As told to Dennis Lynds/Michael Collins EDITOR'S NOTE: Dennis had offered to write something for this site for a while, and finally contributed this fictional mini-rant by his politically outspoken private eye Dan Fortune in the summer of 2005, shortly before his death. In transferring it from our old site, I had a chance to … Continue reading Dan Fortune Has His Say (Dan’s Last Words)
Tag: Fiction
The “Detectives in the Shadows” Zoom
August 18, 2020 On August 18, 2020, we had a very special Zoom, co-sponsored with Johns Hopkins University Press. It was a rollicking affair, boasting a keen discussion on the past and present of hard-boiled crime fiction, featuring Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition), Ace Atkins (the Quinn Colson series), and Alex Segura (the Pete Fernandez … Continue reading The “Detectives in the Shadows” Zoom
“A Hard-Boiled Christmas”
By Stephen Reid "I refuse to don this ridiculous costume.." Albert sucked in his belly and swelled up like a rooster. "A saint I ain't, Mac. I am a highly regarded thespian." "You're a highly regarded has-been, is what you are, Albert. Now sit down and try those boots on." I had to pick the … Continue reading “A Hard-Boiled Christmas”
No Good from a Corpse
An excerpt from the 1944 novel by Leight Brackett Featuring Ed Clive September 1999 EDITOR'S NOTE: In September 1999, we were really pleased to present this excerpt from Leigh Brackett's classic 1944 novel, featuring private eye Ed Clive, which was republished that year by Dennis McMillan. The bullet hit the rotten step and kept going. The gun … Continue reading No Good from a Corpse
“Horns”
By Mark Troy Featuring Val Lyon January 2009 Doyle Gillespie bellowed in a voice as loud as his shirt, a yellow and red hangover of martini glasses and hula girls. "Sperm-jacking," he said. "Somebody's getting to my bulls. Taking the goblins right outta the pipe, you might say." Gillespie smiled at his own wit. I took … Continue reading “Horns”
The Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar (May 23, 2020)
We had our first Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar on Saturday, May 23, 2020, and I'm so happy it turned out okay. Despite a few minor technical snafus (carefully edited out of the video--nobody really wants to see me naked and dripping wet), it went relatively smoothly (especially if you squint)... well enough, in … Continue reading The Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar (May 23, 2020)
“Validation”
By Stephen D. Rogers Spring 2005 From the very beginning, I wanted to know why the hell my client was paying me to conduct a deep background check on a guy who wanted to be a janitor. It wasn't the money - I knew she was good for it. As the Director of Human Resources for … Continue reading “Validation”
“The Safest Place on Earth”
By Mark Best Featuring Dan Brogan Spring 2005 Chastity Reiling's picture stared down at me as I sat on the sofa. She looked to be about ten in the picture, four years younger than she was now. I had seen more recent pictures of her, and she was fast becoming a beautiful young woman. But … Continue reading “The Safest Place on Earth”
“Still Water”
By Graham Powell Summer 2001 "Mr. Ross," she said, "I need your help." Her name was Helen Rhinehart. She sat on the very edge of her seat like a bird on a perch. Her navy blue dress matched her shoes and the handbag she kept clutched in her lap. No jewelry; just a plain gold … Continue reading “Still Water”
“Bourne Again”
By Stephen D. Rogers Winter/Spring 2002 I watched the cars speeding around the rotary, paid special attention to ones that veered off to head over the canal. Despite the "Cape Cod Tunnel" stickers that locals bought to infuriate the tourists, there were only two ways off the Cape. Since I couldn't see him going out … Continue reading “Bourne Again”