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Detecting Men: Hard-boiled Private Eyes

Follow these classic writers and their sleuths: John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee,
Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade, Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, Ross Macdonald's Lew Archer
and Mickey Spillane's (Mike Hammer) . . . and then meet their hardboiled, but not hardhearted, contemporaries.

Jake Lomax Ex-cop, Denver Colorado
Death On the Rocks... Blood Stone....Grave Doubt
by Michael Allegretto

Aaron Asherfield Cynical San Francisco private eye with three ex-wives
A Clean Sweep...Less Than Meets the Eye...The Body Shop
by David Berlinski

Matt Scudder Reformed alcoholic, unlicensed New York City P.I.
The Sins of the Fathers... A Long Line of Dead Men...Even the Wicked...Hope To Die...Everybody Dies...All the Flowers Are Dying
by Lawrence Block

Nate Heller Ex-cop, 1930's Chicago
True Detective...The Million Dollar Wound...Carnal Hours...Blood and Thunder...Damned in Paradise...Majic Man...Angel In Black... Chicago Confidential
by Max Allen Collins

Dan Fortune One-armed Polish-Lithuanian New York City P.I.
Cassandra in Red...Crime, Punishment and Resurrection
by Michael Collins (early titles under Dennis Lynds)

Elvis Cole Wisecracking L.A. private eye
Lullaby Town...Free Fall...Voodoo River...Sunset Express...Indigo Slam...Forgotten Man
by Robert Crais

Charlie Bradshaw Saratoga Springs, N.Y., ex-cop, ex-stable security guard
Saratoga Longshop (series opener)...Saratoga Strongbox...Saratoga Swimmer...Saratoga Snapper...Saratoga Hexameter...Saratoga Haunting...Saratoga Backtalk...Saratoga Fleshpot
by Stephen Dobyns

Tom Bethany Former wrestler, political consultant, Cambridge
Strangle Hold...Bear Hug...Kill Story...Head Lock
by Jerome Doolittle

Amos Walker Vietnam vet, private eye on Detroit's dark side
Angel Eyes...Midnight Man... Sweet Women Lie...Never Street...The Witchfinder...Glass Highway...Sugartown...Every Brilliant Eye...Downriver...General Murders...Silent Thunder...Never Street...Hours of the Virgin...Smile On the Face of the Tiger...Sinister Heights...Poison Blonde...Nicotine Kiss
by Loren Estleman

John Marshall Tanner "Marsh" San Francisco P.I. & non-practicing attorney
Grave Error (series opener)...False Conception...Flesh Wounds...Past Tense...Strawberry Sunday...Ellipsis
by Stephen Greenleaf

Simeon Grist Well-educated L.A. private eye
Incinerator...Man With No Time...The Bone Polisher
by Timothy Hallinan

Dave Brandstetter Death claims investigator in Los Angeles
Death Claims...Gravedigger...Obedience...Early Graves...The Little Dog Laughed
by Joseph Hansen

John Francis Cuddy Former U.S. Army police lieutenant, Boston, MA
Shallow Graves...Invasion of Privacy...Only Good Lawyer...Spiral
by Jeremiah Healy

Nick Polo Former thief, San Francisco
Polo Solo...Beggar's Choice...All That Glitters
by Jerry Kennealy

Patrick Kenzie & (Angie Gennaro) Boston private detecting team
A Drink Before the War...Darkness Take My Hand...Sacred...Gone, Baby, Gone
by Dennis Lehane

Gideon (Bud) Lowry Key West, ex-Marine, divorced private eye
Killing Me Softly.....Love for Sale...Blue Moon...Night and Day
by John Leslie

Fred Carver Handicapped in the line of duty ex-cop, Florida
Tropical Heat...Flame...Torch...Burn...Lightening
by John Lutz

Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins African-American L.A. private eye and his friend, Mouse
Devil in a Blue Dress...A Red Death...Black Betty...A Little Yellow Dog...Gone Fishin' ...Bad Boy Brawly Brown...Six Easy Pieces...Little Scarlet...Cinnamon Kiss
by Walter Mosley

Spenser Boston's renowned tough, but sensitive, private eye
A Savage Place...Ceremony... Paper Doll...Chance...Small Vices...Sudden Mischief...Hugger Mugger...Potshot...Widow's Walk...Back Story...School Days...Cold Service...Hundred-Dollar Baby
by Robert Parker

Nameless San Francisco's famous hardboiled private eye
The Snatch (1971 series opener)... Illusions...Boobytrap...Bleeders...Scenarios...Spook...Nightcrawlers...Mourners
by Bill Pronzini

Milan Jacovich Educated, working-class Cleveland private eye
Pepper Pike...The Lake Effect...Collision Ben
by Les Roberts

Bill Smith & (Lydia Chin) Private eyes on New York City's mean streets
China Trade...No Colder Place...A Bitter Feast...Reflecting the Sky...Winter & Night
by S. J. Rozan

Lew Griffin African-American New Orleans private eye
Bluebottle...Black Hornet...Eye of the Cricket
by James Sallis

Joshua Croft & (Rita Mondragon)Wisecracking Santa Fe, N.M., private eye & partner
Wall of Glass...Accustomed to the Dark...The Hanged Man
by Walter Satterthwait

Stanley Moodrow New York City, ex-cop
A Twist of the Knife...Damaged Goods
by Stephen Solomita

Harry Stoner Cincinnati, Ohio
Life's Work...Music Lovers...Missing
by Jonathan Valin

Neal Carey Young N.Y.City pickpocket, turned private eye
Way Down on the High Lonely...Long Walk Up the Waterslide...While Drowning in the Desert
by Don Winslow

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updated November 8, 2006