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It's 1965 and Elvis Presley isn't having a great time. He's just finished another movie that he's less than proud of, his latest hit is another tune he'd rather deny having made, and the only thing he can do to make himself feel better is watch the film Dr. Strangelove and eat the wonderful meatloaf that his cook lovingly prepares for him. To make it all worse, he's been getting information that he's in big trouble for seducing young girls in two nearby towns, and there are explicit pictures to prove it. The problem with that is that he's been faithful to his latest - Miss Priscilla - and he hasn't even been to those other towns. Someone is impersonating him! What a new idea, an Elvis impersonator! Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, is willing to pay the girls and their parents to keep it all quiet, but Elvis will have none of it. He wants to get to the bottom of the mystery of the phony Elvis. But when the photographer who took the indiscreet pictures tries to blackmail Elvis and is later found dead, that's when the law enters the picture. Elvis still intends to put a real name to the phony Elvis, but now he needs to find the person who murdered the photographer, because Colonel Tom Parker is arrested for the crime! With the aid of some of the most unlikely helpers this side of Memphis -- a female Elvis impersonator, the writer of the screenplay of Dr. Strangelove, Terry Southern, and assorted young Southern females who would do anything for Elvis -- the singing legend endeavors to solve the case. This is the fourth in Daniel Klein's Elvis mystery series. Mr Klein writes well, darn well. His dialogue and verbal patter is fast-paced, witty, and sometimes profound. He manages to delve into a well-known icon like Elvis to make him real and alive to his readers, bringing into view some of the reasons for the discontent and personal demons of the bigger-than-life star. He poignantly foreshadows Elvis's future fall from grace and unhappy ending. The mystery section of the book also holds together - somewhat - and Klein does a nice job of tying up all the loose threads. Unfortunately, a lot of the action of the story can fall under the heading of wacky farce. Too many quick escapes, unlikely occurrences, and humorous moments follow the star and by the final fast and furious stage performance of dueling Elvis impersonators, the story strays far from reality. The one great thing about this book is that it introduced me to the writer, Daniel Klein. He has a way with words and I intend to read his other books, which are medical thrillers. Nevertheless, SUCH VICIOUS MINDS is a fast, fun read with a few deep moments alongside slapstick sections that won't leave you 'All Shook Up,' but might elicit a smile.
Reviewed by Sharon Katz, September 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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