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Murder at the Portland Variety

by M. J. Zellnik

M. J. Zellnik is a name used by the brother-sister writing team of Miriam and Joe Zellnik, with Miriam living in Portland, Oregon and Joe living in New York City. Miriam works as a freelance writer and Joe as a composer/lyricist/playwright with both listing accomplishments and plenty of experience at their respective jobs. Their first collaboration (since they live at opposite ends of the country it must either be by computer or they rack up the frequent flyer miles!) involves a Jewish girl in Portland, Oregon during 1894. Murder at the Portland Variety is the first of a series, and must involve considerable research into Portland's historical past. Both authors are to be commended for their effort.

Libby Seale has escaped from an unpleasant entanglement in her native New York City to travel west, change her name and become a costume seamstress at a vaudeville theatre in Portland Oregon. The year is 1894, and Portland is a fast growing city, filled with horse drawn carriages and trams. Electricity and telephones are brand new items, with the owners boasting of their possession.

Libby has made a friend of a magician's assistant called Vera, a shapely girl who attracts males like flies to honey. But Vera is discovered dead in the notorious Shanghai tunnels beneath the city – tunnels which lead directly to the wharfs and are used in the infamous white slave trade. Since the police are unconcerned about the killing, Libby takes on the role of investigation for her friend, hooking up with a newspaper reporter named Peter Eberle, and the relationship gradually develops into more than the helping kind.

Libby and Peter's investigation takes them to locations either seedy or elegant, and their questions invariably lead to trouble for both. Libby discovers that Vera wasn't the only victim – other girls have disappeared or been found dead as well. The plot explains Libby's flight from the Lower East Side of New York, also the changes in Portland, while touching on the gradually changing social role of women. When the killer is eventually unmasked, it's a satisfyingly complete surprise to the reader.

Evidently the bodies found in the Shanghai tunnels were of girls all overcome by the use of too much chloroform, since no mention is made of any other wounds. However, you'd think that in Vera's case, some reference would indicate more than just chloroform had killed her. Perhaps the police in the late 1800's didn't bother with autopsies of stage females found in the white slaver tunnels! I'll put this one oversight down to the newness of the authors in the murder-mystery field. Otherwise, Murder at the Portland Variety remains an impressive initial foray into the genre. Both research and the love of Portland are evident, as well as suspense and a dab of romance. M. J. Zellnik is a team to watch.

Alan Paul Curtis

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