Monday, July 1, 2013

Crime Fiction Alphabet 2013: The Letter M

We are chugging, like a fast moving train, along in the Crime Fiction Alphabet for 2013 meme. This week we are about half way through with the Letter M. Kerry's Blog is kind enough to sponsor this community meme each and every week. The rules are very simple:  The posts must be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname, or even maybe a crime fiction "topic". But above all, it has to be crime fiction. This time around I will be featuring a Carter Brown title for each letter of the alphabet. 

Carter Brown: M is for Murder Wears A Mantilla


Mavis Seidlitz is the dizziest blonde who ever ended up in the Tunnel of Love after buying tickets for the Big Dipper. When she is not trying to fix her clothing, either a brazier, stockings, or chemise, she is a partner in Rio Investigations. As the story goes, Mavis is South of the border on vacation. She meets one bull fighter who she thinks is the dreamiest. The next bullfighter has a knife stuck in his back. So she starts investigating up until things get out of hand.  The Black Death, 40 million pesos, The Golden Inca, people with guns. so she sends a cable to her boss, Johnny Rio. HELP.

Robert McGinnis Cover
 Blonde bombshell Mavis hurries to a torrid rendezvous with a timid torero only to find that a killer got there first. Fleeing the murder scene, she runs smack into the waiting arms of Mexico's feared and fearless police chief, the Black Death.He slips away with her to the local police station, where he forces her to surrender her baggage claim check. When the police open Mavis' luggage, up pops....another corpse. OLE!

Printing History
Written by Alan G Yates (1923-1985)

Horwitz Publications Inc.
Sydney Australia
Numbered Series #50 1957
Reprinted By Demand Series #13 1959
International Edition Series #34 1963

New American Library
Signet Books
 S2048 February 1962
T5275 1973

Other Publisher Covers 

Valpas-Mainos 
Finland
1967

Middernacht-Serie
Netherlands  
1963

Hayakawa Pocket Mystery Book  
Tokyo Japan
1963

Gallimard  
Paris
1961,1974

New American Library
USA
1973

Note
This title was originally post on December 30, 2010 in a slightly different form.

3 comments:

  1. Again, Robert McGinnis cover is my favorite, but I like the one from Finland also. Although I am not sure why all the ladies are in the picture.

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  2. Scott - I have to say that I like that Japanese cover a lot. Perhaps because it's more subtle...

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  3. I like the Finland cover best! I had forgotten about Carter Brown. Thanks for reminding me!!

    Here is my CFA - M is for Martin Edwards post.

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