Created by John B. West (1905-60) Perhaps not surprisingly, ALOYSIUS ALGERNON STEELE prefers to be called "ROCKY." Can you really blame him? After all, neither Aloysius nor Algernon is the kinda monicker any self-respecting hard-boiled P.I. wants to go by. And as a Lucky-smoking, cognac-swigging, ex-boxer and former commando (he saw action in the Pacific … Continue reading Rocky Steele
Tag: Ex-military
Greg and Jill McKenzie
Created by Chester D. Campbell Church-going sixty-something GREG McKENZIE was simply a retired Air Force OSI investigator who, with the aid of his long-suffering wife, JILL, showed a penchant for solving crimes for two books. But in the third book of the series, Deadly Illusions (2005), the detecting duo turned pro, opening up McKenzie Investigations in a … Continue reading Greg and Jill McKenzie
Kilroy
Created by Stephen Mertz Other pseudonyms include Stephen Brett, Jim Case, and house pseudonyms Jack Buchanan, Cliff Garnett, Don Pendleton and Dick Stivers (1947--) "I like Denver well enough, all things considered." -- Kilroy. Not susceptible to Rocky Mountain Highs (Cold in the Ground) "KILROY IS HERE!" is the obvious tagline for this equally obvious but solidly entertaining throwback of … Continue reading Kilroy
Major Martin Myers
Created by Bevis Winter Pseudonyms include Al Bocca, Peter Cagney, Sammy Coburn, Bennet Hill & Gordon Shayne; and the house pseudonym Hyman Zore (1918-1985) In a small town in England, ex-Corporal Philip Denton, just back from World War II, discovers the body of his wife in the basement of their farmhouse, and is promptly arrested by … Continue reading Major Martin Myers
Sam Callaghan
Created by Paul Barron and Peter Andrikidis Serangoon Road is a 2013 ten-episode private eye drama from Australia, set in 1960s Singapore, and starring Don Hany and Joan Chen. The mini-series, filmed on location in Singapore, is a big deal international co-production between ABC TV and HBO Asia, with American and Australian money also involved, … Continue reading Sam Callaghan
Dan Roman
Created by Edward Mathis (1927-1988) "Mathis was the real thing--a fine writer with a slant and style all his own. He brought us a dusty tapped-out Texas I'd never encountered before. If he reminded me of anybody it was the proletariat novelists of the Forties and Fifties such as Harvey Swados and Clancy Sigal." -- … Continue reading Dan Roman
T.J. O’Sullivan
Created by Larry Darter A former Detective Constable and ex-member of the Defense Force in her native New Zealand, T.J. O’SULLIVAN is a "sassy Kiwi" female eye, "tough as old boots," who does double duty, starring in her own Honolulu-set thrillers, and appearing occasionally in the author's other P.I. series, alongside LA gumshoe Ben Malone. In fact, … Continue reading T.J. O’Sullivan
Joe “The Bouncer” Brody
Created by David Gordon An eye is an eye is an eye. Except when he isn't. JOE "THE BOUNCER" BRODY is not a private eye--he's, well, a bouncer. But that doesn't stop him from getting into all the same sorts of ituations that a private--particularly a trouble-bound shit magnet private eye--does. Joe was kicked out … Continue reading Joe “The Bouncer” Brody
Rick and A.J. Simon (Simon & Simon)
Created by Philip DeGuere Ever wonder what would happen if the HARDY BOYS grew up? At least a little bit? Squabbling siblings and San Diego private eye brothers RICK and ANDREW JACKSON "A.J." SIMON attempted to answer that question every week for seven seasons on Simon & Simon, one of the eighties' more popular detective … Continue reading Rick and A.J. Simon (Simon & Simon)
Van Shaw
Created by Glen Erik Hamilton Cold, relentless and tougher than dirt, Army Ranger and reportedly former thief VAN SHAW hits the sweet spot somewhere between Stark's Parker and Child's Jack Reacher, albeit with a veneer of vulnerability (and sentimentality) unimaginable in the other two men, thanks to the shitload of PTSD he lugged back from … Continue reading Van Shaw