During the 1980s, Jonathan Valin’s Harry Stoner private eye series scintillated readers. The novels were well-written, intelligent, and original with most of the action happening in and around Cincinnati. In Fire Lake Stoner deals with his druggie former college roommate. The murder of a motel night clerk convinces Stoner that his friend is in serious trouble which leads to Stoner taking a perilous journey into the local drug underworld. Sadly, the Harry Stoner series–The Lime Pit, Final Notice, Dead Letter, Day of Wrath, Natural Causes, Fire Lake, Extenuating Circumstances, Second Chance, The Music Lovers, Missing–are all out-of-print but they’re not forgotten by the readers who were moved by the gritty world Jonathan Valin created.
Good choice. Valin was really good.
All of Valin’s work maintains a high degree of craftsmanship. As you know, that’s hard to do over a multi-volume series.
I read all of his books. He created a great character there.
I agree: Harry Stoner is a great character. It’s a shame the series is nearly forgotten.
I never did finish the series – can’t remember why – but the ones I read I really did enjoy.
But then, in these days of quilting, scrapbooking, b&b’ing cutesy amateurs there doesn’t seem to be room for real private eyes.
Valin’s books are worth finding and reading. The decline of the private eye novel caused the suspension of the series I suspect.
I’ve read The Lime Pit and have Final Notice in my TBR pile. This one i need to get also.
You probably need to acquire ALL the Harry Stoner books before they vanish.
Whatever happened to Jonathan Valin? For one, he became increasingly engrossed in High End Audio, and became a lead reviewer for The Absolute Sound. Also, he self-published The RCA Bible, the definitive reference work for collectors of “Living Stereo” LPs (like me).
Once Valin retired from writing private eye novels he could indulge his passion for high-end audio and vinyl…like someone else I know.
Jonathan stopped writing because he went on to other things. I know he was editing a magazine that specialized in audio equipment. He also did some t.v.work. My feeling is he couldcome back any time he wanted to.
RJR
I would read anything Valin would care to write, but given today’s circumstances who would publish it?