Prolific writer Basil Copper is best known for his Sherlock Holmes pastiches featuring Solar Pons. But, Copper wrote a variety of novels. I had this Mike Faraday mystery for years and finally got around to reading it.
First published in 1967 and set in Los Angeles, Scratch On the Dark features private eye Mike Faraday who specializes in cases that involve Hollywood. When Dr. Nathan Crisp hires Faraday to find his wayward wife, fading movie star Zarah Fayne, Faraday finds himself dealing with a professional killer, a pornography ring, and treachery.
Basil Copper wrote 52 Mike Faraday mysteries. They remind me of Carter Brown’s Rick Holman mysteries that centered around Hollywood starlets. If you’re in the mood for an old-fashioned private-eye tale with humor, action, and surprises I recommend Scratch On the Dark. GRADE: B
I’ve read about half of the Mike Faraday books. They can be addictive.
Jerry, you are so right about the addictive qualities of the Mike Faraday books! They’re like potato chips: you can’t just stop at one!
Always a good setup. Looking for a missing woman. And especially common in California novels.
Patti, women seem to be missing in California all the time! Especially in private eye novels.
I used to pick these up in England all the time. As I recall, few if any were published in the U.S. I don’t think I ever read one of them.
Jeff, I’ve seen a few Mike Faraday books in Canada, but very few on this side of the Border. They are very reminiscent of Carter Brown books.
I’ve read a couple of these – I prefer his Pons books – and also have read some of the Carter Brown novels. I’m not sure I see the similarity, Brown’s books always seemed sleazier, which is why I stopped reading them.
Rick, the later Carter Brown books bordered on soft-core porn. But the Carter Browns from the early 1960s had wit, humor, and whodunits. STARK HOUSE is reprinting the Al Wheeler series. I recommend those omnibus volumes!
I hadn’t heard of these, which is unusual since I favor PI books!
Bob, only a few Mike Faraday books were published in the U.S. although they were widely available in the U.K.
Whereas I knew Copper (excellent surname for crime fiction) had written no little cf, I’ve thus far read only his horror fiction over the years (he was a contributor to the booklists at Arkham House as well as Mycroft and Moran)…which I was introduced to in an HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: volume (one of Harold Q. Masur’s, after Robert Arthur’s death).
Todd, as Rick pointed out, Basil Copper’s SOLAR PONS series seems to be his claim to Fame. But I’m fond of his Mike Faraday P.I. novels, too.
Depends! I suspect I’m not the only horror reader who thinks of him first for his work in that field.