Saturday, April 29, 2017

A Body In Paradise by Richard Reinsmith

On a lush tropical island, Ray Martin finds the diversions include sun, fun, sex, and murder



It seems like a dream assignment. Guarding the beautiful, sexy wife of the wealthiest man in the world on a cruise to an island paradise. But there's someone on board the Drayton's luxury yacht who wants to make sure that neither Drayton nor the luscious Danielle survive to enjoy their vacation. Things become so hot that Martin begins to work close, very close, collaboration with Drayton's personal bodyguard, as he attempts to discover the identity of the snake in this tropical Eden.

Printing History
Written by Richard Reinsmith

Dorchester Publishing Co
Leisure Books
ISBN 8439 2106
May 1984
 

Saturday, April 22, 2017

The Genuine Article by A.B. Guthrie Jr. (1977)

I am back for another installment from Rich's Crimes of the Century meme over at Past Offences. This time around we are in the year 1977. 

The Genuine Article 
by A. B. Guthrie Jr.

A Sheriff Chick Charleston mystery  


Not many people in Midbury liked Grimsley, a rancher with twenty thousand acres and five hundred head of cattle. Still, when Grimsley is found dead on his back doorstep with a mysterious gash on his head, Chief Chick Charleston and his crew have to use their detective skills to root out his killer. They are aided by Deputy Jason Beard, who, though he grew up in Midbury, has been away for two years at college. In their small Montana community, Charleston and Beard must conduct their investigations delicately, ignoring local prejudice, sifting through gossip and speculation, enduring the pressures of higher-ups, dealing with some less-than-savory characters, and eliciting information from those who would prefer not to talk. And things get worse before they get better. A second body is discovered, and relations between the sheriff, the Indian reservation, and the town deteriorate until finding the murderer becomes more than just a matter of enforcing the law. It becomes crucial to keeping the peace in this small ranching community.

Printing History
written by Arthur Bertram Guthrie, Jr (1901-1991)

 Houghton Mifflin
978-0395253618
1977

Friday, April 14, 2017

Vice Squad Detective (1934)


Vice Squad Detective

First and only issue

     Contents
Secret of the House of Horror by Clark L. Sair
Nudist Gym Death Riddle by Jack Gray
Marijuana Vice Trap by L.S. Worth
The Bloodless Corpse by O.R. Dude
Amazing Case of the Blonde Dope Queen by J.P. Carroll
The Call Girl Murder Mystery by Peter Abbott
The Curse of the Rusty Roses by Edmund Beville
The Day Coach Death Puzzle by Laif Martin
The Clue of the Hunted Vampire by Vance Miller
Pajama Party Killer by Don Lawrence
The Four White Devils of Tein Tsin by Lash Manion
The Beach Racket Murder by Tom Pennell

Printing History

Graphic Arts, Inc.
Imprint of Fawcett Publications
1934

Thursday, April 6, 2017

100 Years Ago Today

100 Years Ago Today

 


On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on the Germany Empire, thus joining the world war that began in August 1914.  The US was an associated power with the Allied Forces and entering into one of the bloodiest conflicts to ever grip Europe. Fifteen nations and empires saw 65 million men under arms, including 4.3 million Americans. When the conflagration ended in 1918, the Ottoman, Russian, Austria-Hungarian and German empires had fallen.  More than 10 million combatants had been killed out of some 38 million casualties. The last American veteran of the Great War, Corporal Frank Buckles, died just over six years ago, at the age of 110. 

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-1975)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker



A fictional Chicago newspaper reporter, Carl Kolchak, who investigates mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. These often involved the supernatural or science fiction, including fantastic creatures.

Cast
Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin)
Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland)  
Ron Updyke (Jack Grinnage) 
Emily Cowles (Ruth McDevitt)
Monique Marmelstein (Carol Ann Susi) 

20 episodes aired   

Trivia
This series was preceded by two TV movies  
The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973)