“I don’t mind a reasonable
amount of trouble.”
Dashiell Hammett
(The Maltese Falcon)

Anyone born and raised in San Francisco, or who had ancestors living in The City from the mid-1930’s through the turbulent ’60’s, will more than likely find the book I finished reading last night to be of tremendous interest. Co-authored by Glenn ImObersteg and Paul Totah, Murder at Beach Chalet is simply one of the most well-crafted historical novels I’ve ever read.

The book’s cover includes an image of one of the murals gracing the walls inside the main entrance to Beach Chalet, which is located at the west end of Golden Gate Park with a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. Known now for its upscale restaurants, the building has a storied history. Glenn and Paul use this venue as a foundational piece of their intriguing story.

I was most impressed by the high-quality writing, the accuracy of information about San Francisco and The City’s history, and the development of the various characters in the story. I was also fascinated by the interrelationship of the characters. Murder at Beach Chalet captivated my interest from start to finish. 

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Paul Totah since the 1960’s. We both grew up in the Sunset District of San Francisco, attended Saint Gabriel School, Saint Ignatius College Prep, and Santa Clara University. We even worked together as prefects in the student dormitory at Bellarmine College Prep during our college years. Paul recently retired following a successful career as a teacher and public relations director at Saint Ignatius. 

If I’m not mistaken, Murder at Beach Chalet is Paul third published book. His first two, Spiritus ‘Magis’ (the history of Saint Ignatius High School) and The Gospel of Everyone (a poetic retelling of the Gospel of Luke) were informative and inspirational. I’m eagerly awaiting the publication of his next book, The Sutro Murders, which he is also co-authoring with Glenn ImObersteg, with an expected publication date of 2025.