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I have been a collector of hard-boiled/noir crime fiction since the late 1990's. The list below is a catalog of my personal collection. The majority of my collection,
about 80%, consists of first trade editions. Most of these have dust jackets. The remaining 20% are paperback originals
(PBO), vintage paperback reprints, photoplay editions, limited editions, advanced reading copies and a few hardcover
reprints. Authors in my collection include, James Crumley, Ed Lacy, Lionel White, Lawrence Block, James Sallis,
Kem Nunn and numerous others. I also have listed a number of mystery reference works at the very bottom.
My books have been acquired through various sources including used book stores, thrift stores,
Ebay and ABE. It is a great thrill to walk into a thrift store to find a hidden gem worth many times more than
what you paid. With some persistance and leg work, I have been able to build a collection of crime fiction which inclues
a number of scarce and valuable books, without spending an exorbitant amount of money.
This catalog is a work in progress. I hope to have my entire collection on this site
eventually. If you wish to purchase an item or if you have any questions or comments, please email me at pvteye68@yahoo.com
Abbott, Megan, DIE A LITTLE, Simon and Schuster, 2005. First edition in
dust jacket, F/F. Author's first mystery and Edgar nominee for Best First Mystery.
Abbott, Megan, THE SONG IS YOU. Simon and Schuster, 2007. First edition in dust jacket, F/F.
Author's second mystery. A fictional account of the lesser known real life dissapearance of actress Jean Spangler
in 1949 Los Angeles.
Aleas, Richard (pseudonym of Charles Ardai). LITTLE GIRL LOST, Five Star,
2004. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Signed on the title page, "Charles Ardai, AKA Richard Aleas, 7/5/2006." Charles Ardai
is the editor of the Hard Case Crime paperback series, which publishes hard-boiled novels both old and new. Hard Case Crime
reprinted Little Girl Lost in the later part of 2004, thus the hard cover edition published in January 2004 is the true
first.
Alexander, David. MURDER IN BLACK AND WHITE. Random House, 1951. First edition in dust jacket,
VG/VG. Author's second novel. Features "Tommy Twotoes, the eccentric penguin fancier and private eye, Terry Rooke in
a suspensful tale of an ex-prize fighter who was murdered twice ..", from the dust jacket flap.
Alexander, David. PAINT THE TOWN BLACK, Random House, 1954. First edition in dust jacket, F/F.
A mystery featuring Bart Hardin, managing editor of the Broadway Times.
Algren, Nelson. CHIGAGO, CITY ON THE MAKE, Doubleday, 1951. First edition
in dust jacket, VG/VG. Algren's homage to the city of Chigago.
Algren, Nelson. A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE, Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, 1956.
First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG, price clipped. A New Orleans setting. By the author of The Man With the Golden Arm.
Ard, William. THE PERFECT FRAME, William Morrow and Company, 1951. First edition in dust jacket,
VG-/G+. Author's first book. A Timothy Dane mystery.
Ard, William. 38, Rinehart & Company, 1952. First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG. Authors third novel.
A Timothy Dane mystery.
Ballinger, Bill S. THE WIFE OF THE RED-HAIRED MAN. Harper and Brothers, 1957. First edition in
dust jacket, VG/VG. A startling suprise ending.
Ballinger, Bill S. THE HEIR HUNTERS, Harper and Row, 1966. First edition in dust jacket, VG/VG.
Bardin, John Franklin. THE LAST OF PHILIP BANTER, Dodd, Mead, 1947. First
Edition in Dust jacket, VG/VG-. Bardin's second book of a trilogy of psychological noirs.
Bardin, John Franklin. THE DEVIL TAKE THE BLUE TAIL FLY, Victor Gollancz (London), 1948. First edition without
dust jacket, VG+/none. Bardin's third book of a trilogy of psychological noirs. Scarce.
Bardin, John Franklin. THE DEVIL TAKE THE BLUE TAIL FLY. Macfadden
Books, 1967. First US edition, paperback, VG.
Bell, Madison Smartt, STRAIGHT CUT, Ticknor and Fields, 1986. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Crime
thriller about a film editor working in Italy who gets more than he bargained for. Author's third novel.
Block, Lawrence (writing as Sheldon Lord), CARLA, Midwood-Towers Publication,
1958, Paperback Original (PBO), VG+. Cover art by Paul Rader.
Block, Lawrence, DEATH PULLS A DOUBLECROSS, Gold Medal S1162, 1961, Paperback
Original (PBO), VG. Authors second book published under his own name.
Block, Lawrence, THE GIRL WITH THE LONG GREEN HEART, Gold Medal K1555. Paperback original (PBO),
VG+.
Block, Lawrence. DEADLY HONEYMOON, Macmillan Co, 1967. First edition in
dust jacket. NF/NF. Block's first hardcover novel.
Block, Lawrence, TIME TO MURDER AND CREATE, Dell, 1976. Paperback Original
(PBO), F. The second Matthew Scudder mystery.
Block, Lawrence, ARIEL, Arbor House, 1980. First edition in dust jacket, VG/VG. A horror novel.
Block, Lawrence. A STAB IN THE DARK, Arbor House, 1981. First edition in
dust jacket. G+/G+. Glue stains on endpapers and jacket folds. A Matthew Scudder mystery.
Block, Lawrence. EIGHT MILLION WAYS TO DIE, Arbor House, 1982. First edition
in dust jacket. F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel. Nominated for an Edgar Award. Winner of the Shamus Award. Made into a movie
directed by Hal Ashby starring Jeff Bridges and Rosanna Arquette.
Block, Lawrence. WHEN THE SACRED GINMILL CLOSES, Arbor House, 1986. First
edition in dust jacket. F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel.
Block, Lawrence. OUT ON THE CUTTING EDGE, William Morrow, 1989. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel.
Block, Lawrence. A TICKET TO THE BONEYARD, William Morrow, 1990. Signed first edtion in
dust jacket, F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel.
Block, Lawrence, A LONG LINE OF DEAD MEN, William Morrow, 1994. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel.
Block, Lawrence, EVERYBODY DIES, William Morrow, 1998. Signed first edittion
in dust jacket, F/F. A Matthew Scudder novel.
Block, Lawrence, HIT PARADE, William Morrow, 2006. Signed first edition in dust jacket, F/F.
A John Keller novel.
Brackett, Leigh. THE TIGER AMONG US. Doubleday and Company, 1957. First edition in dust jacket,
VG/VG-.
Brown, Fredric, WE ALL KILLED GRANDMA, E.P. Dutton and Company, 1952. First edition in dust jacket,
G/G, ex-library copy.
Brown, Fredric, HUNTER AND HUNTED, THE ED AND AM HUNTER NOVELS, Stewart Masters Publishing, 2002.
First limited edtion with dust jacket in slipcase, F/F. This book is number 50 of 400 limited edition copies signed
by the publishers, Gary Masters and Roger Stewart. Includes the first four Ed and Am Hunter novels, "The Fabulous Clipjoint",
"The Dead Ringer", "The Bloody Moonlight" and "Compliments of a Fiend."
Burnett, W. R. BITTER GROUND, Alfred A. Knopf, 1958. First edition in dust jacket, G/G, ex-library
copy. From the dust jacket flap, "Bitter Ground is a crackling good western; W. R. Burnett leaves the competition choking
in his alkali dust!"
Burnett, W. R. GOOD-BYE CHICAGO, St. Martin's Press, 1981. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF.
Burnett's thirty fifth novel. The Story of Dave Santorelli, a young, hardworking police sergeant, is a assigned to the toughest
case of his career when the body of a beautiful young woman - the missing wife of Joe Ricordi, one of Dave's colleagues -
is found on the waterfront.
Cain, James, M. THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RING TWICE. Grosset and Dunlap, 1946. Photoplay edition in
dust jacket, VG+/VG+. Scenes from the movie starring Lana Turner and John Garfield on front and rear panel.
Cain, James, M. MILDRED PIERCE. Tower/World Publishing, 1946. Photoplay edition in dust jacket,
VG/VG. Scenes from the movie starring Joan Crawford on the front and rear panels as well as on the front and rear endpapers.
Joan Crawford won an Oscar for her portrayal of the title character.
Cain, James. M. PAST ALL DISHONOR, Alfred A. Knopf, 1946. First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG+.
A suspense novel featuring a Civil War Setting. "Civil War Noir" possibly?
Cain, James, M. THE BUTTERFLY. Alfred A. Knopf, 1947. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. A
novel of incest. Basis for the notoriously bad 1981 film of the same name starring Pia Zadora.
Cain, James M. THE MOTH. Alfred A. Knopf, 1948. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A novel with
a large canvas featuring the story of lead character Jon Dillon.
Cain, James M. GALATEA. Alfred A. Knopf, 1953. First edition in dust jacket, 1953. Cain returns
to his Maryland origins with this novel featuring lead character Holly Valenty. From the dust jacket flap, "a story with all
the Cain magic - brutal, shocking, yet tender and believeable."
Cain, James, M. RAINBOW'S END, Mason Charter, 1975. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A man's
quiet, rural Ohio existence is disrupted when a hijacker plummets into his life, along with a $100,000 ransom and a beautiful
stewardess as his hostage.
Cain, James M. CLOUD NINE, THE MYSTERIOUS PRESS, 1984. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. From
the dust jacket flap, "When blonde, 16 year old, Sonya Lang confronts real estate man Graham Kirby with the fact that she's
pregnant by his sleazy half-brother Burwell, that's bad. When it turns out that her condition is the result of a particualry
degrading rape, that's worse ... What they don't know is that blood has already been spilled ... A million dollars is up for
grabs and a lot of people are greedy for it."
Chandler, Raymond, THE BIG SLEEP. Tower/World Publishing, 1946. Photoplay
edition in dust jacket, VG/VG. Scenes of the movie on front panel and on the front and rear endpapers.
Chandler, Raymond, RED WIND, Tower/World Publishing, 1946. First Edition
in dust jacket, NF/VG-. A collection of short stories previously published in pulp magazines. Includes "Goldfish", "Blackmailers
Don't Shoot" and "Red Wind".
Chandler, Raymond, THE LITTLE SISTER, Alfred A. Knopf, 1949. Second printing without dust jacket,
NF. Yellow cloth binding.
Chandler, Raymond, FINGERMAN, Avon 219, 1950. First edition paperback, NF.
A collection of short stories from the pulps.
Chandler, Raymond. PHILIP MAWLOWE'S GUIDE TO LIFE. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.
Uncorrected proof in wraps, F. Philip Marlowe quotations from Chandler's novels about various topics, ie. dames, booze, cops,
Los Angeles. On women: "I like smooth shiny girls, hardboiled and loaded with sin", on marriage: "For two people in a hundred
it's wonderful" and on advertising: "As elablorate a waste of human intelligence as you could find anywhere outside an advertising
agency."
Collins, Max Allan, TRUE CRIME, St. Martin's Press, 1984. First edition
in dust jacket, NF/NF. A Nathan Heller historical mystery novel taking place in "Chicago, 1934 where corruption and intrigue
run rampant among the cops and the politicians ... Into this turbulent and dangerous world steps Nathan Heller, a tough but
honest private eye trying to make a living in hard times", from the dust jacket.
Collins, Max Allan, MURDER BY THE NUMBERS, St. Martin's Press, 1993. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A historical novel about Elliot Ness' lesser known law enforcement triumphs in the city of Cleveland.
Collins, Max Allan. BLOOD AND THUNDER, Dutton, 1995. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Nathan
Heller novel surrounding the assasination of Huey Long. Winner of the Shamus Award.
Collins, Max Allan. FLYING BLIND, Dutton, 1998. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Nathan heller
novel revovling around the mysterious dissapearance of pilot Amelia Earhart.
Collins, Michael (pseudonym of Dennis Lynds), THE BRASS RAINBOW,
Dodd Mead, 1969. First Edition in dust jacket. VG/VG. A Dan Fortune mystery.
Collins, Michael (pseudonym of Dennis Lynds), WALK A BLACK WIND,
Dodd Mead, 1971. First edition in dust jacket. NF/NF. A Dan Fortune mystery.
Collins, Michael (pseudonym of Dennis Lynds), SHADOW OF A TIGER,
Dodd Mead, 1972. Signed First edition in dust jacket. NF/NF. Includes a personalized inscription on front free endpaper. A
Dan Fortune mystery.
Collins, Michael (pseudonym of Dennis Lynds), A SILENT SCREAM,
Dodd Mead, 1973. First edition in dust jacket. F/F. A Dan Fortune mystery.
Crumley, James. THE MEXICAN TREE DUCK, Mysterious Press, 1993. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A C. W. Sughrue mystery published 16 years after his previous novel, The Last Good Kiss.
Crumley, James. BORDERSNAKES, Mysterious Press, 1996. First edition in dust jacket, F/F.
A mystery featuring private eyes Milo Milodragovitch and C.W. Sughrue.
Dewey, Thomas B. AS GOOD AS DEAD, Jefferson House, 1946. First edition in dust jacket, NG/VG.
Author's second book. A Singer Batts mystery.
Dewey, Thomas. HANDLE WITH FEAR, William Morrow and Company, 1951. First edition in dust jacket,
VG-/VG+. A Singer Batts mystery.
Dewey, Thomas B. EVERY BET'S A SURE THING, Simon and Schuster, 1953. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF. A Mac mystery.
Dewey, Thomas B. THE GIRL WHO WASN'T THERE, Simon and Schuster, 1960. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF. A Mac mystery.
Dodge, David, THE RED TASSEL, Random House, 1950. First edition in
dust jacket, NF/VG. The third Al Colbee mystery.
Dodge, David. THE LIGHTS OF SKARO, Random House, 1954. First edition in
dust jacket, VG+/VG+. A thriller with a Balkan setting.
Dodge, David. ANGEL'S RANSOM, Random House, 1956. First edition in dust
jacket, NF/NF. Dodge returns to a Monacco setting with this thriller.
Dodge, David, HOOLIGAN, The Macmillan Company, 1969. First edition in dust
jacket, NF/VG. A Hong Kong setting.
Estleman, Loren, D. SUGARTOWN, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. The fifth Amos Walker mystery. Winner of the Shamus Award.
Estleman, Loren D. EVERY BRILLIANT EYE, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986. First edition in dust
jacket, NF/NF. AN Amos Walker mystery.
Estleman, Loren D. LADY YESTERDAY, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF. An Amos Walker mystery. Shamus Award nominee.
Estleman, Loren D. DOWNRIVER, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988. First edition in dust jackert,
F/F. An Amos Walker mystery.
Estleman, Loren D. GENERAL MURDERS. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. An Amos Walker mystery.
Estleman, Loren D. SILENT THUNDER, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. An Amos Walker mystery.
Estleman, Loren D. PEEPER, Bantam, 1989. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Ralph Poteet mystery.
Estleman, Loren D. EDSEL. The Mysterious Press, 1995. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A novel
of Detroit.
Estleman, Loren D. THE WITCHFINDER. The Mysterious Press, 1998. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. An Amos Walker mystery.
Fair, A.A. (pseudonym of Earl Stanley Gardner), FISH OR CUT BAIT, William Morrow & Company,
1963. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Donald Lam / Bertha Cool mystery.
Gault, William Campbell, RING AROUND ROSA, Dutton and Company, 1955. First
edition in dust jacket, VG-/VG-. A Brock (the Rock) Callahan mystery.
Greenleaf, Stephen, GRAVE ERROR, The Dial Press, 1979. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. Author's
first novel and first John Marshall Tanner mystery. The once lawyer turned investigator tackles a mystery involving blackmail,
adultery, and a decades old unsolved murder.
Greenleaf, Stephen. DEATH BED, The Dial Press, 1980. Inscribed first edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF. A John Marshall Tanner mystery.
Gores, Joe. FINAL NOTICE, Random House, 1973. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Author's third
book and second DKA mystery.
Gores, Joe. INTERFACE, M. Evans and Company, 1974.
First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG. A Neil Fargo mystery.
Gores, Joe. HAMMETT. Putnam, 1975. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. A mystery featuring Dashiell
Hammett as the main character and basis for the movie of the same name directed by Wim Wenders. Gores is writting
the prequel to The Maltese Falcon with the approval of the Hammett estate.
Gores, Joe, COME MORNING, The Mysterious Press, 1986. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A suspense
novel featuring ex-con Runyan.
Gores, Joe, DEAD MAN, The Mysterious Press, 1993. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. After twenty-eight
year old Eddie Dain's family is wiped out he is reborn as a dead man to seek revenge.
Gores, Joe. MENACED ASSASIN, The Mysterious Press, 1994. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A
novel featuring Organized Crime Task Force Detective Dante Stagnaro
Gores, Joe. CONTRACT NULL AND VOID, The Mysterious Press, 1996. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A DKA novel.
Gores, Joe. CONS, SAMS AND GRIFTS, The Mysterious Press, 2001. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A DKA novel.
Gores, Joe. GLASS TIGER, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 2006. Uncorrected proof, F in wraps. A
thriller featuring ex-ranger and ex-sniper Brendan Thorne.
Gruber, Frank, BRASS KNUCKLES, Sherbourne Press, 1966. First edition in
dust jacket, F/F. A collection of ten short stories featuring Oliver Quade, the Human Encyclopedia. Nine of the short stories
were originally published in Black Mask and one in Thrilling Detective. Also includes a long forward, "The Life and Times
of the Pulp Story", a memoir of Gruber's experiences wrting for the pulps.
Gruber, Frank. THE ETRUSCAN BULL.. E. P. Dutton and Company, 1969. First
edition in dust jacket, VG/VG-. Mystery author Dorothy B. Hughes' personal copy, signed by her on the front free endpaper.
From the dust jacket flap, "Private detective Tom Logan has the bull, but must go to Italy, to the ancient village of Chiusi,to
learn its meaning. And once there he discovers that the sculpture is sought by archaeologists, gangsters, government officials,
and murderers-- and that its possession has jeopardized his own life."
Gruber, Frank. THE SPANISH PRISONER, E. P. Dutton and Company, 1969. First
edition in dust jacket, F/F. From the dust jacket flap, "Ex-FBI man Ryker is vactioning in Spain trying to forget
his part in a bank-robbery case that led to a woman's suicide. He and Spanish Count Molino, a resident at his hotel recieves
identical letters, from a man who claims to be a prisoner in a castle dungeon, being tortured to reveal the whereabouts of
a fortune in Spanish gold. Ryker recognizes this as one of the world's oldest rackets, the Spanish Prisoner swindle, but he
is intrigued. He decides to find out who wrote the letters and why. The trail leads him down a byroad to a Spanish castle
and a gruesome murder, to Monte Carlo, to Czechoslavkia, back to the Calforinia bank robberty, and eventually to a torture
rack in an authentic Spanish Dungeon."
Hall, James W. UNDER COVER OF DAYLIGHT, W. W. Norton and Company, 1987. First edition in dust
jacket, F/F. Author's first novel. A suspense thriller with a Florida Keys setting. The first Thorn novel.
Hall, James, W. TROPICAL FREEZE, W.W. Norton and Company, 1989. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. Author's second novel featuring Thorne.
Hammett, Dashiell, THE MALTESE FALCON, Grosset and Dunlap, 1930. First edition thus in dust jacket,
G/G. Ex-library copy. The greatest hard-boiled mystery of all. Features private eye Sam Spade and basis for the movie of the
same name starring Humphrey Bogart.
Hammett, Dashiell, THE THIN MAN, Alfred E. Knopf, 1934. Seventh printing without dust jacket,
G/none. Ex-library copy. Hammett's most popular mystery featuring Nick and Nora Charles.
Hammett, Dashiell, THE DAIN CURSE, Grosset and Dunlap, 1943. First edition thus in dust jacket,
VG/G. An early reprint.
Hammett, Dashiell. BLOOD MONEY, Dell Mapback 53, 1944. First paperback edition, VG-.
Hammett, Dashiell, THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE, Tower/World Publishing, 1945. Third printing
in dust jacket, VG/VG. A collection of short stories previously published in pulp magazines. Includes"Too Many Have
Lived", "A Man Called Spade" and "The Assistant Murder". Introduction by Ellery Queen.
Hammett, Dashiell. THE DASHIELL HAMMETT OMNIBUS, Casell and Company (London), 1950. First edition
in dust jacket, VG/VG-. Includes the novels The Thin Man, The Maltese Falcon, The Glass Key, The Dain Curse and Red
Harvest and the short stories, Dead Yellow Women, The Golden Horseshoe, House Dick and Who Killed Bob Teal?
Hammett, Dashiell, WOMAN IN THE DARK, Alfred E. Knopf, 1988. First hardcover edition in dust
jacket, NF/NF. Includes an introduction by mystery writer Robert B. Parker.
Hendricks, Vicki. MIAMI PURITY, Pantheon Books, 1995. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. An erotic
noir novel. Author's first novel.
Higgins, George V. THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, Alfred A. Knopf, 1972. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF. Author's widely admired first novel. A Ross Macdonald Blurb on the dust jacket, "The Friends of Eddie Coyle is the
most powerful and frightening crime novel that I have read this year. It will be remembered long after the years is over,
as marking the debut of a fine original talent." Basis for the 1973 movie of the same starring Robert Mitchum, Peter
Boyle, and Richard Jordan.
Higgins, George, V. THE DIGGER'S GAME, Alfred A. Knopf, 1973. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF.
Author's second novel. "With all his brilliance of suspense, verismilitude and dialogue so authentic it spits," from
the dust jacket flap.
Higgins, George V. KENNEDY FOR THE DEFENSE, Alfred A. Knopf, 1980. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. A thriller featuring the "classiest sleazy criminal lawyer in Boston", Jerry Kennedy.
Highsmith, Patricia. RIPLEY'S GAME, Alfred A. Knopf,
1974. First edition in dust jacket, VG-/VG-. The third Ripley novel. Basis for the the 1974 film The American Fiend
directed by Wim Wenders starring Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper and Ripley's Game, directed by Liliana Cavani and starring John
Malkovich and Ray Winstone.
Himes, Chester. PINKTOES, Putnam/Stein and Day, 1965. First American edition
in dust jacket, VG+/VG+, price clipped. The true first was published in France in 1961.
Hitchens, Dolores, SLEEP WITH SLANDER, Doubleday and Company, 1960. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF.
A hard-boiled mystery featuring private eye Jim Sader. Highly regarded by mystery author and critic Bill Proznini.
Hitchens, Dolores, THE ABDUCTOR, Simon and Schuster, 1962. First edtition in dust jacket, NF/NF.
Homes, Geoffrey (pseudonym of Daniel Mainwaring), THE MAN WHO MURDERED HIMSELF.
William Morrow & Co, 1936. First edition without dust jacket, VG.
Hughes, Dorothy, THE BLACKBIRDER. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1943. First edition in dust jacket,
VG-/G+.
Hughes, Dorothy, DREAD JOURNEY. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1945. First edition in dust jacket.
VG/VG.
Krasner, William. WALK THE DARK STREETS, Harper and Brothers, 1949. First edition in dust jacket,
VG/VG. Author's first novel and Edgar nominee for Best First Mystery Novel.
Kuttner, Henry. MAN DROWNING, Harper & Brothers, 1952. First edition
in dust jacket, NF/NF. The science fiction author's first mystery.
Lacy, Ed (pseudonym of Leonard Zinberg), THE BEST THAT EVER DID IT, Harper
& Brothers, 1955. First Edition in dust jacket, VG/VG. A mystery featuring detective Barney Harris. Reprinted as a paperback
titled Visa to Death. Author's second book.
Lacy, Ed (pseudonym of Leonard Zinberg), THE MEN FROM THE BOYS, Harper &
Brothers, 1956. First edition in dust jacket. VG/VG, A mystery featuring ex-cop, hotel detective Marty Bond.
Lacy Ed (pseudonym of Leonard Zinberg), LEAD WITH YOUR LEFT, Harper &
Brothers, 1956. First Edition in dust jacket, NF/VG+. A Dave Wintino mystery.
Lacy, Ed. (pseudonym of Leonard Zinberg), BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE, Harper
& Brothers, 1958. First Edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. From the dust jacket flap, "the story of two New York Cops, Bucky,
young, strong, ambitious. and Doc, older, smart, knowing all the ropes."
Lacy, Ed (pseudonym of Leonard Zinberg), HARLEM UNDERGROUND, Pyramind Books,
1965. Paperback original (PBO). A novel about a black rookie cop working undercover in Harlem. From the back cover, "the
tension in Harlem is like an H-bomb -- and the fuse is burning short!"
Lansdale, Joe R. ACT OF LOVE, Kinnell (London), 1981. Signed first edition in dust jacket, F/F. First
hardback edition of author's first book.
Lansdale, Joe R. MUCHO MOJO, Cemetery Dance Publications, 1994. First limited edition with dust jacket in
slipcase, F/F. This book is number 298 of 400 limited edition copies signed by Joe Lansdale and dust jacket
artist Mark A. Nelson.
Latimer, Jonathan. LADY IN THE MORGUE, Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1936. First edition without dust jacket,
VG-/none. A mystery featuring the hard drinking Bill Crane.
Latimer, Jonathan. RED GARDENIAS, Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1939. First edition without dust
jacket, VG+/none. A Bill Crane mystery.
Latimer, Jonathan. BLACK IS THE FASHION FOR DYING, Random House, 1959. First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG.
A mystery with a Hollywood setting.
Latour, Jose, HAVANA WORLD SERIES, Grove Press, 2004. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Crime novel by
the Cuban-born writer set in 1958 in Havana during a baseball series between the Yankees & the Braves, in which mobsters
plan a heist that will bring rival mob boss Meyer Lansky's hotel & gambling empire to its knees.
Leonard, Elmore. CITY PRIMEVAL, Arbor House, 1980. First edition in dust jacket, VG/VG.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE MOVING TARGET. Alfred A. Knopf, 1949.
First edition without dust jacket, G/none. An ex-library copy. The first Lew Archer mystery. Basis for the movie Harper starring
Newman, Janet Leigh and Lauren Bacall.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE MOVING TARGET. Alfred A. Knopf, 1949.
Book club edition with dust jacket. F/F.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE DROWNING POOL. Alfred A. Knopf, 1950.
First edition without dust jacket, G+/none. A Lew Archer mystery. Basis of the film of the same name starring Paul Newman.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE. Alfred A. Knopf,
1951. First edition without dust jacket, VG-/none. A Lew Archer mystery.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), BLACK MONEY. Alfred A. Knopf, 1966. First
edition in dust jacket, VG-/VG. A Lew Archer mystery.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE GOODBYE LOOK. Alfred A. Knopf,
1969. First edition in dust jacket, F/NF. A Lew Archer mystery.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE UNDERGROUND MAN. Alfred A. Knopf,
1971. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Lew Archer mystery.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), SLEEPING BEAUTY. Alfred A. Knopf, 1973.
First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Lew Archer mystery featuring an oil spill off the California Coast. Macdonald was one
of the first mystery writers to tackle environmental issues.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), THE BLUE HAMMER. Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.
First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The final Lew Archer mystery.
Macdonald, Ross (Kenneth Millar), STRANGERS IN TOWN: THREE NEWLY DISCOVERED
MYSTERIES. Crippen & Landru, 2001. First limited edition in dust jacket, F/F. Edited by Tom Nolan who discovered these three
previously unpublished short stories. This book is number 338 of 400 clothbound copies signed and numbered by the
editor and includes a facsimile of the author's signature. Also accompanying each copy is a separately printed
pamphlet, Winnipeg, 1929 by Ross Macdonald.
Mayfield, Julian. THE HIT. The Vanguard Press, 1957. First edition in dust jacket, NF/VG. Author's first
book. A novel set in Harlem involving the numbers game.
Mayor, Archer, BORDERLINES, G. P. Putnam, 1990. First edition in dust jacket. Author's second novel. A Joe
Gunther mystery set in Brattleboro, Vermont.
McGivern, William P. HEAVEN RAN LAST. Dodd Mead, 1949. First edition in
dust jacket, NF/NF. McGivern's second novel.
Moll, Elick. NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP, Little Brown and Company, 1950. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/VG-. The Hollywood screewriter's first novel. Basis for the movie of the same name starring Gary Merrill and Linda Darnell.
Muller, Eddie. THE DISTANCE, Scribner and Company, 2002. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The author's
first work of fiction featuring sportswriter Billy Nichols in a post World War II San Francisco Boxing setting. Nominated
for Shamus, Macavity and Barry awards.
Nunn, Kem, TAPPING THE SOURCE. Delacorte Press, 1984. First edtion in dust
jacket, F/F. Author's first book and National Book Award finalist. A novel featuring a "surf noir" theme. Inspiration
for the movie Point Break.
Nunn, Kem, UNASSIGNED TERRIRORY. Delacorte Press, 1987. Signed first edition
in dust jacket. F/F. Author's second book.
Nunn, Kem, POMONA QUEEN, Pocket Books, 1992. First edition in dust jacket, F/F.
Nunn, Kem, THE DOGS OF WINTER. Scribner, 1997. First edition in dust jacket,
NF/NF.
Pelecnaos, George, HELL TO PAY, Little Brown and Company, 2002. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The second
Derek Strange and Terry Quinn novel.
Pelecanos, George, THE NIGHT GARDENER, Little Brown and Company, 2006. First edition in dust jacket, F/F.
Read, Cornelia. A FIELD OF DARKNESS, Mysterious Press, 2006. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Author's
first novel. Nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Mystery.
Reasoner, James M., TEXAS WIND, Manor Books, 1980. Paperback original (PBO),
F, signed by the author. Scarce 1st edition paperback. Manor Books apparently went out of business before this book
was distributed to stores, thus the very small first printing.
Rogers, Joel Townsley. ONCE IN A RED MOON. Brentano's, 1923, First Edition
without dust jacket. VG+/none. Pulp author's first mystery.
Roscoe, Mike, DEATH IS A ROUND BLACK BALL, Crown Publishers, 1952. First
edition in dust jacket, NF/VG. Authors' first book and the first Johnny April Mystery. From the DJ flap, "Mike Roscoe is the
pen-name of two working private detectives whose many years of experience with an important agency guarantee the factual accuracy
of their picture of the detection operation, the methods and techniques of professional detectives." A Kansas City setting.
Roscoe, Mike, RIDDLE ME THIS, Crown Publishers, 1952. First edition in dust
jacket, NF/NF. The second Johnny April mystery.
Roscoe, Mike, A SLICE OF HELL, Crown Publishers, 1954. First edition in
dust jacket, NF/VG. A Johnny April mystery.
Sallis, James, A FEW LAST WORDS, Macmillan, 1970. First edition in dust jacket, VG/VG. This book, the author's
first, is a collection of science fiction short stories.
Sallis, James. THE LONG-LEGGED FLY. Carroll and Graf, 1999. Uncorrected proof in wraps, NF. Author's first
mystery and the first Lew Griffin novel. A missing persons case set in "steamy modern-day New Orleans". The hard to find
advanced reading copy of Sallis' first mystery.
Sallis, James. THE LONG-LEGGED FLY, Carroll and Graf, 1992. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Author's
first mystery and the first Lew Griffin novel.
Sallis, James. MOTH. Carroll and Graf, 1993. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The second Lew Griffin mystery.
Sallis, James. BLACK HORNET, Carroll and Graf, 1994. Uncorrected proof in wraps, F. The third Lew Griffin
mystery.
Sallis, James. CRIPPLE CREEK, Walker and Company, 2006. Advance uncorrected proof, F in wraps. A crime novel
featuring ex-policeman, ex-con, former therapist and current deputy sheriff Turner.
Spicer, Bart, THE TAMING OF CARNEY WILDE, Dodd Mead, 1954. First edition
in dust jacket. VG/VG-, price clipped. A Carney Wilde mystery in a New Orleans setting.
Spicer, Bart, EXIT, RUNNING, Dodd Mead, 1959. First edition in dust jacket,
VG/VG. The last Carney Wilde mystery.
Stansberry, Domenic. THE SPOILER, Atlantic Monthly Press, 1987. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The author's
first novel. A mystery with a minor league baseball setting. Edgar nominee for Best First Mystery Novel.
Stansberry, Domenic. THE LAST DAYS OF IL DUCE. The Permanent Press, 1998. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F. This first state edition has slate blue endpapers and dark gold boards. Apparently every copy of the first state (1100
copies) has a slight crease on the front free endpaper. "A dark, elegantly written thriller set in North Beach, the old Italian
Neighborhood of San Francisco", from the dust jacket flap.
Starr, Jason. LIGHTS OUT, St. Martin's Press, 2006. First American edition.in dust jacket, F/F. This
is the noir author's first hardcover book after numerous paperback originals.
Swierczynski, Duane. THE WHEELMAN, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2005. First edition
in dust jacket, F/F. A fast paced heist novel. Swierczynski is the editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia City Paper. From the
dust jacket flap, "A receipt for This Here's a Stick-Up, Duane's nonfiction book on American bank robbery, was found in the
getaway car of a San Francisco bandit who'd hit a least thirty California banks."
Swierczynski, Duane. THE BLONDE, St. Martin's Minotaur, 2006. Advance uncorrected
proof, F in wraps. Inscribed to me on the title page, "To Al - A brother in the crazy newspaper game. Duane Swierczynski."
Thomas, Ross. CHINAMAN'S CHANCE. Simon and Schuster, 1978. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. The
first Artie Wu and Quincy Durant novel. "The scene is Southern California: the beach at Malibu; the sleazier sides of Venice
and the City of Pelican Bay. The Situation: power and money. The characters: a missing woman, a dead Congressman, a multimillionarire,
a Mafia boss and his old college roommate, late of the CIA. The problem: who is setting up who for what. Enter Artie Wu and
Quincy Durant, two men who bring with them a wealth of experience in surviving and a colorful world of people who don't mind
helping out if the money's right", from the dust jacket flap.
Thomas, Ross, BRIARPATCH, Simon and Schuster, 1984. First edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. Edgar Award winner
for Best Novel.
Thomas, Ross. TWILIGHT AT MAC'S PLACE, The Mysterious Press, 1990. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A
thriller with a Washington DC setting involving the usual labyrinth of deceit, treachery, and murder.
Thomas, Ross. AH, TREACHERY!, The Mysterious Press, 1994. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. Ross Thomas'
last novel.
Thompson, Jim. HEED THE THUNDER, Greenberg, 1946. First edition without
dust jacket, G/none, ex-library. Author's second novel and one of only three hardcover novels by Thompson, better known for
his many paperback originals.
Ullman, James Michael, THE NEON HAYSTACK, Simon and Schuster, 1963. First
edition in dust jacket, NF/NF. Author's first novel and Winner of the Inner Sanctum Mystery Contest Award.
Valin, Jonathan, LIFE'S WORK, Delacorte Press, 1986. First edition in dust jacket, F/NF. Cincinatti detective
Harry Stoner tackles a case involving a missing football player.
Valin, Jonathan, THE MUSIC LOVERS, Delacorte Press, 1993. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Harry Stoner
novel. A mystery featuring obsessive collectors of vintage LP recordings.
Valin, Jonathan, MISSING, Delacorte Press, 1995. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A Harry Stoner novel.
Walsh, Thomas, THE NIGHT WATCH, Little Brown, 1952. First edition in dust
jacket, VG-/VG-. Author's second novel.
Wells, Charlie. LET THE NIGHT CRY, Abelard Press, Inc, 1953. First edition
in dust jacket, VG/VG. Author's first novel.
White, Lionel, INVITATION TO VIOLENCE, Dutton and Company, 1958. First edition
in dust jacket, VG/VG. An inscribed dedication copy that reads, "One of you bastards ought to BUY a copy ... Lionel",
on the title page. A rare signature.
White, Lionel, RAFFERTY, Dutton and Company, 1959. First edition in dust
jacket, VG/VG-. A non mystery ... "a tough colorful story of a ruthlessly ambitious union boss caught between personal and
Congressional cross-fire.
White, Lionel, THE MERRIWEATHER FILE, Dutton and Company, 1959. First edition
in dust jacket, F/NF.
White, Lionel, THE TIME OF TERROR, Dutton and Comany, 1960. First edition
in dust jacket, NF/NF.
White, Lionel, A GRAVE UNDERTAKING, Dutton and Company, 1961. First edition
in dust jacket, VG+/VG+.
White, Lionel, THE RANSOMMED MADONNA, Dutton and Company, 1964. First edition
in dust jacket, NF/VG. From the DJ flap, "What would have happened if the Mona Lisa were stolen when it was here on loan from
the Louvre? ..."
White, Lionel, THE HOUSE ON K STREET, Dutton and Company, 1965. First edition
in dust jacket, NF/VG.
White, Lionel, THE CRIMSHAW MEMORANDUM, Dutton and Company, 1967. First
edition in dust jacket, VG/VG-.
White, Lionel, THE NIGHT OF THE RAPE, Dutton and Company, 1967. First edition
in dust jacket, F/NF.
White, Lionel. DEATH OF A CITY, Bobbs-Merrill, 1970. First edition in dust jacket, F/NF.
Willeford, Charles, NEW HOPE FOR THE DEAD, St. Martin's Press, 1985. First
edition in dust jacket, VG-/VG. The second Hoke Moseley novel.
Willeford, Charles. SIDESWIPE, St. Martin's Press, 1987. First edition in
dust jacket, F/F. The third Hoke Moseley novel.
Willeford, Charles, THE WAY WE DIE NOW, Random House, 1988. First edition
in dust jacket, VG/VG. The final Hoke Moseley novel.
Woodrell, Daniel. UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, Henry Holt, 1986. First edition
in dust jacket, F/F. Author's first novel. The first St. Bruno novel. Woodrell was a hot-tar roofer, loading dock laboror
and Marine before his career as a writer.
Woodrell, Daniel. MUSCLE FOR THE WING, Henry Holt, 1988. First edition in
dust jacket, F/F. Author's third book and second St. Bruno novel.
Woodrell, Daniel. THE ONES YOU DO, Henry Holt, 1990. First edition in dust
jacket, F/F. The third St. Bruno novel.
Woodrell, Daniel. GIVE US A KISS, Henry Holt, 1996. First edition in dust
jacket, F/F. A country noir with a Missouri Ozark setting.
Woodrell, Daniel. TOMATO RED, Henry Holt, 1998. First edition in dust jacket,
F/F.
Woodrell, Daniel. THE DEATH OF SWEET MISTER, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2001.
First edition in dust jacket, F/F. A country noir featuring Shuggie Akins, a lonley fat boy of thirteen.
Woodrell, Daniel. WINT'ER'S BONE, Little Brown, 2006. A novel with an Ozark setting featuring the sixteen
year protagonist Ree Dolly.
Woolrich, Cornell. WALTZ INTO DARKNESS, J. B. Lippincott and Company, 1947. Third printing in dust jacket,
F/VG. Basis for the Francois Truffaut's 1969 film Mississippi Mermaid starring Catherine Deneuve and the 2001 film Original
Sin starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie.
REFERENCE WORKS
Baker, Robert; Nietzel, Michael T. PRIVATE EYES, ONE HUNDRED AND ONE KNIGHTS: A SURVEY OF AMERICAN DETECTIVE
FICTION, 1922-1984. Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1985. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. An comprehensive
overview of private eye fiction with an introduction by Bill Pronzini. An excellent reference work.
DeAndrea, William L. ENCYCLOPEDIA MYSTERIOSA. A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE ART OF DETECTION IN PRINT, FILM,
RADIO, AND TELEVISION, Prentice Hall, 1994. First edition in dust jacket, VG/VG. More that 1,400 entries provide biographies
of writers and memorable characters from Ebenezer Gryce, one of the first important series detectives, to Sam Spade and Jessica
Fletcher. You'll also find critical commentary, discussion of themes and styles, history and much more. Essays by experts
shed light on varioius aspects of the genre, including science-fiction mysteries, comic-art detectives, and juvenile mysteries",
from the back cover.
Gorman, Ed, Lee Server & Martin H. Greenberg (Eds.), THE BIG BOOK OF NOIR, Carroll and Graf, 1998. First
edition paperback, VG. "Noir is big, so The Big Book of Noir jam-packs its pages with articles, interviews, excerpts, opinion,
and gossip that chronicles its history and explores noir in all its forms: movies, detectives stories, television and radio
shows, comic books, and graphic novels. The Big Book of Noir pays homage to the big names in noir - John Huston, Fritz
Lang, Mickey Spillane, John D. MacDonald, Ross MacDonald, Donald E. Westlake - as well as less familiar figures like Phil
Karlson, Peter Rabe, Charles Williams, Harry Whittington and Gil Brewer", from the back cover.
Hubin Allen J. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CRIME FICTION, 1749-1975. University of California, San Diego, 1979.
First edition without dust jacket as issued, VG. From the introduction, "The intent of this bibliography is to list all adult
crime fiction in book form in the English language published anywhere in the world through December 31, 1975". An indispensible
and exhaustive reference work for serious collectors of mystery fiction. Not a bad find for $10 at the Strand in New
York City.
Keating H. R. F. CRIME AND MYSTERY THE 100 BEST BOOKS, Carroll and Graf, 1996. Second paperback edition,
VG. A concise commentary on the finest mystery books every written. From Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination to P.
D. James's A Taste for Death, Keating delivers a highly readable evaluation of 100 authors and their masterpieces", from the
back cover.
O'Brien, Geoffrey. HARDBOILED AMERICA. LURID PAPERBACKS AND THE MASTERS OF NOIR. DeCapo Press, 1997. First
paperback edition, VG. A survey of vintage hardboiled paperbacks by the masters of noir including, Hammett, Goodis, Woolrich,
Thompson and McCoy. Illustrated with 135 paperback covers.
Pronzini, Bill. GUN IN CHEEK. AN AFFECTIONATE POST-MORTEM OF THOSE UNSUNG HEROES & HEROINES OF CRIME
FICTION, Coward, McCann and Geoghegan, 1982. First edition in dust jacket, F/F. From the dust jacket flap, "Gun in Cheek
is a virtual trove of gems, a delightful exploration of what the author refers to as "alternative crime fiction." Less kindly
put, it is Bill Pronzini's unique crash course in the really bad English and American crime novels of this century",
from the dust jacket flap.
Stine, Kate (Ed.), THE ARMCHAIR DETECTIVE BOOK OF LISTS. A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BEST MYSTERY, CRIME AND
SUSPENSE FICTION, Otto Penzler Books, 1995. Revised Second edition in wraps, 1995. A compendium of essential mystery lists
including Edgar Award winners, Shamus Award winners, The Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone Library, H. R. F. Keating's 100 Best Crime
and Mystery Books as well as famous mystery authors favorite books.
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