Night Moves: An Introduction

Sam Wiebe Introduces the 1974 Classic Slated to introduce Night Moves at the Vancouver Film Center in August 2022, Canadian crime writer Sam Wiebe, the creator of private eyes  Dave Wakeland and Michael Drayton,  confessed that "It’s one of my favorite PI films and neo-noirs, and a million times better than Altman’s very good The Long Goodbye, … Continue reading Night Moves: An Introduction

Jasmine Sharp

Created by Christopher Brookmyre JASMINE SHARP is a young private eye, a former actress, who co-stars in a series of books by Scottish author Christopher Brookmyre, alongside Detective Superintendent Catherine MacLeod. In a refreshing change of pace, though, Jasmine and Catherine aren't BFFs--fact is, they barely tolerate each other. Catherine consider's Jasmine "a sneaky, duplicitous … Continue reading Jasmine Sharp

Zachariah Smith

Created by L.L. (Linda) Thrasher "That's me, Arrow Investigations. I wanted to change the name to Cat's-Paw, Incorporated, but my sister said no one would get it. It's from an old fable about a cat sleeping by a fire where a monkey was roasting some chestnuts. When the nuts were done, the monkey used the … Continue reading Zachariah Smith

Nathan Waymaker

Created by S.A. Crosby “I handle the bodies." It seems like only yesterday (well, 2020) that crime writer S.A. Crosby appeared, apparently out of nowhere, to set the world aflame with Blacktop Wasteland, a hard-as-nails down-and-dirty bestseller about street racers, trailer parks and stolen diamonds, set in the dead-end boonies of Mississippi where nobody seems … Continue reading Nathan Waymaker

Pat Thompson

Created by Robert George Dean Pseudonyms include George Griswold (1904-89) "So this is what comes of trying to drink a woman under the table. Just a sacrifice on the altar of insurance!” — Pat the morning after... Tucked away in the wrinkles and folds of the Shamus Game is this little rarity—a hard-boiled private eye … Continue reading Pat Thompson

Francis MacNab

Created by John Ferguson (1873–) Scottish author John Ferguson must have liked the name. He wrote a mystery in 1921, The Dark Geraldine, which featured a Scottish policeman by the name of FRANCIS MacNAB. And then seven years later, in The Man in the Dark (1928), he resurrected the name for another detective, but this time … Continue reading Francis MacNab

Johnny Havoc

Created by John Jakes Pseudonyms include Alan Payne, Jay Scotland, Rachel Ann Payne and William Ard Care for a little cheese? JOHNNY HAVOC's main claim to fame is that he's short. In fact, at 5'1", he's got to be one of the shortest eyes around. But he sure doesn't let it get him down--he's a … Continue reading Johnny Havoc

Billie Walker

Created by Tara Moss A new series, well-received, following the adventures of feisty Australian war-time reporter BILLIE WALKER who returns home to Sydney after the war, mourning the disappearance and possible death of her husband Jack Rake somewhere in Europe. Turfed out of her job now that "the men are back,” she takes over her late … Continue reading Billie Walker

El Ape & Deadbeat Sleeze (The Sleeze Brothers)

Created by John Carnell & Andy Lanning "There's an old private eye saying that goes like this 'Keep yer ears open, yer eyes peeled, yer nose clean and the rest of ya full of beer." CAN YOU imagine the bastard offspring of The Blues Brothers and Blade Runner in comic form? If you can, congratulations, … Continue reading El Ape & Deadbeat Sleeze (The Sleeze Brothers)

Paul Temple

Created by Francis Durbridge (1912-1998) "By Timothy!" Once upon a time, one of the most popular private detectives of all time was PAUL TEMPLE. Unless you were American. But Temple ruled the U.K. and much of the Commonwealth, and his exploits entertained millions of fans around the world. He made his first appearance in a BBC … Continue reading Paul Temple