Created by Max Byrd (1942--) "I wanted to be nineteen again and be the grandson of Philip Marlowe." — Haller confesses, in California Thriller Rough-and-tumble San Francisco gumshoe MIKE HALLER appeared in three very fine paperback originals from Bantam in the early eighties that — despite some particularly dubious covers in the US (not pictured) … Continue reading Mike Haller
Tag: Ex-Army
Frank Johnson
Created by Ed Lynskey Pseudonyms include Lyn Key (1956--) A former Army MP, FRANK JOHNSON is a thirtyish-divorcee working as a private eye and sometime gunsmith in the fictitious town of Pelham, Virginia. The town, once rural, is now being swallowed by the suburban sprawl from Washington, DC. Franks gripes a lot about his staff … Continue reading Frank Johnson
Antoine Doinel (Baisers volés/Stolen Kisses)
Created by François Truffaut & Marcel Moussy Shy, hapless and hopelessly romantic bookworm ANTOINE DOINEL is hardly your typical private eye. He tumbles in and out of love in a series of five romcoms by noted French director François Truffaut that follow him as he stumbles his way from rebellious teenager to manhood. He wanders through a … Continue reading Antoine Doinel (Baisers volés/Stolen Kisses)
Harry Tolland
Created by by Russell Dupont A former pro football player who bounced around the NFL for a dozen years, HARRY TOLLAND had his career tackled for good thanks to bad knees. Now he's in his mid-forties, back in Southie, with a brief stint in the Army, a wife (Rose) and a few years hiding out … Continue reading Harry Tolland
John Locke
Created by Jack Barnao Pseudonym of Ted Wood (1931-2019) Former SAS counter-terrorism expert (he served in Belfast, Ulster, Rome and London, and was involved in the storming of the Iranian embassy), JOHN LOCKE grew bored with army life and returned home to Toronto to set himself up in business. His business cards read "John Locke, … Continue reading John Locke
Deets Shanahan
Created by Ronald Tierney (1944-2017) DIETRICH "DEETS" SHANAHAN is no happy camper. Especially when we first meet him. He's a cranky, semi-retired Indianapolis gumshoe within spitting distance of seventy, with a penchant for J.W. Dant bourbon, the Chicago Cubs, Delaney's Bar and horticulture. He lives in a small house with a rude overgrown mutt named … Continue reading Deets Shanahan
Dave “Mace” Mason
Created by Dick Lochte Only you know and I know just how good Dick Lochte can be... In Blues in the Night (2012), Lochte, one of the most reliable--if hardly the most prolific--writers in the Shamus Game, ditches the weatherman (at least for a while) and delivers a first rate new character: ex-con DAVE "MACE" … Continue reading Dave “Mace” Mason
Eddie Cruise
Created by Conrad Metcalf Pseudonyms include C.E. Metcalf (1959–) EDDIE CRUISE is the private eye hero of Eddie Cruise Private Eye (2020), an indie-published labour of love from author Conrad Metcalf. No, not that Conrad Metcalf. You’re thinking of Jonathan Lethem’s hard-boiled private “inquisitor” in his loopy Gun with Occasional Music (1995). Although the love of the … Continue reading Eddie Cruise
Mercy Gunderson
Created by Lori Armstrong Pseudonyms include Lorelei James One-quarter Minneconjou Sioux MERCY GUNDERSON is a former U.S. Army Black Ops sniper who lost an eye in Iraq, and has returned Stateside to lick her wounds and run the family ranch in South Dakota, in the series debut, No Mercy (2010). But things don't work out so … Continue reading Mercy Gunderson
Ron Shade
Created by Michael A. Black This P.I. can definitely kick your ass. That's because RON SHADE is not just a tough Army vet turned tough-guy Chicago P.I.--he's a tough Army vet turned tough-guy Chicago P.I. really into competitive kickboxing. So don't get him pissed, okay? In his debut, A Killing Frost (2002), he's hired to find an … Continue reading Ron Shade