Created by Max Allan Collins P.I. renaissance man Max Allan Collins has also crossed over into other genres, including a couple of short novellasfeaturing 1840s Chicago private eye, RICHARD STONE, which combine dark fantasy elements with the P.I. story. Collins considers the first Stone novella 1996's "A Wreath for Marley" his gene-splice of The Maltese … Continue reading Richard Stone
Tag: Christmas
Mike Kellerman (Homicide: Life on the Street)
Homicide: Life on the Street TV developed for television by Paul AttanasioBased on the non-fiction book by David SimonKellerman character created by Tom Fontana "There's more cheating in Baltimore than there is Kodak film."-- Kellerman waxes philosophic One of the most unexpected P.I. dramas ever aired on television has to have been two episodes plopped … Continue reading Mike Kellerman (Homicide: Life on the Street)
“A Hard-Boiled Christmas”
By Stephen Reid "I refuse to don this ridiculous costume.." Albert sucked in his belly and swelled up like a rooster. Â "A saint I ain't, Mac. I am a highly regarded thespian." "You're a highly regarded has-been, is what you are, Albert. Now sit down and try those boots on." I had to pick the … Continue reading “A Hard-Boiled Christmas”
“Mac” MacCauley
Created by Stephen Reid (1950-2018) "After fifteen years as a private investigator -- the last ten as a practising drunk --I had lost my license twice and my self-respect more times than I could count. The chances of me ever regaining either were between zero and entropy." That's how long-past-his-prime P.I. "MAC" MacCAULEY sums up … Continue reading “Mac” MacCauley
Sam Donovan (Cover Up)
Created by Jerome Odlum, Dennis O'Keefe, Francis Swann & Lawrence Kimble This Christmas Eve, if you're tired of The Thin Man, and can't quite stomach another viewing of Die Hard, there's an easy-going alternative that ought to hit the sweet spot between crime films and Christmas cheer. Cover Up is a pleasant little feelgooder from … Continue reading Sam Donovan (Cover Up)
My Scrapbook: A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses
My Scrapbook A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses MGM publicity still for the release of Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) Above is a publicity still for the release of Shadow of the Thin Man (1941, MGM), starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and as Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles. Of course by … Continue reading My Scrapbook: A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Christmas Eyes on Old Time Radio Almost as ubitquious as private eyes on old time radio was the ubitquious and seemingly obligatory very special "Christmas" episodes, usually (but not always) a toned down, more family-friendly episode than the usual fare. They usually ended with an upbeat message, very earnest seasonal salutations to listeners and maybe, … Continue reading Do You Hear What I Hear?
Deck the Mean Streets with Boughs of Holly
Christmas Eyes "The next person that says Merry Christmas to me, I'll kill them" — Nora Charles (Myrna Loy) in The Thin Man. "Christmas was coming... Brenda Lee had been rockin' round the Chritmas tree so long store cashiers were on suicide watch." — opening to Midnight Lullaby by James D.F. Hannah "This is Christmas … Continue reading Deck the Mean Streets with Boughs of Holly
Joe Leland (aka “John McClane”)
 Created by Roderick Thorp (1936-99) THE DETECTIVE Certainly one of the longest private eye novels ever written was Roderick Thorp's 1966 bestselling potboiler The Detective. And that was only the beginning -- not only did it become a successful film starring Frank Sinatra, but the novel's sequel went on to inspire a multi-million dollar action film … Continue reading Joe Leland (aka “John McClane”)