The silhouette shown in the book cover is of both Julius and Archie. If you look carefully, Archie is being worn as a tie clip, and if you enlarge the cover even more, you can see the glint in Archie's eyes.
The reaction of mystery readers to these stories has been remarkable. First the Shamus and Derringer for 'Julius Katz', then winning the Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award for 'Archie's Been Framed'. While readers might like Julius, they love Archie, and who can blame them? Now that I have these two stories together in a $0.99 e-book, I thought I'd collect some of the things people have been writing about Julius and Archie since they first graced the pages of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine back in 2009.
Peter Leonard over at The Man Eating Bookworm reviewed Julius Katz Mysteries, writing in part:
My only exposure to Zeltserman's writing is The Caretaker of Lorne Field: A Novel and Blood Crimes: Book One. Both are intense, somewhat serious reads. Both are also vastly different from one another but are executed wonderfully. One was my favorite novel of 2010 and should be studied in school. The other is just good bloody fun.
But Julius Katz Mysteries is something else entirely. These two stories (a novelette and short story) are indeed lighthearted, charming and very fun. I think they are also the best thing I've read from Zeltserman to this point. I enjoyed these two tales so much that I find it a bloody shame there aren't more for me to hunt down and read.''
Ed Gorman on his blog wrote after the first Julius Katz story: I'm a big fan, along with many other people, of Dave Zeltserman's character Julius Katz.
Naomi Johnson on The Drowning Machine:
Rex Stout fans must be over the moon, at least those who've read Dave Zeltserman's Derringer Award-winning novella, Julius Katz. In style, wit and charm, this story comes closer than anything I've read to capturing Stout's bloodless but entertaining riddles. Considering that Zeltserman is probably best known for his twisted noir and his New Age detective novels, this story ranks as one of the biggest surprises for me this year. This isn't a story you have to worry about your eight-year-old reading. No overt violence, no profanity, no abuse stronger than the occasional raised voice, this one can be read by the whole family.
Julius Katz is the requisite resident genius detective, which takes some doing, because Julius's sidekick, Archie - you can guess where the name derived - is no slouch in the smarts department. But this Archie... Well, let's just say that this Archie's physical characteristics are a shade closer to KITT than to Archie Goodwin.
David Cramner at Education of a Pulp Writer writes: Dave Zeltserman’s Julius Katz mysteries are some of the most fun you will ever have reading detective short fiction. Elements of Nero Wolfe abound but Mr. Zeltserman adds a unique twist in the form of Katz’s assistant, Archie, who is a marvel of high tech wizardry.
Joe Barone writes:
If you want to read an amazing story, go to your library or bookstore and pick up a copy of this month's Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Read Dave Zeltserman's "Julius Katz."
Zeltserman evokes Rex Stout, Nero and Archie in the most fascinating way.
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