfect read for teenagers through adults who love a good mystery.