.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)
Tag: Short Story
“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)
Nefra Adams
Created by Gary Phillips Known around these parts for his acclaimed crime and detective fiction (Ivan Monk, One-Shot Harry Ingram, Nate Hollis, etc.), and his thundeous voice rumbling across vast convention rooms, let the truth be known: Los Angeles author Gary Phillips is just a big nerd, a slavish devotee to all things pulp, be … Continue reading Nefra Adams
B.T. Jefferson
Created by Ruthe Furie (1930-) B.T. JEFFERSON has a little bit of an identity problem. As B.T., she's a licenced private investigator in Bull Neck, Long Island. But as Belinda Thomas, she's a caterer, working out of the same office. The intercom chimes for the caterer, and buzzes for the P.I. She's a caterer. And … Continue reading B.T. Jefferson
Jo Carver (“Carver (And) [Company]”)
Created by Mike McHone "Most cases involve cheaters. They're our bread and butter. I think it's an unwritten rule P.I.s have to follow an unfaithful spouse ninety percent of the dang time." The premise of the 2023 short story "Carver (And) [Company]" is actually more intriguing than the plot, although the story's not too shabby … Continue reading Jo Carver (“Carver (And) [Company]”)
“With One Eye Open”
A Charles Stubblefield Mystery by D. H. Reddall Fall 2006 When Billy Farrell explained his problem to me, I said “Go to the cops.” “I did. They said there’s nothing they can do unless he threatens her or hurts her, or unless she files for a restraining order." “Tell her to get the restraining order, then.” … Continue reading “With One Eye Open”
Vivian Marlow
Created by Lori Armstrong Pseudonyms include Lorelei James In 2023, it may seem a little odd to come across a short story referring to private investigation as "No Place for a Dame,” since we’re not exactly bereft of female gumshoes these days, but since the story’s set in 1942, I guess we can cut it … Continue reading Vivian Marlow
Peter Proctor
Created by John H. Knox (1905-83) The son of a preacher man, and probably the most successful pulp writer to ever come out of Abilene, Texas, John H. Knox specialized in both weird menace and crime & detective stories… and sometimes a combination of both. Like “Dead Man’s Shadow,” which appeared in the December 1934 issue … Continue reading Peter Proctor
Thomas Langford
Created by John M. Floyd In the Shamus Award-winning short story, "Mustang Sally," former cop turned private eye THOMAS LANGFORD (and his "long-time and infinitely patient girlfriend" Debra Jo Wells) get in way over their heads in what even the author agrees is a "lighthearted, its only crime being an off-screen jewelry-store heist." Maybe it is … Continue reading Thomas Langford
Fred Fox
Created by James Thurber (1894-1961) A parody of the tough guy P.I. story, in which all the characters are animals in the forest? Seriously? It's a wandering rabbit job, with hard-boiled, rye-drinking FRED FOX called in by old Mrs. Rabbit to find Daphne, one of her descendants. As you might guess, old Mrs. Rabbit has a … Continue reading Fred Fox