Frank Kane

It started out as a dog of a case—with Johnny Liddell keeping tabs on a drunken movie star for a fat producer. But things picked up when the actor was found dead in a phony auto accident. “Murder and mayhem in abundant measure.” – The New York Times

Private investigator Johnny Liddell faces the kiss of death in a Hollywood bedroom.

Every time Johnny Liddell tried to keep a date with his blond, beautiful, and famous client, the whole neighborhood got sprayed with machine-gun bullets. Sometimes, Johnny figured, it didn’t pay to get out of bed—especially when it was filled with a willing companion … and the cops yelled murder when he killed a couple of hoods who’d been trying to shoot him full of holes.

A Hollywood pool party. A beautiful woman. And Johnny Liddell. It all adds up to a mystery!

Everyone was threatening Johnny Liddell – even his girl, and the cops – until Johnny came up with a new twist to trap a killer. It was so good he fooled everyone – even himself!

Everyone was threatening Johnny Liddell – even his girl, and the cops – until Johnny came up with a new twist to trap a killer. It was so good he fooled everyone – even himself!

"P.I. Johnny Liddell tangles with mobsters, molls – and murder!<P> ""…the [Johnny Liddell] books are classic examples of the hard-boiled private eye formula…[The] books are often distinguished by a gritty, authentic portrayal of New York cops and their methods…"« —St. James Guide to Crime and Mystery Writers»

She was an alcoholic blonde with a load of hot diamonds—a set-up for murder on the rocks. And only private eye Johnny Liddell can crack the case.

Johnny Liddell goes to the races – and finds fast horses, crooked gamblers, and a very suspicious fire.

It wasn’t his case…his girl…or his problem…but Johnny Liddell had a personal interest in this little caper. <P> He didn’t ask to be the Feds’ “receiver” on a pass of inside info on the smuggling racket, but he was. He didn’t ask to have a couple of hoods beat the living daylights out of him to get the info back, but they did. As a matter of fact, for the first time in his life, Johnny Liddell wasn’t asking for trouble. <P> But when a lovely doll invited him to see her later, and...