Created by Keith Gilman Who says you can't go home again? Apparently, nobody told former Philly cop LOU KLEIN, who makes a U-turn and heads back, in Keith Gilman's promising (and contest-winning) 2009 debut, Father's Day. After his widowed mother's murder, he moves into her old house in West Philadelphia--the house he grew up in--but … Continue reading Lou Klein
Tag: Pennsylvania
Dexter Bolzak
Created by Michael Ayoob Over the years it existed, the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America First P.I. Novel Contest was a wonderful spotting ground for new talent in the Shamus Game, particularly if their first name was Michael. Joining Michaels Kronenwetter, Wiley, Koryta and Siverling was Pittsburgh scribe Michael Ayoob, whose 2009 winning … Continue reading Dexter Bolzak
Clifford Waterman
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
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 … 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 It was a hell of a way to be wounded... The sun also rises on the P.I. novel, it seems. In An Occasional Hell, a very Hemingwayesque, very literate, very … 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. The … Continue reading Carney Wilde