Created by Bill Crider Pseudonyms include Nick Carter, Jack MacLane, Jack Buchanan (1941-2018) Galveston is the unique turf of TRUMAN SMITH, retired Dallas private eye. Pushing forty, obsessed with the disappearance of his sister, his only living relative, Truman quits the shamus game and moves back home to Galveston, off the Texas coast. There, he … Continue reading Truman Smith
Tag: The Shamus Awards
Gus Murphy
Created by Reed Farrel Coleman Retired Suffolk County cop GUS MURPHY thought he was done with the whole cops-and-robbers thing, content to drive the airport courtesy van for the Paragon Hotel, shop at Costco and do an occasional low-key, P.I.-type favour for a friend. Until his life hits the fan and he's driven back into the … Continue reading Gus Murphy
Scott Drayco
Created by B.V. Lawson Handsome former classical piano whiz SCOTT DRAYCO never dreamed he'd end up working for the FBI for years, never mind eventually setting himself up in the the private sector as a battle-scarred "crime consultant." But then he never expected to inherit a falling down Opera House, either. But that's what's happened. … Continue reading Scott Drayco
Jake Longly
Created by D.P. Lyle "Ray was of the opinion that running a bar and chasing bikinis was not a career. I disagreed." -- Deep Six Presenting… the Doofus Detective. I dunno. At first glance, there's so much about JAKE LONGLY that seems, well, calculated. As though the author was working his way down a checklist of 1980s … Continue reading Jake Longly
Delpha Wade & Tom Phelan
Created by Lisa Sandlin "Still got nine fingers left. Aim to keep them" -- Tom, when asked why he quit working on oil rigs and became a P.I. Let's get this straight. TOM PHELAN is the private eye, and MISS DELPHA WADE is his secretary, but she gets top billing on the cover? What's going on … Continue reading Delpha Wade & Tom Phelan
Tres Navarre
Created by Rick Riordan Rick who? TRES NAVARRE is many things -- an unlicensed TexMex private eye, a tequila drinker, a tai chi master and an outcast from academia with a pretty much useless PhD in medieval studies and the proud owner of a cat called Robert Johnson. After ten years in the City by … Continue reading Tres Navarre
Ken Sligo
Created by Jack Bludis KEN SLIGO is a vet recently returned from overseas, trying to scratch out a living as a rookie private eye, while he waits to become a cop (he's on the waiting list). The P.I. life may not be exactly Sligo's dream gig, but it's still better than working for his brother, … Continue reading Ken Sligo
Duck Darley
Created by Casey Barrett Unlicensed New York P.I. DUCK DARLEY has been around, and has the physical and emotional scars to prove it. A former felon and alcoholic who's currently walking the more-or-less straight-and-narrow, he self-medicates by vaping pot, attending AA meetings and getting beat up at his local dojo. Oh, he's also the estranged … Continue reading Duck Darley
Joe Kozmarski
Created by Michael Wiley Michael Wiley's The Last Striptease (2007) won the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin's Press Best First Private Eye Novel contest, and introduced ex-cop turned Chicago PI JOE KOZMARSKI, whose biggest strength may be that he's, well, just a regular joe. I mean, he's got a mother, fer cryin' out loud, … Continue reading Joe Kozmarski
Stanley Hastings
Created by Parnell Hall "Not to disparage the work I do, but most of it requires no intelligence whatsoever.'' -- Stanley Hastings to a would-be client in Suspense. ...and now, for your consideration, your entertainment and your amusement, may we present... STANLEY HASTINGS, a P.I. as tough as his name! Our man Stan's a hopelessly … Continue reading Stanley Hastings