Thrilling Detective Fiction (Index)

“So you’re a private detective? I didn’t know they existed, except in books — or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors.”
— Bacall to Bogart in The Big Sleep

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A NOTE TO READERS

For the first ten or so years of its existence, The Thrilling Detective Web Site published online fiction, mostly original short stories, plus an occasional excerpt or classic reprint. In that time, we were lucky enough to put out some really good stuff, give some exposure to some up-and-coming writers, and even win a few awards. I couldn’t have done it without the dogged determination of long-time fiction editor Gerald So and my original co-editor Victoria Esposito, and so I want to thank them once again for all their hard work and support over the years. As I said, I could have never done it alone. And I didn’t.

But maybe one day,  I’ll think about bringing fiction back…

Maybe.

So much has changed in publishing since those first ten or so years, and editors are increasingly viewed by some of the ego-bloated self-pub and KU brigade as somewhere between an unnecessary evil and dog shit, but a good story is still a good story — and deserves to treated as such.

So, yeah, we edited.

We tried to work with writers; not against them. (Curiously, the ones who worked well with us and showed a modicum of professionalism? They’re the ones who have gone on to bigger and better things).

We were picky.

We offered suggestions.

We rejected some stories.

So, yes, we pissed off a few “writers,” and a small handful certainly a few pissed me off.

But mostly, I think we did okay.

Meanwhile, there’s still plenty more fiction to check out. Feel free to stroll down the mean streets of our archives…

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THE THRILLING DETECTIVE FICTION ARCHIVES

September 1998

• Zen and the Art of Murder by E.M. Cosin (excerpt)
  Our very first piece of Thrilling Detective Fiction was a couple of chapters of a then soon-to-be-released novel by talented newcomer Elizabeth Cosin, featuring Los Angeles private eye Zen Moses.

October 1998

• “Hit and Run“ by Christopher Mills
  Introducing Portland, Maine private eye Matthew Dain in a short story that may well leave you cold.

November 1998

• “The Riding Boy” by Terry White
  For your reading pleasure: Thomas Haftmann, an existentialist asskicker and P.I.
• Never Take a Shave at a Shop Named Delilah’s by Henry Mazel (excerpt)
  An excerpt from Murderously Incorrect, a new novel published by Crime and Again Press, and introducing NY eye Alex Rada.

December 1998

• A Gift For the Conklins by Kim Sellers
  A seasonal, non-P.I. tale. And what do you want for Christmas?
• Headlock by Burl Barer
  A sneak preview of a soon-to-be-published novel, marking the debut of P.I. Jeff Reynolds, or whatever his name is.

January 1999

• “Secret Dead Men” by Duane Swierczynski
  Mere words can not describe this bizarre detective tale, featuring P.I. Del Winter...
• “The Gift of Wallace Random” by Hugh Lessig
  Hard-boiled newshawk Picasso Smith meets a man who claims he can tell the future. I’d say “They don’t write ’em like this anymore,” except that Hugh Lessig does.

Spring 1999

• Now You See Her… by Robert L.Iles
  A short-short featuring private eye Peter B. Bruck.
• No Good From a Corpse by Leigh Brackett (excerpt)
  An excerpt from a rare, hard-to-find classic by one of the genre’s best writers, soon to (finally) be re-published after almost fifty years!

May/June 1999

• “Slightly Tarnished Armor“ by Christopher Mills
  Back by popular demand. Another Matt Dain tale.
• Truth Is The Perfect Disguise by Jack Curtin
  A taste of what promises to be a great book, featuring a Philapelphia P.I.

Summer 1999

• “A Family Affair” by Peter A. Parmantie
  There’s ugly, and then there’s real UGLY.
• “Detective Story” by Kathy Korty
  Here ya go! Our very first poem.

December 1999

• Detectives Inc.: A Terror of Dying Dreams by Don McGregor and Gene Colan
  A Thrilling Exclusive! An excerpt from the classic P.I. graphic novel, and a peek at what went on behind the scenes in its creation.

January 2000

• The Immortal Game by Mark Coggins (excerpt)
  An excerpt from a much-talked about new novel, which features the long-awaited return of private eye August Riordan.

February/March 2000

• It’s All in the Delivery by Peter A. Parmantie
  P.I. Joe Angello’s back, with a tale of corruption, murder and breakfast.
• “God Bless the Child“ by David White
  Mama may have, papa may have, but…

April/May 2000

• “Special Delivery” by Hugh Lessig
  Newshawk Alamo Barnes and the gang at The Frisco Foil receive a package full of trouble…

June 2000

• The Black Hole of Luck by Anthony Neil Smith
  P.I. David Junior knows when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em…
• Stalking Amanda by Jochem Vandersteen
  Sure, security specialist Noah Milano has a few “family” problems, but that doesn’t stop him from helping other people…

September 2000

• A Kiss Like Money by Victor Gischler
  P.I. Connor Samson finds out the hard way that sometimes a penny saved is a penny burned.
• Secret Smile by Tribe
  Holy Toledo! You think she’s trouble? You should meet her sister…
• The Desperate Minutes by Brian Evankovich
  This well-armed father knows best–or does he?

Winter 2000

• “Heavy Friends” by Scott Wolven
  There’s nothing like a letter from a friend to warm the heart during the holidays… (Story withdrawn upon author’s request)
• “Blink of an Eye” by Anthony Rain
  It’s winter in New York City, and it’s snowing…
• “The Half Monty (Part 1)” by Laura Lippman
  Tess Monaghan plays the odds, and then plays her trump card. It’s a game, it’s a puzzle, it’s a candy, it’s a breath mint!

March 2001

• A Vague Implication by Darren Subarton
  “She was a prostitute but not your everyday $20 dollar grab-bag type of whore.”
• Duces Tecum by Robert Hoyden
  “A subpoena doo…sess…t…what?”
• The Half Monty (Part 2) by Laura Lippman
  The solution and conclusion…

April 2001

• Ash Wednesday by Kent Westmoreland
  In the wake of Mardi Gras, Big Easy eye Burleigh Drummond sets out to do battle, armed only with his wits and a killer hangover…

June 2001

• Thoroughbred by Peter Parmantie
  Joe Angello is back!
• Hampton Blood by Anthony Rain
  Miles Beckett gets out of the city.
• Death Lessons by John Samony
  Music, murder and all that jazz….
• The Black Squall by Lori Stone (excerpt)
  An excerpt from a witty new novel that P.I. trivia fans should really get a kick out of.

Summer 2001

• Roselle Park by John Alvar
  Sometimes a private investigation ain’t no walk in the park.
• Friscoville by O’Neil De Noux
  It had to happen–a cat story!
• Millstone by Hugh Lessig
  Newshawk Picasso Smith, Jr. discovers it isn’t only the wheels of justice that grind…
• Still Water by Graham Powell
  P.I. Thomas Ross realizes all the reptiles aren’t in the bayou…

Fall 2001

• “Give the Woman Credit” by John Swan
  Here’s a guy from Hamilton, Ontario who knows a dick when he sees one…
• “Just One of Those Things” by D.L. Browne
  Mary Kelly’s tired of being just “the girl” in the office, living through her pulp writing. So the Old Man sends her on a real case…
• Lucky Stiff by Steve Kaye
  P.I. Leonard Dolman doesn’t like domestics. Here’s one reason why…A blast from the past, well-worth re-discovering.

Winter/Spring 2002

• “Bourne Again” by Stephen D. Rogers
  What could be more relaxing than a ride to the Cape?
• Death … and More Death by Bill Capron
  The Colour-Blind Detective goes fishing, and hooks something bigger than he expected…murder!

Summer 2002 

• “Velda’s First Case” by Ron Miller
  A stripper with a heart of gold… and a P.I. ticket.
• Totaled by Clayton Emery
  Introducing P.I./grease monkey Susan “Tyger” Blake, a gal who knows how to handle herself, with or without a thirteen-inch crescent wrench. Nominated (almost) for a Best Short Story of 2003 Edgar.
• Seeming by Peter A. Parmantie
  Joe Angello’s back — the sad sack P.I. with a face only a wife could love.
• The Drowning Detective by David Cox
  A tasty tale of friendship from across the pond that goes down smooth as a pint on the house, with a nice, bitter finish.
• Vulture Capital by Mark Coggins (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the latest August Riordan novel.

Fall 2002

• “Closure” by Dave White
  An honest-to-God P.I. tale that dares to use the events of 9/11 as something more than a cheap thrill. Winner, 2003 Derringer Award for Best Short Story
• “The Dover Affair” by Dave Zeltserman
  The first-ever short story featuring Denver P.I./columnist Johnny Lane.
• Woolworth’s … For All Your Defensive Needs by C.J. Henderson
  You’ll never look at Slim Jims quite the same way again, I promise.

Spring 2003

• Director’s Cut by Roger L. Simon (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the Moses Wine novel. Evidently what the former hippie dick really wants to do, after all these years, is direct.
• Little Holes by Mike MacLean
  A nasty little story that’ll have you feeling dirty for days. I’m sure you’ll love it!

Summer 2003

• Munchies by Jack Bludis
  A lip-smackin’ little tale from back in the day, taken from the Hardbroiled anthology.
• Get Miles Away by David White
  A Jackson Donne story. The course of true love doth ne’er run smooth. Also available as an audio download.
• Beating On The Border by Robert W. Tinsley
  This one’s guaranteeed to push a few buttons.
• “The Thirteen Feathers” by Ron Miller
  The return of our favourite stripper-turned- PI: Velda Bellinghausen.

Hallowe’en 2003

• Red Ransom by G. Wells Taylor
  A Wildclown case. It ain’t easy being dead, but someone’s got a do it.

Holidays 2003

• Crestfallen’s Getaway by Simon Wood
  A complete story from the Fedora II anthology, introducing a great new private eye.
• Full Circle by Peter A. Parmantie
  The return of Joseph Angello, still ugly, still grieving, still pissed off.
• Walking After Midnight by Ray Banks
  Cal Innes may be walking after midnight, but he won’t play the patsy for anyone.
• Whacking Scrooge by Hugh Lessig
  What the Dickens? A Picasso Smith, Jr. tale that we think will really get your chestnuts roasting.
• Velda, Girl Detective, Meets the Strangler by Ron Miller
  A special holiday treat: a complete, downloadable Better Little Book, featuring everyone’s famous stripper-turned-detective.

 Spring 2004

• God’s Dice by David White
  Jackson Donne takes a shot, but faith is the hole card. Short-listed, “Notable Stories of 2004” by storySouth. Short-listed, 2005 Derringer Award
• God Put a Smile by Ray Banks
  Cal Innes finds out what “Suffer little children” really means…

Summer 2004

• “Take Down The Union Jack” by Ray Banks
  P.I. Cal Innes decides he ain’t workin’ for the clampdown.
• “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by David White
  Private eye Jackson Donne fills in a few blanks in his past.
• “The Port of Missing Men” by Tim Wohlforth
  Jim Wolf lifts the lid on… his own past.
• “Roofies” by James R. Winter
  Nick Kepler makes his Thrilling Detective debut with a little ditty full of sex, violence and pharmaceuticals.
• “No Vacation For Murder” by Ron Miller
  A complete, downloadable Velda Bellinghausen story.

Holidays 2004

• “For Felina…” by Robert W. Tinsley
  Jack Brady pulls a Marty Robbins. It’s a love story!
• No Heroics by David Cox
  Malloy steps in it again. Fark!

Spring 2005

• The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the classic novel.You may have heard of it.
• “Validation” by Stephen D. Rogers
  A P.I. finds himself a beast of burden.
• “The Safest Place on Earth” by Mark Best
  Don’t bet on it… Winner, 2006 Derringer Award for Best Longer Short Story
• Re: Your Murder by Christopher Gooch
  A letter to a dead man makes a killer of a memo.
• Get Miles Away by David White
  An exclusive audio encore.
  

May 2005

• “Velda Goes on a Treasure Hunt” by Ron Miller
  Happy Free Comic Book Day, 2005!

Summer 2005

• Acquainted with the Night by David White
  Our man in Jersey introduces a new P.I.
• Dirty Barry by Ray Banks
  Barry DeSilva, the “anti-Cal Innes,” does the nasty.
• Consider It Lit by Stephen D. Rogers
  Ever had a really bad day?
• The Face in the Concrete by Tapani Bagge
  Translated from the Finnish by Minna Haapio
  Introducing lawyer/detective Onni Syrjänen who works the mean streets of Kerava, Finland.
• “Dan Fortune Has His Say (Dan’s Last Words)” by Dennis Lynds/Michael Collins
  Dan’s last words?

January 2006

• “Out of Clay” by Sarah Weinman
  Introducing Stuart Kovacs, a P.I. who has something more than a monkey on his back.
• Little Sins by Mike MacLean
  Mike’s nameless P.I., whose moral code is surprisingly elastic, returns in another little tale of life in the ethical free-fall zone.

Fall 2006

• “One for the Home Team” by Kim Harrington
  It’s a family affair, just a family affair.
• Breaking In by Daniel Hatadi
  Introducing Danny Hawaii, rookie P.I. For those who love the sound of breaking glass.
• “Like a Matter of Honour”  by Russel D. McLean
  A down-and-dirty tale featuring Dudee eye Sam Bryson. Bring your own soap.
• “With One Eye Open” by D. H. Reddall
  Cape Cod gumshoe Charles Stubblefield, last seen years ago in AHMM, makes his long-overdue return.
• “The Dybbuk Made Me Do It” by Sarah Weinman
  Stuart Kovacs returns, demon and all. Just for the hell of it.
• A Dum-Dum for the President by Martin Brett (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the 1962 pulp classic, featuruing two-fisted Montreal gumshoe Mike Garfin.

Winter 2006

• Last Call by Stephen D. Rogers
  Closing time, straight up.
• Blondes, Blondes, Blondes! by Jack Bludis
  Ken Sligo returns. Nobody rocks post-WWII Baltimore like Bludis.
• The Wrong Man to Cross by Duane Swierczynski
  Introducing Philadelphia cop John MacNeil on his novella-length journey to private eyed. Have six-pack, will travel.
• The Last to Know by Karl Koweski
  Koweski nails the bar band scene with such force and poignancy your ears will still be ringing days later.
• The Sorceror’s Circle by Michael Siverling (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the new Midnight Investigations novel.
• Cocaine and Blue Eyes by Frederick Zackel (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the recently reprinted 1978 classic that introduced Archeresque private eye Michael Brennen.
  

Spring 2007

• A Saving Grace by Patricia Abbott
  The smell of dung, bacon, cheap fuel… and hurt.
• “My Client’s Wife” by Michael Bracken
  “Moe Ron” Boyette, it turns out, is a not-so-private dick. 
• Where’s the Beef? by Stephen D. Rogers
  Another U.S. Grade A story from Rogers
• All in the Holster by Barry Ergang
  We apologize in advance for this, the first in a series of proposed Ralston Groaners….
• Circling the Drain by Fleur Bradley
  A haunting tale of a P.I. who’s seen — and sees — too much.
• “Mickey Spillane” by Gerald So
  The site’s poet laureate pays tribute to the master. In verse.
• Red Cat by Peter Spiegelman (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the new John March novel.

Fall 2007

• “The Gospel According to Gordon Black” by Richard Helms
  Helms keeps getting nominated for Shamus Awards. Mark my words, it’s only a matter of time. Winner, 2008, Derringer Award for Best Short Story.
• Sumo by Stephen Blackmoore
  What do you do with a 500-pound corpse?
• Humpty Dumpty by Gary Alexander
  You can almost smell the Brylcreem.
  
• This is Life by Seth Harwood (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the upcoming Jack Palms novel. The trip was great, but eventually you have to go home…
• Dead Street by Mickey Spillane (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the novel. A last blast from the master, courtesy of HardCaseCrime.

Holiday 2007

• Won’t You Step Into My Parlor? by Dick Stodghill
  Jack Eddy rides to the rescue, with Bram in tow.
• El Bohemio  by Richie Narvaez (partial)
  A taut little jaunt through the mean streets about as dated as today’s newspaper.
• “Piece by Piece” by Paul Sundeson
  An early 60s tour of duty through the pre-Civil Rights Big Easy that will stick to your ribs.
• Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the new  Ms. Tree novel, courtesy of HardCaseCrime.

April 2008 (Tenth Anniversary Issue)

• A Friendly Game by Stephen D. Rogers
  Friendly? Yeah, right…A low key charmer that’ll have you root-root-rooting for the home team.
• “The Truth About Lang Tri” by Robert Petyo
  As timely a story and look into the elusive nature of “truth” as we’ve ever run, with the shadow of yet another unpopular war looming large. (Story withdrawn upon author’s request)
• Ace in the Hole by Paul Guyot
  Logan used to be a private dick. Now he’s just a dick. But justice of a sort gets him in the end.
• Lady Luck by Jim Winter
  A Nick Kepler adventure. You know what that means!
• Starlight by Sandra Seamans
  A poignant, deceptively simple story that will linger long after you’ve read it.
• One More Shot by Tapani Bagge
  Translated from the Finnish by Minna Haapio
  Onni Syrjänen, Finland’s answer to Perry Mason, is back. You want Loserville? This is it. No wonder everybody drinks in Tapani’s stories.
• Pinkerton’s Secret by Eric Lerner (excerpt)
  A short vignette from the novel, a rollicking historical drama that re-imagines the story of Allen J. Pinkerton.
• The Devil’s of Bakersfield by John Shannon (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the new Jack Liffey novel

January 2009

• Discharged by Stephen D. Rogers
  A dark little nugget featuring a gambler running the bluff of his life.
• “Shot Back” by Kieran Shea
  A reluctant hero has his own bluff to run, but shows shows a rather amazing amount of true grit, all the same.
• Pandora by Patrick Shawn Bagley
  Former private detective August Hanrahan displays similar reticence iin this sordid little vignette that’ll have you reaching for the soap — and wondering about the neighbours.
• The Big Wake-Up by Mark Coggins (excerpt)
  An excerpt from the August Riordan novel. Also available as a slide show.
• “Horns”  by Mark Troy
  Honolulu good time gal and crack P.I. Val Lyon is hired to find out who’s taking the wrong bull by the, uh, horn?

Spring 2009

• Love is for Suckers by Robert Petyo
  But sex? That’s a different issue.
  
• Terra Bella by Robert Stevens
  Anyone who’s seen Chinatown knows orange groves and private eyes don’t mix well…
• Love Don’t Mean a Thing by Jim Winter
  Just in time for St. Valentine’s Day, a new Nick Kepler adventure.
  
• East of A by Russell Atwood (reprint)
  Finding a teenage runaway in New York City is easy. The hard part’s finding the one you’re looking for.
  

September 2019

• The Dead Beat Scroll by Mark Coggins (excerpt)
  After ten years, we’re on the road again.
• “Sunset“ by W. Glenn (Bill) Duncan Jr.
  Texas private eye Rafferty and a son say goodbye…

February 2020

• The Lonely Shroud (1964) by Scott Mitchell (excerpt)
  A private eye looks at forty.

Spring 2020

• “The Phantom of the Follies” by Ron Miller
  Velda returns!
• “The Curse of Mwabwebe-Tutu” by Ron Miller
  Velda‘s back, in a brand new comic story.

December 2020

• “A Hard-Boiled Christmas” by Stephen Reid
  Please don’t ask for receipts.

April 2023

• The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder by Lawrence Block (excerpt)
  The author steps aside to let the man tell his own story.

April 2025

• The Last Exile by Sam Wiebe (excerpt)
  Vancouver private eye Dave Wakeland has chucked it all, and moved to Montréal, practising radical indifference. And then there phone rings…

Of course, your comments on the stories are always welcome….