Created by Frederick C. Davis
Pseudonyms include Clark Aiken, Garry Grant & Stephen Ransome
(1902-77)
Just in case anyone thought Joe Gores was the first to relate the adventures of a large, fictional detective agency with his justifiably acclaimed Dan Kearney & Associates series, they ought to check out pulpster Frederick C. Davis’ tales of OKE OAKLEY and the Hollywood detective agency SECRETS, INC.
Led by Clay “Oke” Oakley and ably assisted by ops “pert, red-headed” Charmaine “Cherry” Morris and “aristocratic” Archibald Brixey, Secrets specialized in some of the weirdest and most ingenious crimes the pulps — or at least Dime Detective — had to offer. They seemed to know all the nasty little secrets Tinsel Town had to offer — and how to keep them secret.
But then, the author already had a knack for memorable series. Davis also created the Moon Man, an elaborately costumed crime fighter whose father was the chief of police, for Ten Detective Aces, and sweet, grandmotherly lovelorn columnist Lora Lorne, who was actually two-fisted, cigar-chomping newsman Bill Brent for Dime Detective.
SHORT STORIES
- “Blood on the Block” (December 15, 1933, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Skeleton Without Arms” (February 1, 1934, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “The Silver Doom” (April 15, 1934, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Death Lights the Candle” (June 15, 1934, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Death on Delivery” (September 1, 1934, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Tracks of the Turtle” (January 15, 1935, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Blood from the Parrot” (February 15, 1935, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “The Green Ghoul” (June 15, 1935, Dime Detective Magazine)
- “Doorway to Doom” (July 1, 1935, Dime Detective Magazine)
COLLECTIONS
- The Complete Adventures of Oke Oakley & Secrets, Inc., Vol. 1 (2012) | Buy this book
Contains the first four stories. - The Complete Adventures of Oke Oakley & Secrets, Inc., Vol. 2 (2018) | Buy this book
Contains the last five stories.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith, and thanks to another Kevin for the nudge.
