I Am Not a Psychic!

Following up his previous, meta adventure into mystery, actor Richard Belzer is once again sucked into the world of murders and conspiracies in the novel I AM NOT A PSYCHIC!, written with Michael Black. This time, Belz — as he likes to be called — is on his way to Las Vegas to help his friend Johnny Leland with a telethon. But before you can say "Detective Munch," Belz gets a phone call from a friend he has not heard from in more than three decades — one who has uncovered the truth behind the death of actress Bridget Burgeon 26 years ago. Belz tries to blow off his pal, but the man is persistent. So he agrees to meet him once he's in Vegas. Of course, that is where the problem/fun starts. The telethon has its own problems — namely, a fourth-rate comic who thinks himself the next Chris Rock forces himself into the broadcast. Here's a hint as to why: It's not who you know, but who you are related to. As Belz heads off to meet his pal from the past, he gets a phone call from the police: His pal is dead, and his death is none too pretty — not in a bloody sense, but in other bodily fluids. To this, add a woman named Veronica, who claims to have been in cahoots with Belzer's pal and that she is a psychic with a past that connects her to Burgeon. The story moves into straight-up crime with Belz and his new saddled partner, Veronica, who won't leave until the case is closed. A problem for them is that as soon as they start digging, other people start turning up dead, all of whom seem to be connected to this age-old mystery. Now, this plot is not going to challenge the likes of Lawrence Block or Ian Rankin, and that is the point. This is a story of Belzer inserting himself into a Vegas tale, where he comes up with characters that are his version of certain Sin City celebrities. (Johnny Leland's initials should be a dead giveaway, especially with a telethon to host.) The mystery is none too taxing, but it's more about Belzer having fun with the genre, using a meta version of himself to crack wise throughout. For fans of Belzer, be it for his standup act or the various police shows he's been on, this is a nice comic read, just as enjoyable as its predecessor, I AM NOT A COP! Just don't expect a whodunit that will challenge your deductive skills. —Bruce Grossman Buy it at Amazon. OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR: • I AM NOT A COP! by Richard Belzer