Created by John Lutz "People shouldn't do this kind of thing to each other." — Alo philosophizes in The Right to Sing the Blues Introducing the weenie as shamus. St. Louis ex-cop turned private eye ALO NUDGER is perhaps the most Chaplinesque of fictional gumshoes. Where other P.I.s are hardcases living on cigarettes, booze, broads … Continue reading Alo Nudger
Tag: Shamus Winner
Mike Haller
Created by Max Byrd (1942--) "I wanted to be nineteen again and be the grandson of Philip Marlowe." — Haller confesses, in California Thriller Rough-and-tumble San Francisco gumshoe MIKE HALLER appeared in three very fine paperback originals from Bantam in the early eighties that — despite some particularly dubious covers in the US (not pictured) … Continue reading Mike Haller
William Campbell Gault
Pseudonyms include Roney Scott, Will Duke, Bill Gault, David Crewe & Ray P. Shotwell (1910-1995) "I'm proud of what I can do in my field. And I'm proud of the field. I don't need any false additions to that. If I could write like John Cheever, I'd write like Cheever. Unfortunately I can't, so I … Continue reading William Campbell Gault
Joe Puma
Created by William Campbell Gault Pseudonyms include Roney Scott, Will Duke, Bill Gault, David Crewe & Ray P. Shotwell (1910-1995) Presenting the fuck-up as P.I. Not that he started that way, of course. But while straight arrow Brock "The Rock" Callahan remains William Campbell Gault's most famous creation, JOE PUMA definitely deserves some attention, too. … Continue reading Joe Puma
Shona Sandison
Created by Philip Miller "The man's a fuckwit" — Shona on a colleague in The Goldenacre Is it all a just a lament for the “the way it used to be”? Or is it a brutal running obituary for journalism as we once know it? Either way, after over twenty years in the journalism trenches, … Continue reading Shona Sandison
Valentin St. Cyr
Created by David Fulmer Creole detective VALENTIN ST. CYR works the carnival world of 1907 Storyville, New Orleans. In this notorious red-light district, "sporting" girls ply the trade in mansion parlors and dime-a-trick cribs, cocaine and opium are sold over the counter, rye whiskey flows like an amber river, and the nights echo with a … Continue reading Valentin St. Cyr
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
Thomas Black
Created by Earl Emerson What were they smoking in Seattle in the eighties? Another 1980's Seattle P.I. who may have once inhaled is Earl Emerson's THOMAS BLACK. While not quite the flake that Richard Hoyt's John Denson is, he certainly has his moments. Especially when he teams up with his best bud, Kathy Birchfield who, … Continue reading Thomas Black
Scott Elliott
Created by Terence Faherty (1954 --) Another of the growing breed of retro eyes (see Toby Peters, Jack Levine, Brian Kane, Nate Heller, etc.), the adventures of Tinseltown gumshoes SCOTT ELLIOTT take him from Hollywood's so-called "Golden Age" of the 1940s right up to the late sixties. A former bit-player (a nice word for failed actor) … Continue reading Scott Elliott
Owen Keane
Created by Terence Faherty (1954--) A ruminative ex-seminarian (he flunked out) turned Boston private eye (of sorts), OWEN KEANE is hired to keep an eye on a friend who's wife has recently been killed in a car accident, in 1991's Deadstick, which was nominated for an Edgar. There have since been several subsequent adventures featuring Owen, … Continue reading Owen Keane