Created by John McAleer (1923-2003) Continued by Andrew McAleer HENRY von STRAY is a London-based private detective created by Edgar-winner and Rex Stout John McAleer, according to his son Andrew McAleer. Apparently, nobody had any idea the character even existed, until a handwritten copy of the only known von Stray story, "The Case of the … Continue reading Henry von Stray
Tag: Short Stories
Casper Barnett
Created by John Weagly "... the Heart O’ Chicago motel... was the perfect spot for a not-quite romantic rendezvous or if you wanted a seedy place to try heroin for the first time."— Casper sets a mood in “Ferocious Infidelity” CASPER BARNETT is a P. I. in Chicago whose stories, the author admits, he likes to … Continue reading Casper Barnett
“The Wrong Man to Cross”(Part Two)
.By Duane Swierczynski A John MacNeil Novella Winter 2006 Chuck Underhill put the time of the break-in between 2 and 4 p.m. Jonesy told him she left just before 2, and didn't return home until after a dinner of Chinese food at Kum Lin's with her mother. By that time, Chuck was already there, and he'd … Continue reading “The Wrong Man to Cross”(Part Two)
“The Wrong Man to Cross”(Part One)
.By Duane Swierczynski A John MacNeil Novella Winter 2006 "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.” — Ezekiel 25:17 By the end of move-in day, I needed only two things. A six-pack of Yuengling. And to get the hell out … Continue reading “The Wrong Man to Cross”(Part One)
The Eyes of Roger Torrey
A Preliminary List  There's no doubting that Roger Torrey (1901-46) was one prolific pulpster, pounding out (in between drinks) almost 300 stories for the crime and detective magazine of the thirties and forties (at least fifty in Black Mask alone!). And while he may not have enjoyed the acclaim of Hammett, Chandler or many … Continue reading The Eyes of Roger Torrey
Marty Dolan
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) "Lengel had his finger in a lot of pies, and while a lot of people suspected it, nobody had yet proved he was helping bake them." — Dolan suspects a powerful but dodgy businessman Grab a pencil and add MARTY … Continue reading Marty Dolan
Jim Dougherty
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) Put another dime in the juke box, baby... Ex-Marine and WW1 veteran JIM DOUGHERTY is yet another of pulpster Torey's seemingly endless supply of almost interchangeable one-off private eyes. His sole appearance, as far as I can tell, was in … Continue reading Jim Dougherty
John Boyle
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) "I shot him three times, catching him in the knees, and at ten feet I don't miss." Better add JOHN BOYLE to the list of prolific pulpster Roger Torrey's seemingly endless supply of private eyes. Like most of his eyes, Boyle's … Continue reading John Boyle
Mike “Mickey” Hanigan & Irving Kowalski
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) Prolific pulpster Roger D. Torrey cranked out almost 300 stories for the crime and detective pulps, most of them featuring relatively generic private eyes: big, tough-talking gumshoes, and MIKE "MICKEY" HANIGAN was one of them, quick to dish out either … Continue reading Mike “Mickey” Hanigan & Irving Kowalski
Joe Harper
Created by Roger Torrey Pseudonyms include Sam Drake, Samuel Drake, John Ryan, R.D. Torrey (1901-46) Yet another of prolific pulpster Roger Torrey's seemingly endless and virtually indistinguishable supply of private eyes, JOSEPH H. "JOE" HARPER appears in, as far as I can tell, only one short story, narrated in first person. Harper had "four years … Continue reading Joe Harper