Hard Case Crime
Encyclopedia
Hard Case Crime is an American imprint of hardboiled
crime novels founded in 2004 by Charles Ardai
, also known as the founder of the Internet service Juno Online Services
, and Max Phillips.
The series recreates, in editorial form and content, the style of the paperback crime novels of the 1940s and '50s. The covers feature original art done in the pulp
style by artists such as Robert McGinnis
and Glen Orbik
.
The collection includes both reprints of books from the pulp era (typically labeled Complete and unabridged on the cover), and new novels written for the collection (typically labeled First publication anywhere). The most widely reviewed entry in the series to date is a novel by Stephen King
, The Colorado Kid
, which later became the basis for the SyFy television series Haven
.
Five novels published by Hard Case have been nominated for the Edgar Award
: In 2005, Little Girl Lost, by Richard Aleas (a pseudonym
for Hard Case Crime co-founder Charles Ardai that is both an anagram of Ardai's name and a play on "alias"), was nominated as Best First Novel by an American Author and Domenic Stansberry's The Confession won the award for Best Paperback Original; in 2006, 2008, and 2009, respectively, Allan Guthrie's Kiss Her Goodbye, Russell Hill's Robbie's Wife, and Christa Faust's Money Shot were nominated for Best Paperback Original.
Max Phillips' Fade to Blonde won the 2005 Shamus Award
for Best Paperback Novel of the Year, and Charles Ardai's pseudonymous "Richard Aleas" novel Songs of Innocence won the same award in 2008. Ardai also received the Edgar Award in 2007, for his short story "The Home Front."
Between 2004 and 2010, Hard Case Crime was published through a collaboration between Ardai's company, Winterfall LLC, and Dorchester Publishing
. Starting in 2011, Titan Books
took Dorchester's place as publisher of the series. Additionally, it has been announced that one volume in the series, reprinting a pair of early Lawrence Block novels, 69 Barrow Street and Strange Embrace, will be published by Subterranean Press.
Hardboiled
Hardboiled crime fiction is a literary style, most commonly associated with detective stories, distinguished by the unsentimental portrayal of violence and sex. The style was pioneered by Carroll John Daly in the mid-1920s, popularized by Dashiell Hammett over the course of the decade, and refined...
crime novels founded in 2004 by Charles Ardai
Charles Ardai
Charles Ardai is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, and television producer. He is best known as founder and CEO of Juno, an Internet company, and founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, a line of pulp-style paperback crime novels.-Biography:...
, also known as the founder of the Internet service Juno Online Services
Juno Online Services
Juno is an Internet service provider based in the United States. It is a subsidiary of United Online, which also owns NetZero and Kmart's BlueLight internet service.-History:...
, and Max Phillips.
The series recreates, in editorial form and content, the style of the paperback crime novels of the 1940s and '50s. The covers feature original art done in the pulp
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
style by artists such as Robert McGinnis
Robert McGinnis
Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in...
and Glen Orbik
Glen Orbik
Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's...
.
The collection includes both reprints of books from the pulp era (typically labeled Complete and unabridged on the cover), and new novels written for the collection (typically labeled First publication anywhere). The most widely reviewed entry in the series to date is a novel by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, The Colorado Kid
The Colorado Kid
The Colorado Kid is a mystery novel written by Stephen King for the Hard Case Crime imprint, published in 2005. The book was issued in one paperback-only edition by the specialty crime and mystery publishing house. The third-person narrative concerns the investigation of the body of an...
, which later became the basis for the SyFy television series Haven
Haven (TV series)
Haven is a supernatural drama television series loosely based on the Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid. The show, filmed on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, is an American/Canadian co-production. The one-hour drama premiered on July 9, 2010, on Syfy...
.
Five novels published by Hard Case have been nominated for the Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
: In 2005, Little Girl Lost, by Richard Aleas (a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
for Hard Case Crime co-founder Charles Ardai that is both an anagram of Ardai's name and a play on "alias"), was nominated as Best First Novel by an American Author and Domenic Stansberry's The Confession won the award for Best Paperback Original; in 2006, 2008, and 2009, respectively, Allan Guthrie's Kiss Her Goodbye, Russell Hill's Robbie's Wife, and Christa Faust's Money Shot were nominated for Best Paperback Original.
Max Phillips' Fade to Blonde won the 2005 Shamus Award
Shamus Award
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year....
for Best Paperback Novel of the Year, and Charles Ardai's pseudonymous "Richard Aleas" novel Songs of Innocence won the same award in 2008. Ardai also received the Edgar Award in 2007, for his short story "The Home Front."
Between 2004 and 2010, Hard Case Crime was published through a collaboration between Ardai's company, Winterfall LLC, and Dorchester Publishing
Dorchester Publishing
Dorchester Publishing is a publisher of mass market paperback books. Although mostly known for romance, Dorchester also publishes horror, thriller and Western titles.-Publication lines:...
. Starting in 2011, Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
took Dorchester's place as publisher of the series. Additionally, it has been announced that one volume in the series, reprinting a pair of early Lawrence Block novels, 69 Barrow Street and Strange Embrace, will be published by Subterranean Press.
Titles
# | Title | Author | Cover Artist | Release Date | Earliest Copyright | ISBN | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
001 | Grifter's Game | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Chuck Pyle | September 2004 | 1961 | Complete and unabridged | |
002 | Fade to Blonde | Max Phillips | Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
September 2004 | 2004 | First publication anywhere | |
003 | Top of the Heap | Erle Stanley Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J... |
Bill Nelson Bill Nelson Clarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida... |
October 2004 | 1952 | First publication in 30 years | |
004 | Little Girl Lost | Richard Aleas | Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
October 2004 | 2004 | First time in paperback | |
005 | Two for the Money | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Mark Texeira Mark Texeira Mark Texeira is an American comic book artist. Classically trained as a painter, Texeira broke into the comics field in the early 1980s.-Career:Mark Texeira was born and raised in New York City... |
November 2004 | 1973 | Complete and unabridged | |
006 | The Confession | Domenic Stansberry | Richard B. Farrell | November 2004 | 2004 | First publication anywhere | |
007 | Home Is the Sailor | Day Keene | Richard B. Farrell and Gregory Manchess | March 2005 | 1952 | First publication in over 30 years | |
008 | Kiss Her Goodbye | Allan Guthrie Allan Guthrie Allan Guthrie is a Scottish literary agent, and an author and editor of crime fiction. He was born in Orkney, but has lived in Edinburgh for most of his adult life. His first novel, Two-Way Split, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and it won the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel... |
Chuck Pyle | March 2005 | 2005 | First publication anywhere | |
009 | 361 | Donald E. Westlake Donald E. Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres... |
Richard B. Farrell | May 2005 | 1962 | Complete and unabridged | |
010 | Plunder of the Sun Plunder of the Sun Plunder of the Sun is a 1949 novel by David F. Dodge about a hunt for ancient Peruvian treasure. It was made into a 1953 movie of the same name starring Glenn Ford and relocated to Mexico.-Cast:*Glenn Ford as Al Colby*Diana Lynn as Julie Barnes... |
David Dodge David F. Dodge David Francis Dodge was an author of mystery/thriller novels and humorous travel books. His first book was published in 1941. His fiction is characterized by tight plotting, brisk dialogue, memorable and well-defined characters, and exotic locations... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
May 2005 | 1949 | Complete and unabridged | |
011 | Branded Woman | Wade Miller Whit Masterson Whit Masterson is a pen name for a partnership of two authors, Robert Allison “Bob” Wade and H. Bill Miller . The two also wrote under several other pseudonyms, including Wade Miller and Will Daemer.... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
July 2005 | 1952 | Complete and unabridged | |
012 | Dutch Uncle | Peter Pavia | Richard B. Farrell | July 2005 | 2005 | First publication anywhere | |
013 | The Colorado Kid The Colorado Kid The Colorado Kid is a mystery novel written by Stephen King for the Hard Case Crime imprint, published in 2005. The book was issued in one paperback-only edition by the specialty crime and mystery publishing house. The third-person narrative concerns the investigation of the body of an... |
Stephen King Stephen King Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
October 2005 | 2005 | First publication anywhere | |
014 | The Girl with the Long Green Heart | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
November 2005 | 1965 | Complete and unabridged | |
015 | The Gutter and the Grave | Ed McBain | Richard B. Farrell | December 2005 | 1958 | Complete and unabridged | |
016 | Night Walker Night Walker -Plot summary:Navy Lt. David Young hitches a ride with a friendly stranger and wakes up in a hospital bed with a new name and a pretty young wife.-Publication history:... |
Donald Hamilton Donald Hamilton Donald Bengtsson Hamilton was a U.S. writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction about the outdoors. His novels consist mostly of paperback originals, principally spy fiction but also crime fiction and Westerns such as The Big Country... |
Tim Gabor | January 2006 | 1954 | Complete and unabridged | |
017 | A Touch of Death | Charles Williams Charles Williams (U.S. author) Charles Williams was an American writer of hardboiled crime fiction. He is regarded by critics as one of the finest suspense novelists of the 1950s and 1960s. His 1951 debut, the pulp paperback novel Hill Girl, sold over a million copies... |
Chuck Pyle | February 2006 | 1953 | Complete and unabridged | |
018 | Say It with Bullets | Richard Powell | Michael Koelsch | March 2006 | 1953 | First publication in 50 years | |
019 | Witness to Myself | Seymour Shubin | Larry Schwinger | April 2006 | 2006 | First publication anywhere | |
020 | Bust | Ken Bruen Ken Bruen Ken Bruen is an Irish writer of hard-boiled and noir crime fiction.He was born in Galway, and educated at Gormanston College, County Meath and later at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a Ph.D. in metaphysics. He spent twenty-five years as an English teacher in Africa, Japan, S.E. Asia and... and Jason Starr Jason Starr Jason Starr is an American author and screenplay writer from New York City. Starr has written numerous crime fiction novels and thrillers.... |
Richard B. Farrell | May 2006 | 2006 | First publication anywhere | |
021 | Straight Cut | Madison Smartt Bell Madison Smartt Bell Madison Smartt Bell is an American novelist. He was raised Nashville, and lived in New York, and London before settling in Baltimore, Maryland.... |
Chuck Pyle | June 2006 | 1986 | Complete and unabridged | |
022 | Lemons Never Lie | Richard Stark | Richard B. Farrell | July 2006 | 1971 | Complete and unabridged | |
023 | The Last Quarry | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
August 2006 | 2006 (drawn in part from short story published in 1989) | First publication anywhere | |
024 | The Guns of Heaven | Pete Hamill Pete Hamill Pete Hamill is an American journalist, novelist, essayist, editor and educator. Widely traveled and having written on a broad range of topics, he is perhaps best known for his career as a New York City journalist, as "the author of columns that sought to capture the particular flavors of New York... |
Larry Schwinger | September 2006 | 1983 | Complete and unabridged | |
025 | The Last Match | David Dodge David F. Dodge David Francis Dodge was an author of mystery/thriller novels and humorous travel books. His first book was published in 1941. His fiction is characterized by tight plotting, brisk dialogue, memorable and well-defined characters, and exotic locations... |
William George | October 2006 | 2003 (written in 1973 but not published until 2006) | Never before published | |
026 | Grave Descend Grave Descend Grave Descend is a novel written by Michael Crichton under the pseudonym John Lange. It was originally published in 1970, and later re-released in 2006 as part of the Hard Case Crime series. For this release, Michael Crichton did an overall revision of the text. The novel was nominated for the... |
John Lange Michael Crichton John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted... |
Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
November 2006 | 1970 | Complete and unabridged | |
027 | The Peddler | Richard S. Prather Richard S. Prather Richard Scott Prather was an American mystery novelist, best known for creating the "Shell Scott" series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.- Early life and career :... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
December 2006 | 1952 | Complete and unabridged | |
028 | Lucky At Cards | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Chuck Pyle | February 2007 | 1964 | First publication in almost 40 years | |
029 | Robbie's Wife | Russell Hill | Richard B. Farrell | March 2007 | 2007 | First publication anywhere | |
030 | The Vengeful Virgin | Gil Brewer | Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
April 2007 | 1958 | Complete and unabridged | |
031 | The Wounded and the Slain | David Goodis David Goodis David Loeb Goodis was an American noir fiction writer.Born to a respectable Jewish family in Philadelphia, Goodis had two younger brothers, but one died of meningitis at the age of three... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
May 2007 | 1955 | Complete and unabridged | |
032 | Blackmailer | George Axelrod George Axelrod George Axelrod was an American screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director, best known for his play, The Seven Year Itch , which was adapted into a movie of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
June 2007 | 1952 | Complete and unabridged | |
033 | Songs of Innocence | Richard Aleas | Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
July 2007 | 2007 | First Publication Anywhere | |
034 | Fright | Cornell Woolrich Cornell Woolrich Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich was an American novelist and short story writer who sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley.... |
Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam is an American comic book artist and musician. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.-Illustration:Suydam has... |
August 2007 | 1950 | First publication in over 50 years | |
035 | Kill Now, Pay Later | Robert Terrall | Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
September 2007 | 1960 | Complete and unabridged | |
036 | Slide | Ken Bruen Ken Bruen Ken Bruen is an Irish writer of hard-boiled and noir crime fiction.He was born in Galway, and educated at Gormanston College, County Meath and later at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a Ph.D. in metaphysics. He spent twenty-five years as an English teacher in Africa, Japan, S.E. Asia and... and Jason Starr Jason Starr Jason Starr is an American author and screenplay writer from New York City. Starr has written numerous crime fiction novels and thrillers.... |
Richard B. Farrell | October 2007 | 2007 | First publication anywhere | |
037 | Dead Street | Mickey Spillane Mickey Spillane Frank Morrison Spillane , better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American author of crime novels, many featuring his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have sold internationally... |
Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam is an American comic book artist and musician. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.-Illustration:Suydam has... |
November 2007 | 2007 | Never before published | |
038 | Deadly Beloved | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Terry Beatty Terry Beatty Terry Beatty is an artist who has worked as a penciler and inker in the comic book industry.-Career:Beatty is the artist and co-creator of the long-running private eye series, Ms. Tree... |
December 2007 | 2007 | First publication anywhere | |
039 | A Diet of Treacle | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Chuck Pyle | January 2008 | 1961 | Complete and unabridged | |
040 | Money Shot | Christa Faust Christa Faust Christa Faust is an American author who writes original novels, as well as novelizations and media tie-ins. Faust won the 2009 Crimespree Award for Money Shot.-Novels:*Control Freak... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
February 2008 | 2008 | First publication anywhere | |
041 | Zero Cool Zero Cool Zero Cool is Michael Crichton's fifth published novel. It was released in 1969 under the pseudonym of John Lange, and later re-released in 2008 as part of the Hard Case Crime series. For this release, Michael Crichton wrote short new framing chapters, in addition to doing an overall revision of the... |
John Lange Michael Crichton John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted... |
Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
March 2008 | 1969 | Complete and unabridged | |
042 | Shooting Star/Spiderweb | Robert Bloch Robert Bloch Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock... |
Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam Arthur Suydam is an American comic book artist and musician. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.-Illustration:Suydam has... /Larry Schwinger |
April 2008 | 1958/1954 | Two complete novels | |
043 | The Murderer Vine | Shepard Rifkin | Ken Laager | May 2008 | 1970 | Complete and unabridged | |
044 | Somebody Owes Me Money | Donald E. Westlake Donald E. Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres... |
Michael Koelsch | June 2008 | 1969 | First publication in over 35 years | |
045 | No House Limit | Steve Fisher Steve Fisher Steve Fisher is an American college basketball coach currently at San Diego State University.Fisher attended Illinois State University, where he helped lead the Redbirds to the 1967 Division II Final Four. After school, he became a high school coach in Park Forest, Illinois. In 1979, he accepted... |
Richard B. Farrell | July 2008 | 1958 | Complete and unabridged | |
046 | Baby Moll | John Farris John Farris John Lee Farris is an American writer, known largely for his work in the southern Gothic genre. He was born 1936 in Jefferson City, Missouri, to parents John Linder Farris and Eleanor Carter Farris . Raised in Tennessee, he graduated from Central High School in Memphis and attended Southwestern... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
August 2008 | 1958 | First publication in 50 years | |
047 | The Max | Ken Bruen Ken Bruen Ken Bruen is an Irish writer of hard-boiled and noir crime fiction.He was born in Galway, and educated at Gormanston College, County Meath and later at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a Ph.D. in metaphysics. He spent twenty-five years as an English teacher in Africa, Japan, S.E. Asia and... and Jason Starr Jason Starr Jason Starr is an American author and screenplay writer from New York City. Starr has written numerous crime fiction novels and thrillers.... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
September 2008 | 2008 | First publication anywhere | |
048 | The First Quarry | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Ken Laager | October 2008 | 2008 | First publication anywhere | |
049 | Gun Work | David J. Schow David J. Schow David J. Schow is an American author of horror novels, short stories, and screenplays. His credits include films such as The Crow and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. Most of Schow's work falls into the sub-genre splatterpunk, a term he is sometimes credited with coining... |
Joe DeVito Joe DeVito Joe DeVito is a stand-up comedian and writer living on Long Island, New York.In 2006, he was featured on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and appeared at the Montreal "Just for Laughs" Comedy Festival in the New Faces program. In 2007, he was a semifinalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing Season 5... |
November 2008 | 2008 | First publication anywhere | |
050 | Fifty-To-One | Charles Ardai Charles Ardai Charles Ardai is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, and television producer. He is best known as founder and CEO of Juno, an Internet company, and founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, a line of pulp-style paperback crime novels.-Biography:... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
December 2008 | 2008 | First publication anywhere | |
051 | Killing Castro | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Sharif Tarabay | January 2009 | 1961 | First publication in almost 50 years | |
052 | The Dead Man's Brother | Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series... |
Chuck Pyle | February 2009 | 2009 (written but not published in 1971) | First publication anywhere | |
053 | The Cutie | Donald E. Westlake Donald E. Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres... |
Ken Laager | March 2009 | 1960 | Complete and unabridged | |
054 | House Dick | E. Howard Hunt E. Howard Hunt Everette Howard Hunt, Jr. was an American intelligence officer and writer. Hunt served for many years as a CIA officer. Hunt, with G... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
April 2009 | 1961 | Complete and unabridged | |
055 | Casino Moon | Peter Blauner Peter Blauner Peter Blauner is the author of six novels, including Slow Motion Riot, which won the 1992 Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America and was named an International Book of the Year by The Times Literary Supplement. His novel The Intruder was a New York Times bestseller... |
Ricky Mujica | May 2009 | 1994 | Complete and unabridged | |
056 | Fake I.D. | Jason Starr Jason Starr Jason Starr is an American author and screenplay writer from New York City. Starr has written numerous crime fiction novels and thrillers.... |
Gregg Kreutz | June 2009 | 2000 | First U.S. publication ever | |
057 | Passport To Peril | Robert B. Parker | Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
July 2009 | 1951 | First publication in over 50 years | |
058 | Stop This Man! | Peter Rabe Peter Rabe Peter Rabe aka Peter Rabinowitsch, , was a German American writer who also used the nom de plumes Marco Malaponte and J. T. MacCargo... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
August 2009 | 1955 | First publication in 45 years | |
059 | Losers Live Longer | Russell Atwood | Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
September 2009 | 2009 | First publication ever | |
060 | Honey In His Mouth | Lester Dent Lester Dent Lester Dent was a prolific pulp fiction author, best known as the creator and main author of the series of novels about the superhuman scientist and adventurer, Doc Savage. The 159 novels written over 16 years were credited to the house name Kenneth Robeson.-Early years:Dent was born in 1904 in... |
Ron Lesser | October 2009 | 2009 (written but not published in 1956) | First publication ever | |
061 | Quarry In The Middle | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Ron Lesser | November 2009 | 2009 | First publication ever | |
062 | The Corpse Wore Pasties | Jonny Porkpie Jonny Porkpie Jonny Porkpie is a New York City-based writer, director, and performer in neo-burlesque. So called for his pork pie hat, Jonny Porkpie creates and hosts scripted theme-based burlesque shows as part of his production company, Pinchbottom, as well as solo productions under the title "Jonny Porkpie's... |
Ricky Mujica | December 2009 | 2009 | First publication ever | |
063 | The Valley of Fear The Valley of Fear The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915, and the first book edition was published in New York on 27 February 1915.- Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone... |
Arthur Conan Doyle Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
December 2009 | 1915 | Inspired by a true story | |
064 | Memory | Donald E. Westlake Donald E. Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
April 2010 | 2010 | First publication ever | |
065 | Nobody's Angel | Jack Clark | Ron Lesser | June 2010 | 2010 (500 self-published copies of earlier version distributed in 1996) | First time in stores | |
066 | Murder Is My Business | Brett Halliday Brett Halliday Brett Halliday , primary pen name of Davis Dresser, was an American mystery writer, best known for the long-lived series of Michael Shayne novels he wrote, and later commissioned others to write... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
August 2010 | 1945 | Complete and unabridged | |
069 | 69 Barrow Steet/Strange Embrace | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
May 2012 | 1961/1962 | Two complete novels | |
101 | Getting Off | Lawrence Block Lawrence Block Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively... |
Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
September 2011 | 2011 | First publication anywhere | |
102 | Quarry's Ex | Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
September 2011 | 2011 | First publication anywhere | |
103 | The Consummata | Mickey Spillane Mickey Spillane Frank Morrison Spillane , better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American author of crime novels, many featuring his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have sold internationally... and Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms... |
Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis Robert McGinnis is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of over 1200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffanys , Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films.-Biography:Born Robert Edward McGinnis in... |
October 2011 | 2011 | First publication anywhere | |
104 | Choke Hold | Christa Faust Christa Faust Christa Faust is an American author who writes original novels, as well as novelizations and media tie-ins. Faust won the 2009 Crimespree Award for Money Shot.-Novels:*Control Freak... |
Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
October 2011 | 2011 | First publication anywhere | |
105 | The Comedy Is Finished | Donald E. Westlake Donald E. Westlake Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres... |
Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess Gregory Manchess is American illustrator from Kentucky. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, digital murals, illustrated movie posters, advertising campaigns and book covers including sixty covers for Louis L’Amour. His work had appeared on Major League Baseball World Series Programs,... |
February 2012 | 2012 (Written but not published in 1970s) | First publication anywhere | |
106 | Blood On the Mink | Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:... |
Michael Koelsch | April 2012 | 1962 | ||
107 | False Negative | Joseph Koenig | Glen Orbik Glen Orbik Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's... |
June 2012 | 2012 | First publication anywhere | |