Haffner Press just shipped this wonderful volume of Paul Pine mysteries edited by Stephen Haffner himself. In his brilliant “Introduction,” Richard A. Lupoff explains why the Paul Pine mysteries should rank with Hammett and Chandler’s private eye fiction. In her “Afterward,” Melissa Flagstad (Howard Browne’s daughter) provides some information about her father and the Paul Pine series that I didn’t know. Trond Flagstad is the model for Paul Pine for Laurel Blechman’s evocative cover for Halo For Hire. If you’re a fan of Private Eye fiction, Halo For Hire is a must-buy. But, don’t delay! The print-run is only a 1,000 copies. The prices for this book will double in a year! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Halo in Blood
Halo for Satan
Halo in Brass
“So Dark for April”
The Taste of Ashes
“The Paper Gun”
Laurel Blechman (cover artist), Stephen Haffner (editor), Richard A. Lupoff (introduction), Melissa Flagstad (afterword & Howard Browne’s daughter), Trond Flagstad (the face of the face of Paul Pine)
Nice. Good to have them all together. I read at least a couple of the Pine books more than 30 years ago, but I know I didn’t read all of them. I really should rectify that.
Jeff, I read the Paul Pine paperbacks back in the 1970s. Someone in DAPA-EM mentioned them and that triggered a search for the books. It might have been you!
I might have heard about them from Art Scott. Or Bill Crider.
Jeff, I’m pretty sure Art Scott and Bill Crider were fans of the Paul Pine mysteries.
I had one of these but can’t think where now.
Patti, the Paul Pine mysteries are first-rate private eye novels. I’m glad this Haffner Press collection makes these excellent novels available again!
By the happy coincidence of the Haffner Press table being right next to mine at the LA Paperback Show (aka Lessercon) last month, I got to meet and chat with these fine folks (I took that picture, by the way). The book is a very well done omnibus that puts these excellent novels back in print, as they ought to be. But I’m still hanging on to my copy of A Taste of Ashes, personally inscribed to me by Howard Browne. I introduced him at the ’85 Bouchercon, quoting his immortal line, “…with a tennis racket and a ham sandwich I could have flown to Belgium.”
Art, I’m not surprised that the group photo is an example of your fine work! I’m hanging onto my copy of A TASTE OF ASHES, too. It isn’t inscribed like yours…
Thanks for taking and sharing that picture, Art. It was a good show and many fine folks seemed pleased with their copies of HALO FOR HIRE. I’m pretty sure that all who acquired their copies in Glendale had them signed by the 5 contributors present. I am just returned from Chicago for the Windy City Pulp and Paper Show. Once recovered from that, along with the delivery of another several hundred shipping boxes, more HALO FOR HIREs will be scooting out to the customer base. Right now, HALO appears to have the same demand as last year’s two Fredric Brown collections.
Stephen, I was so pleased by HALO FOR HIRE! I love the craftsmanship you put into the book. Love the cover! Richard Lupoff’s “Introduction” is excellent and informative. Those Fredric Brown collections set a high standard for quality. HALO FOR HIRE exceeded that!
I got the email from Haffner announcing this, but have not bought it. Yet?
Rick, don’t delay! HALO FOR HIRE is pure gold!
George, see below. Ha!
Rick, you have a lot of great reading ahead of you now that HALO FOR HIRE has arrived!
Rick:
I believe you’re down for a copy of HALO FOR HIRE and, if so, you should have it in a week or two.
Stephen… how right you are! It arrived today. That is one terrific looking, fat, book. I can hardly wait to dig in!
I think I have most of these in paperback! There was a novel or novelette that came out in the eighties, IIRC, by Browne, perhaps an unsold story! I met him at a B’Con and said I was going to buy it and wanted his signature! He said it wasn’t any good and I should save my money, so I did!
Bob, I think Howard Browne was just being modest! That book would be worth a mint today.
Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my copy.
Scott, you’ll love HALO FOR HIRE! Another winner from Haffner Press!