Created by Leonard Chang "That I am a nobody doesn't bother me as it might some people. I prefer anonymity, unobstructed movement through a crowd with neither a first nor a second glance in my direction." (Angst. It's not just for breakfast anymore...) Originally billed as a "Novel of Intrigue," Leonard Chang's noirish Over the … Continue reading Allen Choice
Tag: California
Peter Strand
Created by Ronald Tierney (1944-2017) Consider it a parting shot from a great guy and a great writer: in the fall of 2015, Orca released The Blue Dragon, a novella featuring Chinese-American PETER STRAND, a forensic accountant and reluctant private eye, charged with investigating a murder in a small apartment building in San Francisco's Chinatown. … Continue reading Peter Strand
Carly Paladino & Noah Lang
Created by Ronald Tierney (1944-2017) Get ready for another San Francisco treat... In Death in Pacific Heights (2009), we're introduced to San Francisco private eye CARLY PALADINO who chucks her gig at a large security agency to strike out on her own. She sets up office space with fellow gumshoe NOAH LANG, a rough-and-tumble small-timer … Continue reading Carly Paladino & Noah Lang
Kevin Brodie, Rob Jones & Jamilah Daly (Angeles Investigations)
Created by Meg Perry Another spin-off from the frighteningly prolific author's popular, long-running series featuring academic librarian Jamie Brodie, the ANGELES INVESTIGATIONS books follow Jamie's brother KEVIN BRODIE and his Los Angeles (well, duh!) detective agency, comprising himself, and partners fellow ex-cops ROB JONES and JAMILAH DALY. But both Kevin and Jamilah had already appeared, … Continue reading Kevin Brodie, Rob Jones & Jamilah Daly (Angeles Investigations)
Evander Mills
Created by Lev AC Rosen "Ruby is the most welcoming queer bar in San Francisco. Except maybe for me. News has trickled out about me--the gay P.I. with the office above the Ruby--but with it so has my past, and no one at a gay bar wants to get too close to a cop, even … Continue reading Evander Mills
Adam Zantz
Created by Daniel Weizmann "Now isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame, No one ever warned the boy, Rock n' roll is a vicious game..." -- April Wine  This Zantz can dance--or at least one would hope so, given his love of rock'n'roll. In the "Pacific Coast Highway Mysteries" (that's how the series is … Continue reading Adam Zantz
Jake Runyon
Created by Bill Pronzini (1943--) First introduced in Bill Pronzini's 2003 Nameless novel Spook, JAKE RUNYON is one of the more intriguing "minor" characters I've come across lately. In the book, Â Nameless (who now, if you haven't heard, has a name -- it's "Bill") is going into semi-retirement. He and his young associate Tamara Corbin … Continue reading Jake Runyon
Jason Wilder
Created by Michael Siverling The Midnight Investigations Agency is arguably the best private eye outfit in River City, California, conveniently located on the 1300 block of Galleon Street, right in the heart of downtown. The Agency is headed by Victoria Wilder, a former River City Detective, and manned by a team of highly skilled investigators … Continue reading Jason Wilder
Josh Wainwright
Created by Robert S. Levinson (1936-2018) JOSH WAINWRIGHT is an ex-LAPD officer obsessed with proving that eccentric music producer Clyde "Mr. Magic" Davenport is somehow responsible for the death of his wife, superstar singer Katie Sunshine, shot by a sniper while participating in a local telethon years ago. And, as the current co-owner of International … Continue reading Josh Wainwright
Chris Blanchard
Created by Robert S. Levinson (1936-2018) It's 1938, and the world is tottering slowly but helplessly towards World War II, but former LAPD detective-turned-MGM fixer CHRIS BLANCHARD has other things on his mind. Namely, how to clear actress Marie McDaniels of murdering her husband in the noirish, Chandleresque A Rhumba in Waltz Time (2011). Along … Continue reading Chris Blanchard