Back in the 1980s, Donald E. Westlake signed a four-book contract with a publisher with the condition that his true identity not be revealed. In his Introduction, Westlake relates what went wrong and why there are only four books in this series. The books were supposed to be written by “Samuel Holt,” an actor who plays the TV-detective, Packard. When a Sam Hold look-alike is murdered, the real Sam Holt is the prime suspect. To convince the police of his innocence, Sam Holt needs to find the real killer. I’ve read almost everything Donald E. Westlake ever wrote. He never wrote a bad book. The folks at Felony & Mayhem should be praised for returning these obscure Westlake titles back to print. The first three Sam Holt books are One of Us is Wrong, I Know a Trick Worth Two of That, and What I Tell You Three Times is False. If you’re a Westlake fan, don’t miss these blends of mystery and humor mixed with sly critiques of the television industry.
I just picked up two written under the name Coe. How many names he used was anybody’s guess.
Westlake had over a dozen pseudonyms. But his quality control was high for each and every one.
I read these whey they first appeared. As I recall, the fact that Westlake was the author didn’t stay hidden for long.
Westlake discusses how his “cover” was blown in his Introduction. And he explains why there are only four Samuel Holt books.