If you’re looking for a Holiday gift for a friend who loves mysteries, you might want to consider The Library of America’s collection: Crime Novels of the 1960s.
Volume One–Crime Novels: Five Classic Thrillers 1961-1964–includes Fredric Brown’s, The Murderers (1961), Dan J. Marlowe’s The Name of the Game Is Death (1962), Charles Williams’ Dead Calm (1963), and Dorothy B. Hughes’ The Expendable Man (1963), and The Score by Richard Stark (aka, Donald E. Westlake).
Volume Two–Crime Novels: Four Classic Thrillers 1964-1969— includes Margaret Millar’s The Fiend (1964), Ed McBain’s Doll (1965), Chester Himes’ Run Man Run (1966) and Patricia Highsmith’s The Tremor of Forgery (1969).
You can quibble with these choices of being representative of “Best” of the Sixties, but I enjoyed all of these novels. I was especially happy that Dan J. Marlowe’s The Name of the Game Is Death–a very underrated novel–will find a new audience by being part of this project. Are you familiar with these novels and writers? Any favorites here? GRADE: A
O’Brien’s taste is impeccable and his critical insights are incisive and readable.
Dan, I totally agree with you on O’Brien. He could have picked some “safe” choices, but he opted for more edgy material.
Of the ones I’ve read, Margaret Millar’s THE FIEND is my favorite: an intricately-plotted story about how quick people are to villainize others, with a marvelously evoked mid-sixties California small town vibe. I wholeheartedly agree with it being included in any “Best of” collection.
Deb, I love Margaret Millar’s work. I’m happy she made the cut!
For my money it’s hard to beat Brown, Stark, or McBain. Hughes and Millar are in catagories of their own. Marlowe and Williams add a welcome Gold Medal-ish vibe. Himes contributes a needed racial twist, while maintaining a dardonic sense of humor. Alas, I can only take Highsmith’s tales of moral ambiguity in small doses.
All in all, a great set of novels and a perfect gift for someone who is interested in the genre but has not read it that deeply. I fear, though, that some of the books — excellent as they are — may be too familiar with many readers of your blog, George.
Jerry, you’re right about the familiarity some of this blog’s commentators might have with these novels. But, if you’re looking for a gift to give to a friend or relative not steeped in the Crime Genre like we are, CRIME NOVELS OF THE 60s would make a wonderful Holiday present!
I have not read any of these so thanks for highlighting these collections, George.
Neeru, this Library of America collection is first-rate! You’d find a lot to like if you read these two volumes.
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS DEATH is my favourite, too. When I bought the Marlowe and Stark paperbacks in the early ’70s, I couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that they would get deluxe reprint treatment some fifty-plus years later. My copy of NAME OF THE GAME was a 1972 Gold Medal second edition after Marlowe turned his “Earl Drake” character into a series. I found THE SCORE at a junk store in 1970, after most of the Parker books had gone out of print.
Fred, like you I’m happy THE NAME OF THE GAME IS DEATH and THE SCORE have been rescued from the “vintage” paperback table in used bookstores and given the hard covers they deserve! I have a book about Dan J. Marlowe around here somewhere that I’ve been meaning to read and review. I found THE SCORE in a used bookstore–probably long gone–across from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Yes, like you I love the Marlowe. The rest of the series may not have reached the same level, but this one is great. I also like THE SCORE. I’ve read a couple of the others.
Can’t remember where I got it, but I have the original Pocket Book edition of THE SCORE from July 1964, and in pretty nice condition. I also have the first Pocket editions of THE HUNTER, THE MAN WITH THE GETAWAY FACE, THE OUTFIT, THE MOURNER, THE JUGGER, THE SEVENTH, THE HANDLE. Also, the first four are inscribed to me, “For Jeff – Richard Stark aka Donald Westlake,” which is cool.
Jeff, I asked Donald E. Westlake to sign several of the Richard Stark books when he visited Buffalo to give a speech. He even signed some of his “sleaze” paperbacks for me…but he rolled his eyes first!
Jeff, I admire the selections in these two volumes. O’Brien wasn’t playing it safe with his picks.
Lots of good stuff here. Read most but not all of it.
Patti, I like the range of the novels in these volumes. All the novels are worth reading.
The only quibble I have with this set is that I have copies of several of the books already. But I probably will get it eventually anyway, to get the others that I don’t have.
Tracy, I like the format of the Library of American volumes. I just wish the print was a tad bigger.
No surprise that I have most of the paperbacks somewhere in my collection, but I think I have only read the Marlowe and the Williams. After hearing for years how good the Marlowe was, I was very happy to find a copy a few years ago. Not sure what all the hype was about. I won’t be buying the collections.
Kent, I suspect people who weren’t buying paperback crime novels like you and I did are the target market for this set.
I agree with you on the Library of America. If I had the money and space, I would collect most of them.
Jeff, I probably own about 70% of the titles of the LIBRARY OF AMERICA. But there are many LOA titles I have ZERO interest in.
George, Janet Randolph just posted this item of interest:
https://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2023/12/holiday-homicide-classic-crime.html
I’m sure you are aware of it, but some of your readers may not be.
Jerry, thanks for the link! I’m going to sign up!