By Michael Bracken Featuring "Moe Ron" Boyette Spring 2007 I watched my client's wife through the open French doors leading from their bedroom to the back patio, surprised at my reaction to her half-clothed figure, and I knew that it would be another long, hard night. "Anything?" my client asked the following morning. I shook my … Continue reading “My Client’s Wife”
Tag: Thrilling Detective Fiction
“The Gospel According to Gordon Black”
By Richard Helms Featuring Eamon Gold Fall 2007 Gordon Black was a short man with an intimidating stare. His hair and beard were completely white. He liked to accentuate his points by drawing circles in the air with his index fingers. “We are nothing but organic flotsam, bobbing in the infinite sea of life. Don't you … Continue reading “The Gospel According to Gordon Black”
Dan Fortune Has His Say (Dan’s Last Words)
As told to Dennis Lynds/Michael Collins EDITOR'S NOTE: Dennis had offered to write something for this site for a while, and finally contributed this fictional mini-rant by his politically outspoken private eye Dan Fortune in the summer of 2005, shortly before his death. In transferring it from our old site, I had a chance to … Continue reading Dan Fortune Has His Say (Dan’s Last Words)
The “Detectives in the Shadows” Zoom
August 18, 2020 On August 18, 2020, we had a very special Zoom, co-sponsored with Johns Hopkins University Press. It was a rollicking affair, boasting a keen discussion on the past and present of hard-boiled crime fiction, featuring Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition), Ace Atkins (the Quinn Colson series), and Alex Segura (the Pete Fernandez … Continue reading The “Detectives in the Shadows” Zoom
“Horns”
By Mark Troy Featuring Val Lyon January 2009 Doyle Gillespie bellowed in a voice as loud as his shirt, a yellow and red hangover of martini glasses and hula girls. "Sperm-jacking," he said. "Somebody's getting to my bulls. Taking the goblins right outta the pipe, you might say." Gillespie smiled at his own wit. I took … Continue reading “Horns”
The Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar (May 23, 2020)
We had our first Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar on Saturday, May 23, 2020, and I'm so happy it turned out okay. Despite a few minor technical snafus (carefully edited out of the video--nobody really wants to see me naked and dripping wet), it went relatively smoothly (especially if you squint)... well enough, in … Continue reading The Thrilling Detective Noir at the Bar (May 23, 2020)
“Validation”
By Stephen D. Rogers Spring 2005 From the very beginning, I wanted to know why the hell my client was paying me to conduct a deep background check on a guy who wanted to be a janitor. It wasn't the money - I knew she was good for it. As the Director of Human Resources for … Continue reading “Validation”
“Bourne Again”
By Stephen D. Rogers Winter/Spring 2002 I watched the cars speeding around the rotary, paid special attention to ones that veered off to head over the canal. Despite the "Cape Cod Tunnel" stickers that locals bought to infuriate the tourists, there were only two ways off the Cape. Since I couldn't see him going out … Continue reading “Bourne Again”
“Velda’s First Case”
By Ron Miller Featuring Velda Bellinghausen Summer 2002 It all began (I know, I know, but there's really no other way to start this), with a visit from Maxim Slotsky, of all people. I hadn't seen him in two or three months, since I left Slotsky's Follies. Not that I didn't like the Follies, which I didn't, … Continue reading “Velda’s First Case”
“Blondes, Blondes, Blondes!”
A short story by Jack Bludis Featuring Ken Sligo Winter 2006 "Girls, girls, girls!" I shouted out to the men looking for action on Baltimore's notorious Block. "Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads. Get 'em while they're hot!" It was 1947, two years since the war. The only men in uniform were cops and a few foreign sailors in … Continue reading “Blondes, Blondes, Blondes!”