(1920-2010) Although only a handful of them are even professional investigators, master Britsh thriller writer DICK FRANCIS must be considered one of the best private eye authors of the late twentieth century, delivering a consistently solid, entertaining and distinctive body of work that can proudly stand up to any of his contemporaries. A former Welsh … Continue reading Dick Francis
Tag: Edgar Winner
Stone & Stine (City of Angels)
Music by Cy Coleman Lyrics by David Zippel Book by Larry Gelbart ''It's as though I was hit by a wrecking ball wearing a pinky ring'' -- Stone City of Angels was an ambitious and well-received musical comedy that wowed them on Broadway in 1989, written by Larry (M*A*S*H) Gelbart, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics … Continue reading Stone & Stine (City of Angels)
Dan Fortune
Created by Michael Collins Pseudonym of Dennis Lynds "We are a species that preys on itself. We live on our own kind, hunt each other. That's what I wanted to tell the girl who faced me across the desk in the office part of my one-room loft, but I didn't. I told her what the … Continue reading Dan Fortune
Dan Kearney, O.B., Larry Ballard, Bart Heslip, Gisele Marc, etc. (Dan Kearney & Associates)
Created by Joe Gores (1931-2011) The DAN KEARNEY & ASSOCIATES novels and short stories by Joe Gores are one of the all-time great private eye series; the closest anyone has ever come to a private eye version of Ed McBain's famed 87th Precinct procedural novels. A motley crew of San Francisco detectives, repo men … Continue reading Dan Kearney, O.B., Larry Ballard, Bart Heslip, Gisele Marc, etc. (Dan Kearney & Associates)
Kevin MacInnes
Created by Franklin Bandy Pseudonym of Eugene Franklin Bandy Pseudonyms include Eugene Franklin (1914-1987) KEVIN MacINNES isn't a psychologist, but a retired US Army officer who, assigned to intelligence and criminal investigation duties, specialized in giving lie detector tests. After his retirement, he opens MacInnes Security (so he "is" a P.I). MacInnes Securit,y providing a whole … Continue reading Kevin MacInnes
Berkeley Barnes & Larry Howe
Created by Eugene FranklinPseudonym of Eugene Franklin Bandy, Jr.(1914-1987) Here's another spin on the Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin formula. Pill-popping BERKELEY HOY BARNES is a New York City hypochondriac, and former lawyer turned private eye, who really doesn't like meeting people he doesn't know. He relies on LARRY HOWE to do the legwork, keep track of … Continue reading Berkeley Barnes & Larry Howe
Thorn
Created by James W. Hall (1947--) Arguably the greatest of Travis McGee's wayward literary children, THORN isn't really a P.I. (or even a "salvage consultant"), although he does occasionally take money to "look into" things. He's more of an "avenger," dark and brooding division. He makes his home in Key Largo, Florida, far from the … Continue reading Thorn
Max Freeman
Created By Jonathon King After two well-received books (including his Edgar-winning The Blue Edge of Midnight (2002) debut, he spent mucking about around the edges of the P.I. genre, Jonathon King's MAX FREEMAN finally became a full-fledged private eye in his third novel, Shadow Men (2004). Max was originally a Philly cop, or at least … Continue reading Max Freeman
Benjamin Justice
Created by John Morgan Wilson Former prize-winning reporter BENJAMIN JUSTICE used to cover the LA crime beat, but now he scrambles for a living, writing press releases and the like -- and even stooping to a civil service job -- while drinking too much and contemplating the loss of his reputation, his job, and his … Continue reading Benjamin Justice
Kate Shugak
Created by Dana Stabenbow (1952 --) When this long-running series started, KATE SHUGAK was an investigator for the Anchorage, Alaska D.A.'s office. She became a P.I eight or so books into the series, after she was badly injured during a fight with a child molester, resulting in the murder of her lover and a scar … Continue reading Kate Shugak