Created by Richard Stevenson Pseudonym of Richard Lipez (1938-2022) The good news? Richard Stevenson, the creator of the acclaimed Don Strachey mysteries has started a new P.I. series with the publication of Knock Off the Hat in 2022, which introduced CLIFFORD WATERMAN, a gay private eye trying to keep it together in post-war Philadelphia. It's … Continue reading Clifford Waterman
Tag: Pennsylvania
Dave Garrett
Created by Neil Albert DAVE GARRETT at first seems like just another cookie cutter eye. A disbarred lawyer? Now working as a Philadelphia private eye, not exactly setting the world on fire?A Vietnam vet suffering from PSTD? Aren't they all? Okay. I think we've been here before. But that doesn't take into account the writing here, … Continue reading Dave Garrett
Harry Przewalski
Created by Leonard Krishtalka Now here's a switch. HARRY PRZEWALSKI wasn't a cop before he became a Pittsburgh private eye. He wasn't a soldier or a lawyer or an insurance investigator, or any of the other popular former occupations that have crowded the genre to overflowing. Nope. Harry was a paleontologist. Can you dig it? And … Continue reading Harry Przewalski
Mike Dime
Created by Barry Fantoni (1940--) ''He was no taller than the Empire State and no wider than the Grand Canyon.'' -- from Mike Dime. The author evidently graduated from Chandler U. Private eye MIKE DIME makes Philadelphia of the late 1940's his turf in the eponymous Mike Dime (1980), a cleverly written, spot-on homage to … Continue reading Mike Dime
Jack Shannon (Shannon’s Deal)
Created by John Sayles Dear Sir, Just a thought, but if Perry Mason makes your list of detectives shouldn't Jack Shannon of the show Shannon's Deal be there as well? Certainly less well-known, but his show had a definite hard-boiled feel to it. Right down to the small office with the loyal secretary. Most of … Continue reading Jack Shannon (Shannon’s Deal)
Ryan DeMarco
Created by Randall Silvis Perhaps it's not surprising that Randall Silvis' series detective RYAN DeMARCO has been put through the emotional wringer--his first private eye novel, An Occasional Hell, was no cakewalk for the dick either. For the first three misery-drenched books in the series, the Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant carries a world of hurt on … Continue reading Ryan DeMarco
Ernest DeWalt
Created by Randall Silvis (1950--) "Of all the ways to be wounded. I suppose it was funny." -- The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Funny? The sun also rises on the P.I. novel, it seems. In An Occasional Hell, a very Hemingwayesque, very literate, very well-received (and Hammett Award-nominated) 1993 novel by Randall Silvis, … Continue reading Ernest DeWalt
Carney Wilde
Created by Bart Spicer Pseudonym of Jay Barbette (1918-1978) "If Bart Spicer's been forgotten, it's a real shame. He was one of the best writers of private-eye fiction in the last century." -- Bill Crider Philladelphia's CARNEY WILDE was one of the few P.I.'s who ever seemed to make money and remain respectable. Over the … Continue reading Carney Wilde