Real-Life Private Eye (1882-1959) Although he's almost forgotten now, RAYMOND C. SCHINDLER was once one of the world's most famous private detectives, and he wasn't shy about letting you know it. For almost fifty years, he wallowed in his celebrity status, living it up and regularly appearing on television and in countless "true crime" magazines … Continue reading Raymond C. Schindler
Tag: Non-Fiction
Right As Rain by George Pelecanos
Review by Lily Gardner (March 2013) I'M GOING to say it right off: Right as Rain is a kick-ass book. If you haven't read it, you should kick yourself. First off, it's vivid writing. Consider the first sentence: "What Derek Strange was worried about, looking at Jimmy Simmons sitting there, spilling over a chair on … Continue reading Right As Rain by George Pelecanos
The Suicide Murders by Howard Engel
Review by Aubrey Hamilton (December 2022) CANADIAN AUTHOR Howard Engel (1931-2019) wrote 14 books about Benny Cooperman, an unconventional private investigator in the small Canadian town of Grantham, Ontario (loosely modeled after St. Catharines, Ontario). Nine of them were published between 1980 and 1996 during the late 20th century flood of PI novels. Three more were … Continue reading The Suicide Murders by Howard Engel
Crime Scenes by Joseph S. Walker
A Review by John Larsen (June 2026) FOR THOSE who have not fallen down the rabbit hole of biographies, histories, and books on authoritarianism as I have, every once in awhile I happen across a work of fiction which just grabs me by the lapels in terms of quality. This book is CRIME SCENES by … Continue reading Crime Scenes by Joseph S. Walker
The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Review by Aubrey Hamilton (November 2019) MORE THAN 45 years ago a mononymous private investigator strolled onto the printed page and into the public consciousness, where he has remained, making him one of the most durable characters of contemporary fiction. He features in 40 novels written by his creator Robert B. Parker and lives on … Continue reading The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Shackled by Bill Pronzini
Review by Aubrey Hamilton (December 3, 2021) BILL PRONZINI is a spectacularly high-volume author, having written more than 300 short stories and more than 100 novels. He’s also compiled a large number of anthologies of mystery, science fiction, and Western short fiction. But he’s mostly known as a writer of mysteries. The list of his … Continue reading Shackled by Bill Pronzini
Driven by Disability
Seven Modern Defective Detectives By Stephen G. Eoannou Yes, yes, I know the term "Defective Detectives" may be offensive to some, but please chill. And please don't blame Stephen — he's a good guy with his heart in the right place, and he also has concerns about me using the phrase. So I'm the … Continue reading Driven by Disability
“A Penny a Word”
By Anonymous From The American Mercury March 1936 The following rant, by a presumably disgruntled and disillusioned writer, seems somehow still remarkably relevant, almost a century after it was written. Sure, writers — particularly those who never quite reach the heights of literary and popular acclaim to which they believe they are entitled — love … Continue reading “A Penny a Word”
A Matter of Point of View
By M.E. Proctor Pseudonym of Martine Proctor Classic detectives are outsiders, if not necessarily in the geographic sense. They see the world and people through a different lens; they’re wired to be observers. Which doesn’t mean they’re always neutral and when they’re sucked into a case, the consequences can be dire. That detective stories are … Continue reading A Matter of Point of View
The New Black Mask
A Review and Tribute by Mark Coggins Edited by J. Kingston Pierce Many fans of hard-boiled fiction are aware of the importance of Black Mask, the pulp magazine that flourished in the 1920s and 30s and launched the careers of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Erle Stanley Gardner. What fewer mystery readers may know … Continue reading The New Black Mask