Mercury “Merc” Carter

Created by Andrew Welsh-Huggins "I just deliver stuff." Okay, MERC CARTER isn't really a private eye. He's a freelance delivery guy, but he's no DoorDash doofus, bringing you cold pizza or somebody else's order. A former federal agent with the postal inspection service, he only makes special deliveries. Very special deliveries. Puppies. Papers. Jewelry. Collectible … Continue reading Mercury “Merc” Carter

Sam Dakkers

Created by Mike Brett(aka Michael Brett)(1921-2000) New York City's chrome-domed SAM DAKKERS was no private eye hero. As he matter-of-factly points out right off the bat, "I'm a bookie: horses, baseball, fights, anything. As long as there's action, I'm ready to take it." But all bets are off Sam, a schlub not exactly blessed with … Continue reading Sam Dakkers

Needle Mike (aka Ken McNally)

Created by William E. Barrett (1900-1986) I wonder if  Jeff Johnson, creator of P.I/tatoo artist Darby Holland, knows about NEEDLE MIKE, William E. Barrett's crime-solving tattoo artist from the pulps? Posing as a seedy, disreputable alcoholic owner (complete with gold tooth and bum leg) of a grimy tattoo parlor on South Broadway in the equally … Continue reading Needle Mike (aka Ken McNally)

Humphrey Bogart (Rest in Pieces)

Fictionalized by John Stanley & Kenn Davis "I don't care what anybody says about me as long as it isn't true." — Humphrey Bogart Okay, Bogart's not a private eye. Or a writer of private eye stories. He was just an actor, for cryin' out loud! But has anyone ever so epitomized the private eye … Continue reading Humphrey Bogart (Rest in Pieces)

Blake Glover

Created by Morgan Shy Pseudonym of Gordon Brown Flag down some Tartan Noir, lads! Thirty years a Glasgow constable, BLAKE GLOVER has retired and returned to his hometown of Fraserburgh on the  north-east coast of Scotland with his tail between his legs — dour, disgraced  and not at all sure where his life is heading, … Continue reading Blake Glover

Cooper MacLeish

Created by Sam Reaves Pseudonyms include Dominic Martell "It was a long way to fall, a very long fall through the cold night air, and she fell the whole way without making a sound. At the end there was a sound, a sudden sick sound, but after a minute of stillness no one had come … Continue reading Cooper MacLeish

Dale Hunter

Created by Delvin R. Chatterson Trouble is his business? Not exactly. It's just that successful young Montreal entrepreneur DALE HUNTER just can't seem to stay out of trouble, in this engaging non-P.I. series of thrillers by Del Chatterson. Chatterson, it should be noted, writes about business like Dick Francis wrote about horses. When we meet … Continue reading Dale Hunter

Frankie Elkin

Created by Lisa Gardner Pseudinyms include Alicia Scott (1972--) "In my line of work — which isn't exactly a real job if you consider I have no training and receive no pay — I normally choose my cases. I can't always explain why this missing person cold case versus that one... I mostly gravitate to … Continue reading Frankie Elkin

Jimmy Burns

Created by Charles Portis (1933-2020) "Christmas again in Yucatán. Another year gone and I still scratching around this limestone peninsula." Best known for his classic (and bestselling) Western, 1968's True Grit, genre-hopping author Charles Portis never quite got around to writing a private eye novel. But 1991's character-driven, tongue-in-cheek Gringos comes awfully close. JIMMY BURNS … Continue reading Jimmy Burns

Rex the Wonder Dog

Created by Robert Kanigher (1915–2002) and Alex Toth (1928–2006) Okay, I'm not really sure where to begin. Partly because I'm not sure even DC Comics quite knew what to do with REX THE WONDER DOG, who at various times was a faithful canine companion, a superhero, and even, yes, a "detective." Rex was the top … Continue reading Rex the Wonder Dog