The Kaminsky Murders

About the Book

The Kaminsky Murders uses mystery fiction to explore the politics of the late 1960s—politics that continue to inspire heated arguments to this day.

In the politically frenzied San Francisco Bay Area of 1969, during the riotous People's Park episode in Berkeley, a series of death threats sent to prominent student radical Nat Kaminsky is followed by three celebrated and apparently related deaths—including Kaminsky's.  Left-wingers choose to believe that all three stem from the same right-wing government conspiracy carried out by police agencies at all levels.  Right-wingers believe that the deaths are tied together only by the drug use and moral permissiveness of the times.

Paul Stearn, the young private investigator hired by Kaminsky's girl friend to investigate the death threats, has a naiveté that sets him apart from the jaded, worldly cynicism of Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, or Lew Archer, but he does share their tenacity.  His few previous cases have been relatively simple and non-violent.  Suddenly, on this case, he discovers two corpses in one day.

During one week, Stearn is threatened, mugged, and investigated, but he does find the truth.

About the Author

David Nathaniel Datz has been a management consultant, building maintenance contractor, actor, computer software project manager, and writer. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his family.