The Gracie Allen Murder Case — S.S. Van Dine

In this delightful outing, S. S. Van Dine introduces his real-life friend, comedienne Gracie Allen, into a Philo Vance mystery. The setting is New York City, but far from Philo Vance's typical milieu of Chinese antiquities, rare books, and esoteric studies. A peculiarly diabolical murder is solved through Vance's expert knowledge of rare perfumes and the invaluable assistance lent by Gracie, whose sweetheart, George Bums, is head perfume-smeller at the In-O-Scent Perfume Corporation.