My favorite story in An Eye For Justice (1988) is “Black in the Snow”–a Dan Fortune mystery–by “Michael Collins” (aka, Dennis Lyons, John Crowe, Mark Sadler, William Arden). A woman and her dog are found dead and Dan Fortune is hired to investigate. I’ve read several Dan Fortune novels and this excellent short story is just as good.
I also enjoyed Arthur Lyons’ “Dead Copy” featuring Jacob Asch who investigates the death of a friend when the widow insists his friend was murdered. Bill Pronzini’s “Incident in a Neighborhood Bar” puts the “Nameless” private eye in danger as the Bar is held up by a gun-toting young man.
There are plenty of “Name” mystery writers in this anthology and the quality level is high. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- 1 · Introduction · Richard S. Prather · in
- 7 · Candala [Dr. Robert Frederickson (Mongo)] · George C. Chesbro · ss
- 25 · Marble Mildred [Nate Heller] · Max Allan Collins · nv
- 53 · Black in the Snow [Dan Fortune] · Michael Collins · ss
- 67 · The Judas Target [Joe Hannibal] · Wayne D. Dundee · nv
- 89 · State of Grace [Ralph Poteet] · Loren D. Estleman · ss
- 99 · Non Sung Smoke [Kinsey Millhone] · Sue Grafton · ss
- 115 · Left for Dead [Ben Perkins] · Rob Kantner · ss
- 133 · DDS10752 Libra · John Lutz & Josh Pachter · ss
- 143 · Dead Copy · Arthur Lyons · ss
- 157 · Incident in a Neighborhood Tavern [Nameless Private Eye] · Bill Pronzini · ss
- 165 · The Vanishing Virgin [Nick Delvecchio] · Robert J. Randisi · ss
- 183 · The Safest Place in the World [Cody] · James M. Reasoner · nv
- 205 · Hollywood Guns [Lucas Hallam] · L. J. Washburn · ss
Have a copy of this one somewhere, in a damaged or safe box, but haven’t seen it for several years at least. Know I’ve read the Pronzini story, among several others…maybe shelving energy will come with the thaw.
Todd, I have hundreds of books to shelve…once I free up some space.
I read this and Randisi’s other anthologies when they came out. Good stuff. The one I remember is the Pronzini, especially since I read it again fairly recently. I liked Rob Kantner’s series at the time.
Jeff, I’m pretty sure I have Randisi’s other anthologies around here somewhere. It was a good series of P.I. stories.
1988. Almost 40 years ago. Not possible!
Fred, I know. 1988 seems like yesterday!
And Bob Randisi, who was from Brooklyn and who I met over 40 years ago, is dead more than a year.
Jeff, I remember Randisi and Stilwell pelting me with flying airplanes during my EYECON in Milwaukee speech on “The Death of the Private Eye Genre.”
The year I began to work as an office manager at a Boorers Book Shop (where I met Alice, as it happens)…the job being one of several in now dead organizations, though no fault of mine (or…has it been? Sinister chord.)
The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, I see, is still with us (I was Publications Sales Manager), but has relocated from Falls CHurch, VA to Baton Rouge.
Or, even, a Borders Book Shop.
Todd, I was a weekly customer of BORDERS when before they went under. They had great selections of books. And, every week, they emailed me a 30% off coupon…which I always used!
Some of my favorite authors…and a sad reminder that more than half a dozen of them are no longer with us producing wonderful stories…Chesbro, Michael Collins/Dennis Lynds, Dundee, Grafton, Lutz, Lyons, Randisi. Sometimes it sucks to be old; other times I shake myself awake, reach for my pile of books, grab a book by one of these authors, and they live again, brilliantly.
Jerry, well said! The number of writers I used to talk to at mystery conventions who have recently died is disturbing. But, as you say, when I grab one of their books to read, I bring them back to Life.