Created by Paul ErnstPseudonyms included Frederick Carr, Ernest Jason Fredericks, Kenneth Robeson, Robert Wallace, Chris Brand, George Alden Edson, George Edson, Emerson Graves, Paul Frederick Stern(1899-1985) "I am going to turn on the light now. Do not be alarmed at my face." Arguably the first of the "defective detectives," Paul Ernst's SEEKAY was a tall, … Continue reading Seekay
Tag: Defective Detectives
Joe Gee
Created by Wyatt Blassingame Pseudonyms include Van Cort & William B. Rainey (1909-85) New Orleans private eye JOE GEE was one of those creepy but fascinating "defective detectives" from the gloriously incorrect weird menace pulps of the thirties and forties, such as Strange Detective Mysteries, Detective Mystery Magazine and especially Dime Mystery. Unlike many of his … Continue reading Joe Gee
Mick “Brew” Axbrewder & Ginny Fistoulari
Created by Reed Stephens Pseudonym of Stephen R. Donaldson) (1947- -) Guilt? Jealousy? Anger? Alcoholism? Lust? Pity? Self-pity? You're soaking in it. In this trilogy from the eighties, drunk and washed-up ex-cop MICK "BREW" AXBREWDER is content to drink himself to death in some dive bar in Puerto del Sol, a city somewhere in the … Continue reading Mick “Brew” Axbrewder & Ginny Fistoulari
Jim Makin
Created by Floyd Mahannah (1911-76) A bleak, mean little slice of noir, Floyd Mahannah's "Prognosis Negative" first appeared in the March 1953 issue of Manhunt, and is well worth tracking down. Fortunately, it's also included more recently in the Mahannah collection, The Broken Angel/Backfire and Other Stories, put out by Stark House in 2018. JIM … Continue reading Jim Makin
Nat “The Bleeder” Perry
Created by Edith and Ejler Jacobson "Well, we all need someone we can bleed on..." A rather unique private eye here and certainly one of the more famous--or is it infamous?--of the defective detectives, NAT "THE BLEEDER PERRY was a hemophiliac, "to whom a single scratch might mean death." Yep. One cut and he's a … Continue reading Nat “The Bleeder” Perry
Mariano Mercado
Created by D.L. Champion (1903-68) The only thing that bothers Mexico City private eye MARIANO MERCADO more than germs is... MURDER! Billing himself as a detectivo particular, Mercado appeared in eight novelettes in Dime Detective, between 1944 and 1948. The stories were narrated by Latham who seems to be the North American assistant of Mercado. … Continue reading Mariano Mercado
Alexander L’Hiboux (The Owl)
Created by Bob Forward "I am the Owl. And the Owl never sleeps." For those of you who like a little pulp baked right into the mix, you ought to get a kick out of Bob Forward's two explosive books featuring ALEXANDER L'HIBOUX, whose street name is "THE OWL" ("L'hiboux" is French for "owl"). When … Continue reading Alexander L’Hiboux (The Owl)
Sarge Steel
Created by Pat Mussili, Joe Gill and Dick Giordano "A cool knowing man who savors danger... who will not make one concession to fear... and whose fees may be as little as a smile from a pretty girl!" -- cover blurb from Sarge Steel--Private Detective #1 At 6'1", 198 pounds, blue eyes, black hair and a … Continue reading Sarge Steel
Leonard Shelby (Memento)
Created by Jonathan Nolan Adapted for the screen by Christopher Nolan ''I can't make new memories.'' Seen Memento yet? It's a truly mind-blowing film that should get as much exposure as possible. The main character, LEONARD SHELBY, is (or at least was) a P.I. (well, actually, an insurance investigator). But I think this qualifies him … Continue reading Leonard Shelby (Memento)
Lin Melchan
Created by Warren Lucas Pseudonym of John Kobler (1910-2000) He's usually lumped in with the infamous "defective detectives" of the "weird menace" pulps of the 1930s, but private eye LIN MELCHAN's "affliction" is pretty much the opposite of that of Leon Byrne's deaf detective Dan Holden. Lin was blessed (or was it cursed?) with a … Continue reading Lin Melchan