And even what I haven’t read, I thought I had at least a passing familiarity with. I’ve read Chandler, Hammett, Thompson, Cain, Block, Westlake and dozens of others. I like to think that I know a little something about American mystery/crime novels. 'How long can Halliday’s best-selling books remain dormant, undiscovered.? The answer: not a minute longer, thanks to Hard Case Crime.' Halliday is the king of the baffler novel.

It’s been waiting patiently, poised to dazzle you with raw, ingenious storytelling. Want an engrossing read? Pick this one up. This is back when mystery writers were so much smarter than you and me. Red herrings, skewed motives, mistaken identities-he did everything but come to your house and bang cymbals. 'Halliday’s books were marvels of misdirection. 'In this age of private eyes with cats, funny neighbors, and relationship woes-here’s to 40’s thriller writer Brett Halliday, whose baffling, bullet-paced capers have come to light again. * One of the most popular detectives of all time, Mike Shayne starred in more than 70 novels, a dozen movies, a TV series, radio dramas, comic books, and the long-running Mike Shayne Mystery MagazineĬreator of Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, And so’s Shayne-but this time it’s to investigate murder. Now the daughter’s back, all grown up and dangerous.

Jacket 1' x 1' loss to spine head, 1' x 1/4' loss to spine heal else a very good copy in a good to very good jacket.Ten years ago, private eye Mike Shayne did a job for one of the richest men in El Paso, digging up dirt on a boy courting the tycoon’s daughter. Legendary private eye Mike Shayne travels to Texas to investigate a hit-and-run killing that's been laid at the feet of one of El Paso's richest businessmen.ĭarkening to spine head. The novels have been translated into several languages (among others into Finnish), made into motion pictures, television series, and radio plays. His protagonist is a red-headed, wisecracking pulp hero, who follows his own code of right and wrong. Dresser wrote under several pseudonyms but his fame rests on these books written under the name Brett Halliday. Prolific American writer, who published from 1939 to 1976 more than 60 mystery novels that featured the private detective Michael Shayne. Author: Halliday, Brett (1904-1977) Ģ08 pages Small octavo (7 1/2' x 5 1/2') bound in publisher's original blue cloth with dark blue lettering to spine and decorative blue vignette to cover in original jacket.

Murder is my business brett halliday