Created by M.V. Heberden Pseudonyms include Charles L. Leonard (1906-65) "There are very few moments when the truth is a good idea." — Rick Vanner Female author Mary Violet Heberden, hiding behind her initials, was one of the few women mentioned in mystery critic James Sandoe's oft-reprinted and anthologized personal checklist of favorite Hard-boiled Dicks. … Continue reading Rick Vanner
Author: kevinburtonsmith
Lost Montrealer Kevin Burton Smith has been involved in publishing in one form or another ever since he was four and asked his mother to staple together some of his drawings. Since then he’s worked as a paperboy, an editor, a columnist, an illustrator, an editor, a graphic designer, a critic, a cartoonist, a bookseller, a layout artist and a short story writer. He’s the founder and editor of The Thrilling Detective Web Site, the popular and long-running online encyclopedia of all things private eye, the web monkey for The Private Eye Writers of America and a contributing editor to Mystery Scene Magazine and Deadly Pleasures. He is currently living in California and working on a non-fiction book about married detective couples with his wife, mystery author D.L. Browne (aka Diana Killian, Josh Lanyon).
Jake Styles & J.L McCabe (Jake and the Fatman)
Created by Douglas Stefen Borghi, Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger William Conrad was no stranger to playing detectives and lawmen on radio and television by the time he starred as JASON LOCHINVAR "FATMAN" McCABE in Jakes & The Fatman (1987-92, CBS). He'd already played Nero Wolfe and Frank Cannon on television, and Sheriff Matt Dillion on … Continue reading Jake Styles & J.L McCabe (Jake and the Fatman)
Dr. Mark Sloan (Diagnosis Murder)
Created by Joyce Burditt WTF? No, DR. MARK SLOAN is NOT a private eye. Not even close. He's an elderly widower; a kindly, white-haired teaching physician and the Chief of Internal Medicine at a Denver's (and later, inexplicably, Los Angeles's) Community General Hospital, who keeps poking his nose into active police investigations, while working as … Continue reading Dr. Mark Sloan (Diagnosis Murder)
Johnny Lucas
Created by Peter Cagney Pseudonym of Bevis Winter Other pseudonyms include Al Bocca, Peter Cagney, Sammy Coburn, Bennet Hill & Gordon Shayne; and the house pseudonym Hyman Zore (1918-1985) Private eye JOHNNY LUCAS appeared only once, as far as I can tell, in a "full-length novel," published in the June 1960 issue of Mike Shayne … Continue reading Johnny Lucas
Connie & Steve Barton
Created by Kelley Roos Pseudonym of William Roos (1911–1987) and Audrey Roos (1912–1982) "She was the most luscious, blue-eyed, baby-faced blonde I had ever seen, and she was dancing with my husband. I was tempted to scratch her eyes out..." Kelley Roos, the pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of William and Audrey Roos, were … Continue reading Connie & Steve Barton
My Scrapbook: The Mystery of the Slinky Dress Cartoon
My Scrapbook The Mystery of the Slinky Dress Cartoon Whodunit it? I have no idea where this one came from, or who drew it, but I'm working on it... I love the whole vibe, though: the play on all those beloved private eye drops, as the startled gumshoe, J.D. Hardcase, in the obligatory trench coat … Continue reading My Scrapbook: The Mystery of the Slinky Dress Cartoon
Nick Stefanos
Created by George P. Pelecanos (1957--) George Pelecanos produces critically acclaimed novels that are very much in the hard-boiled tradition. His series character, Greek/American licensed private investigator NICK STEFANOS tends bar (sometimes) at The Spot in Southeast Washington, D.C., struggling to make ends meet. He's a hard-livin', hard-drinkin' kinda guy (despite the fact he often … Continue reading Nick Stefanos
Paul Kilgerrin
Created by Charles B. Leonard Pseudonym of Mary Violet Heberden (1906-65) Is he a spy, or is he an eye? A swarthy, gaunt-faced man with hawk-like features, raven-black hair, hooded eyes and precious little sense of humour, PAUL KILGERRIN worked in Military Intelligence in the First World War, but was seriously wounded. Almost fully recovered … Continue reading Paul Kilgerrin
Vic Flint
Created by Michael O'Malley & Ralph Lane VIC FLINT was one of a mere handful of hard-boiled private eyes, in the tradition of Hammett, Chandler, et al., to appear on the comic pages of North American newspapers. A typical hard-boiled shamus, complete with wise-cracks and a perpetual cigarette in his yap, he appeared in both … Continue reading Vic Flint
Authentic Police Cases
Comic Book Anthology Series (1948-55) AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES was a popular Golden Age comic anthology, featuring crime and detective stories, published by the St. John Publishing Company. It ran for thirty-eight issues, from February 1948 to March 1955, and featured an assortment reprints of newspaper strips colorized and reformatted, including tales featuring early comic book … Continue reading Authentic Police Cases