Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives (The Pignon Scorbion Series) (Pignon Scorbion, 1)
Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives (The Pignon Scorbion Series) (Pignon Scorbion, 1) book cover

Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives (The Pignon Scorbion Series) (Pignon Scorbion, 1)

by
Price
$13.39
Format
Hardcover
Pages
300
Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1665046756
Dimensions
6.3 x 1.2 x 9 inches
Weight
1.55 pounds

Description

''Rick Bleiweiss's Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives has quirky, wonderful characters and all the elements of a great (and fun) detective story. I totally loved reading this novel!'' -- Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author '' Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives by Rick Bleiweiss is a delightful mystery filled with twists and turns. Detective Inspector Scorbion is a charming protagonist, and his barbershop detectives are a delight. I'm already looking forward to the next case.'' -- Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author ''Bleiweiss's novel is a worthy addition in the tradition of Conan Doyle and Christie. Holmes and Poirot, please make room for Pignon Scorbion.'' -- Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break ''Bleiweiss's Pignon Scorbion, the new (circa 1910) chief police inspector of the British hamlet of Haxshire, is a splendidly unique addition to the list of entertainingly eccentric investigators who use brain over brawn. With a deductive prowess and penchant for precise couture that are more than a match for his contemporary Hercule Poirot, Scorbion prefers to solve his mysteries (here ranging from proof of parenthood to pig theft to bloody murder) in a barbershop, assisted by a young newshawk (his Watson), a trio of amusing tonsorial artists, and a bookseller as bright as she is beautiful. Good company. Good fun.'' -- Dick Lochte, Nero Wolfe Award winner and bestselling author of Blues in the Night ''Bleiwiess's debut novel is sure to delight fans of traditional mystery. The novel harkens back to the Golden Age of mystery fiction, and Pignon Scorbion is a detective comparable to Hercule Poirot. His unlikely group of 'deputies' at the barbershop brings a fresh perspective to this fascinating mystery. I look forward to the next in the series!'' -- Amanda Flower, Agatha Award-winning & USA Today bestselling author ''Channeling a time of yore, and brilliantly ventriloquizing voices of a bygone era, debut crime novelist Rick Bleiweiss's Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives hurls us back over a century to the fictional town of Haxshire, England, to delight us with a sophisticated series of mysteries that evokes masters of the 'cozy' craft in the fin de siècle, revivifying their timelessly seductive sleuthing methods and bringing them startlingly back to life. There's a wonderful prestidigitation in the writing and how it veneers an ancient period with a three-dimensional verisimilitude. Charmingly, and improbably, set in a barbershop, Bleiweiss's Chief Inspector Pignon Scorbion is a true original, a private eye cast in the mold of Poirot and Holmes with a touch of his own sui generis foppishness, cunning, and cerebrally deductive crime-solving. Once the opening case of a disputed paternity jumpstarts a concatenation of cases, the novel speeds along at a page-blurring pace, always returning to the barbershop where a colorful cast of amateur sleuths aid Scorbion in his relentless quest for the truth. Rich in period characters, interlarded with deft twists and hairpin turns in its unfolding, fans nostalgic for the old-fashioned, but never outdated, whodunnit will revel in this shimmering recreation of the genre and will no doubt be treated to a veritable cataract of Inspector Scorbion books in the years to come.'' -- Rex Pickett, New York Times bestselling author of Sideways ''Extortion, theft, revenge, and murder fractalize into a dazzling kaleidoscope of crime in Rick Bleiweiss’s Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives . Taking over as chief police inspector of a not-so-sleeping English town circa 1910, Scorbion finds an unlikely investigative team in the denizens of Calvin Brown’s barbershop. The subterfuge begins Day One, but the action really heats up when a circus comes to town, touching off a three-ring spectacle of deception, detection, and deduction. Get comfortable in your favorite barber’s chair, turn the sign on the door to Closed, and draw the window shades, because it’s hard not to binge-read when the end of every chapter leaves you with another puzzle to solve. Bravo, Rick Bleiweiss!'' -- Robert Arellano, Edgar Award finalist and author of seven novels, including Havana Lunar: A Cuban Noir ''In Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives , Rick Bleiweiss captures the tone and pace of early twentieth-century detective fiction, with a fresh new protagonist. The book’s clever mysteries, Holmesian language, and engaging ensemble will grab you from page one.'' -- Edwin Battistella, author of Dangerous, Crooked Scoundrels ''Shades of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Perry Mason -- Chief Inspector Pignon Scorbion is here! Kick back, put up your feet, stow away your cares, and prepare for some good old-fashioned fun. You are in a barbershop in a small English town, circa 1910 with Scorbion and his eccentric group of deputies. Follow the threads of clues as one by one they emerge in murders and mysteries, even a traveling circus. Using inductive reasoning worthy of his predecessors, Bleiweiss’s writing is crisp, yet evocative, and the story is a breath of fresh air which readers will love.'' -- Pamela Binnings Ewen, bestselling author of The Queen of Paris ''The game is afoot, and the foot is firmly on the gas pedal in Rick Bleiweiss's pawky, Sherlock-like mystery, Pignon Scorbion and the Barbershop Detectives . Driven by its razor-sharp title character (and joined by an often-hilarious host of deputized barbers) this case-cracking tale takes plenty of thrilling, genre-delighting twists and turns without ever running off the road. Bleiweiss writes with a cleverness that pleases rather than patronizes, and the observational powers of the percipient Inspector Scorbion rival those of any classic literary sleuth. Perfect for genre diehards and newcomers alike.'' -- James Wade, Spur Award-winning author of All Things Left Wild and River, Sing Out ''Bleiweiss transports us back to Edwardian England with a fascinating new detective who is quite accomplished at rooting out truths.'' -- D. Eric Maikranz, author of The Reincarnationist Papers ''Rick Bleiweiss’ book, Pignon Scorbion and the Barbershop Detectives , is fabulous. Written in the style of an Edwardian author, i.e. Conan Doyle, it captures perfectly the time frame. I’ve been reading European Noir books for ages, and this was a breath of fresh air. The police procedural part is spot on, with great characters and twists in the plot which kept the interest level at a maximum. Bravo, it’s fantastic. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy.'' -- Bill Berger, music industry senior executive ''It’s adorable. I frequently laughed out loud while also envying Rick’s impeccable plotting. Hats off to him and his merry band of solvers. A superbly structured detective story in its own right, Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives is also a respectful, affectionate, and frequently very funny tribute to classic British detective fiction. It just might become a classic, itself.'' -- Nancy Pickard, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Scent of Rain and Lightning ''Fans of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes will love Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives . Get ready to be transported back to Edwardian England in this rousing tale of camaraderie and cerebral detective work. In an era before computers and DNA matching, an inspector’s intellect ruled the day. With no detail missed, no stone left unturned, Bleiweiss has crafted a detective who can crack even the toughest cases with flair!'' -- Andrews & Wilson, bestselling authors of Sons of Valor & Tier One ''This charming tale of the eccentric Chief Inspector Pignon Scorpion, artfully told in the style of the detective stories of old, will be sure to delight fans of Christie's original Hercule Poirot series, as well as cozy mystery and historical fiction readers. I'll be looking forward to more cases being solved by this delightful cast of colorful characters in the barbershop!'' -- Natasha Boyd, USA Today , Wall Street Journal , internationally bestselling and award-winning author of The Indigo Girl RICK BLEIWEISS started his career in music as a rock performer, producer of over fifty records, songwriter and record company senior executive, and worked with Clive Davis, Melissa Etheridge, the Backstreet Boys,xa0Kiss, U2,xa0Whitney Houston,xa0the BeeGees, and other industry legends. Since 2006 as a publishing company executive, he has acquired works by bestselling and award-winning authors including James Clavell, Gabriel García Márquez, Rex Pickett, Leon Uris, and Nicholas Sansbury Smith, among others. In his latest creative endeavor, Rick has crafted the Pignon Scorbion historical mystery series -- blending his love of the past with the twisty deliciousness of a whodunit.xa0Follow Rick and Scorbion atxa0RickBleiweiss.com

Features & Highlights

  • A PNBA BuzzBooks Winner“Bleiweiss’s novel is a worthy addition in the tradition of Conan Doyle and Christie. Holmes and Poirot, please make room for Pignon Scorbion.”-Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break
  • For fans of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, author Rick Bleiweiss's quirky new detective and ensemble cast of characters set against the backdrop of small-town England in the 1910s, will feel both comfortingly familiar and thrillingly new.
  • The year is 1910, and in the small and seemingly sleepy English municipality of Haxford, there's a new chief police inspector. At first, the dapper and unflappable Pignon Scorbion strikes something of an odd figure among the locals, who don't see a need for such an exacting investigator. But it isn't long before Haxford finds itself very much in need of a detective.
  • Luckily, Scorbion and the local barber are old acquaintances, and the barbershop employs a cast of memorable characters who -- together with an aspiring young ace reporter for the local
  • Morning News
  • -- are nothing less than enthralled by the enigmatic new chief police inspector.
  • Investigating a trio of crimes whose origins span three continents and half a century, Pignon Scorbion and his ''tonsorial sleuths'' interview a parade of interested parties, but with every apparent clue, new surprises come to light. And just as it seems nothing can derail Scorbion's cool head and almost unerring nose for deduction, in walks Thelma Smith -- dazzling, whip-smart, and newly single.
  • Has Pignon Scorbion finally met his match?

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(80)
★★★★
20%
(53)
★★★
15%
(40)
★★
7%
(19)
★
28%
(74)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Unentertaining & Unoriginal

It's not often that I write a negative book review, but this novel really isn't with your time. The characters are shallow and the plot is unimaginative -- as a mystery lover, I was disappointed to find the "puzzles" uncomplicated and obvious. I was so confused by all of the glowing reviews and endorsements from other mystery writers until I read the author's bio: he was a rock star with major music industry connections before he became a powerful publishing house exec. Mystery solved. He may be an incredibly likable, charming man with many admirers, but he is no author. As a side note, it is inexcusable that any editor let someone publish a novel in 2022 with the phrase "nubile wench" uttered in complete seriousness, impressive connections or not. I finally stopped reading, exasperated and disappointed, on page 178 with no intention of finishing it, and I recommend you choose another title.
23 people found this helpful
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A Holmes away from home

I really enjoyed PIGNON SCORBION & THE BARBERSHOP DETECTIVES. At first I thought "Pignon Scorbion"--what a name. But Scorbion and his ensemble of barbershop regulars will charm you as they solve a handful of mysteries. Scorbion is in the mold of Poirot and Holmes, written for 21st century sensibilities. It's got all the features of the classic mystery--a stylish and somewhat mysterious inspector, an ensemble of helpers, and a host of cleverly drawn suspicious characters. I'm ready for Pignon Scorbion #2.
12 people found this helpful
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A Gift To Mystery Readers

"I will be the one who stands as I unfold the facts and conclusions of this affair."

Thus Chief Police Inspector Scorbion makes sure everyone understands who is in charge in the brilliant historical fiction mystery Pignon Scorbion & The Barbershop Detectives by Rick Bleiweiss.

Love this book cover painting of the quaint English countryside town of Haxford where our story takes place. In 1910 Inspector Scorbion is a bit of a fish out of water with his refined ways and distinct detective mind when he is transferred to Haxford. Fortunately he is acquainted with the town Barber whose shop is a local hangout for some endearing quirky amateur sleuths.

The quiet town soon has three mysteries to solve: a con man stealing some land, a thief stealing an artifact and a pig and, lastly, a murder. Soon our masterful detective realizes there is a connection to all the crimes.

This novel is a gift to fans of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (turns out Scorbion is friends with Dr. Watson) and Christie's Poirot (who is also named dropped). After reading this first book of this new series I listened to the audiobook and realized hearing the dialogue spoken with an English accent versus my Brooklyn one in my head made a huge difference. Narrator Matthew Brenher should play Scorbion in live action because he was perfection and this is just made for a BritBox (yes I have a subscription) or PBS Masterpiece series.

There is also a hint of romance for our talented Inspector with local bookstore owner Thelma. Their flirty moments are such fun. There is a lot of dialogue and time jumps and with each clue the mystery gets twistier. Just pure gold for true mystery fans.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
9 people found this helpful
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Fun and well paced read that leaves you wanting more

I received an advance copy of the book and loved it! The characters are really interesting and the various storylines come together really well. The Barbershop Detectives all come to the story with unique skills and relationships that make them a really fascinating group along with Pignon Scorbion himself who is quite a character! The story is well crafted and leaves you wondering what the team will get up to in the next book, I hope book #2 follows along soon!
7 people found this helpful
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For Fans of Poirot

In addition to being very fun to say, Pignon Scorbion is a too clever by half (yet still immensely likable) detective surrounded by a motley crew of barbers who chime in at the perfect moments, in an early 1900s English village. In other words, it's all delightful.
5 people found this helpful
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A great escape

This was a very fun read. The characters are well thought out and add their own spice to the story. Pignon has a commanding presence and takes us thru an interesting collection of crimes and brings you back to a time when the art of perception, deduction and observation were paramount when solving a crime. Great read and escape from the everyday life.
5 people found this helpful
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A new Poirot homage..

I wanted to like this book as it's an homage to Agatha Christie's Poirot, with a few dashes of Doyle's Sherlock thrown in. The premise is clever - a new Chief Inspector is assigned to a town and he visits his long-time friend and barber to have his haircut, fingers buffed and two-toned shoes properly shined. Because there are several employees, the potential for new cases can come from several sources of information. The first involves a man visiting a local, prosperous linen draper with claims that he is an illegitimate son of a one night liaison. This sets the stage for an impromptu hearing by the parties concerned within the confines of the barbershop. Finishing this section of the book was, unfortunately, as much as I could read and I did not finish the book.
The main character was way too fussy for my taste and I found the supporting male cast to be nothing more than an audience for his self-gratifying pronouncements and mostly indistinguishable from each other. That's probably why the author included a very long cast of characters in the book's preface. I wish the author luck as I still think this is an interesting premise, provided the characters are better developed and the eccentricities of Pignon Scorpion is less of the book's focus.
5 people found this helpful
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Overdone

I had high hopes that the book would be as entertaining as it’s title. While I appreciate the time and effort the author put into this book, sadly it was just not for me. Too many words, too much dialogue, too much and that is before the story begins to unfold. There is a story there but I just couldn’t wade through all of it to get to it. Applause for the attempt and effort.
4 people found this helpful
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Barbershop detectives

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The year is 1910, and in the small and seemingly sleepy English municipality of Haxford, there’s a new chief police inspector. At first, the dapper and unflappable Pignon Scorbion strikes something of an odd figure among the locals, who don’t see a need for such an exacting investigator. But it isn’t long before Haxford finds itself very much in need of a detective.

Luckily, Scorbion and the local barber are old acquaintances, and the barbershop employs a cast of memorable characters who—together with an aspiring young ace reporter for the local Morning News—are nothing less than enthralled by the enigmatic new chief police inspector.

Investigating a trio of crimes whose origins span three continents and half a century, Pignon Scorbion and his “tonsorial sleuths” interview a parade of interested parties, but with every apparent clue, new surprises come to light. And just as it seems nothing can derail Scorbion’s cool head and almost unerring nose for deduction, in walks Thelma Smith—dazzling, whip-smart, and newly single. (Goodreads synopsis)
I have not read anything by Rick Bleiweiss prior to this.
I normally love mysteries. Unfortunately this one was unable to capture my attention. I didn’t like Pignon, or really any of the other characters, but I didn’t dislike them either. I was very indifferent to them all. Normally, I would be trying to figure out the ending or be on tether-hooks hoping that the detective’s explanation feels like magic. In Pignon’s case, I couldn’t understand how he solved anything, because he didn’t do anything. He talked to people. Even Poirot, who believed in the ‘little grey cells’ traveled at the very least. But Pignon wasn’t described as doing that.

I loved the idea of the barbershop detectives, but almost wonder if conducting the investigation in said barbershop became too much of the focal point. I felt that the barbers become more of a jury being presented a case, as opposed to amateur detectives.

As for the mysteries, I felt that they were described too quickly. Three investigations in one novel seems like too much. In fact, one of them I felt could have been it’s own separate novel, and I was disappointed at its expediency. I will say, though, that I was not disappointed in the conclusions of any of the mysteries. I thought they were well thought out, and interesting. I just wish there had been more oomph.
Overall I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars. I would be interested in reading a second novel by Rick Bleiweiss, if only to see how the characters develop.
4 people found this helpful
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Fantastic Mystery!

Got an advance copy of Pignon Scorbion & The Barbershop Detectives, and it was a thrilling book from start to finish! Rick Bleiweiss has a writing style that is inviting and clear. The various mysteries in the book were all well thought out, and the conclusion was unexpected, but made sense given all the clues laid out throughout the novel. Would highly recommend!
4 people found this helpful

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