*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’re delighted this week to add nine novels by the prolific Carter Brown, all new to our listings. Alan Geoffrey Yates was a British born Australian who wrote under that pseudonym between 1954 and 1984. He was extremely prolific in this and other genres, turning out over 300 novels in his career. His work was hard-boiled in the style of Raymond Chandler, without the plot complexity, but with an entertaining sense of humour and laconic noir feel. The novels were written in the first person in the guise of one of several detective protagonists he used, examples being Lt Al Wheeler, tough cop, Rick Holman, Hollywood trouble-shooter to the stars and Mavis Seidlitz, whose IQ was lower than her bust size (allegedly). (We have detailed which detective features in which novel in our listings). Originally published in Australia (but all set in America, because “his readers preferred it”), Brown became internationally famous when they were published in first the USA and then the UK. The earlier American Signets were cover-illustrated by Barye Phillips and the later ones by Robert McGinnis, two highly talented artists who captured the spirit of the books beautifully. Most scenes featured sexy women, but inside the sex was always suggested rather than explicit. Our new intake features several American versions, a couple of Australian and one British. All the regular detective protagonists are represented, and we’re particularly pleased that there are four Mavis Seidlitz novels this time. Some are shown here; full details as always in our catalogue.
PICTURED: All by Carter Brown
THE LOVING AND THE DEAD Signet 1959 1st US PB GD £6 SOLD
MURDER PARIS FASHION Horwitz 1960 3rd Aus PB GD £7
NUDE – WITH A VIEW Four Square 1966 1at UK PB GD £4
TERROR COMES CREEPING Signet 1959 1st US PB VG/FN £9
TOMORROW IS MURDER Signet 1960 1st US PB VG £8
THE WAYWARD WAHINE Signet 1960 1st US PB GD/VG £6