Monday, April 30, 2012

The Poisoners by Donald Hamilton


With trouble like this,
there's only one man to call:
Matt Helm

1984 Ballantine Edition
Matt Helm #13
This one was murder from the start. A lovely red-haired lass whose amateur standing as a secret agent had been cut short by some very professional killers. The strange part of it was that she had not been on assignment. Nobody had a clue as to what she had found. But obviously she had found something. Something very big and very bad. Too much for her, but just the right size for Matt Helm.

13th Printing
Printing History
Written by Donald Hamilton (1916-2006)

Fawcett Gold Medal Books
March 1971
ISBN 449 14163

11th Printing
Ballantine Books
June 1984
ISBN 449 12693

Saturday, April 28, 2012

First Collectors' Series #14

First Collectors' Series
Volume 14

Cover Photograph by Bernard Blackburn

Three Stories included
Slaughter In Satin (1954)
Moonshine Momma (1953)
Pagan Perilous (1954)

Printing History
Horwitz Publications Inc 
for and on behalf of Transport Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd.
July 1955

Trivia
Each story was published separately in the Novelette (Lovely Mystery) Series

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Berlin Wall Affair by Troy Conway

Meet Rod Damon!
  • Rogue
  • Hero
  • Super-Spy
And the greatest under the cover man of them all. He's at his ever loving best in.....

The Berlin Wall Affair

Cover by Shannon Stirnweis
Coxeman #1
Some know Rod only as the head of L.S.D./The League for Sexual Dynamics. Others, the enemies of America and the entire Free World, know him only as "The Coxeman" a member of the Thaddeus X. Coxe Foundation, a far-right cover for America's super-secret top intelligence network. Now all America will know of Rod Damon as he puts his unique talent for insatiable virility in its most important test in this wild way-out escapade of international danger and intrigue that shows him to be the most exciting adventurer since The Man From O.R.G.Y. .He puts it to the test when he attempts to stop a band of Neo-Nzais eager to set off WW III.

Printing History
Written by Michael Avallone (1924-1999)

Coronet Communications, Inc.
Paperback Library, Inc.

53-533
1st Printing October 1967
2nd Printing October 1967
3rd Printing November 1967
4th Printing November 1969

Trivia
Alternate title was The Coxeman Comes (1967)

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Earthfire North by David Hagberg

Nick opens a hornet's nest.
And a deadly Nazi plot!

Cover by Sergio
White investigating a murder, Nick traces the killer to Argentina, to ex-Nazi General Marc Ziegler. With the help of Ziegler's beautiful secretary, Nick penetrates the innermost secrets of Ziegler's empire, down to his deadly nuclear arsenal. Somehow agent N3 must stop the ruthless general before he carries out his scheme, more terrifying than the horrors of the Third Reich!

Printing History
Written by David Hagberg

Berkley Publishing Group
Charter Books
ISBN 441 18102
November 1983

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Trial By Fury by J.A. Jance

Beaumont is caught in center court in a lethal game of lynch mob justice.

A J.P. Beaumont Mystery


The Evil That Me Do
The body lay amid the garbage behind a Seattle grocery store. A tall, well-built male...dead. Detective J.P. Beaumont's twenty years on the force had given him a sixth sense about people, especially guilty ones. So when he found out the victim, a high school basketball coach with a very pregnant wife, had been lynched. Beau suspected this murder was connected with the extremes of love and hatred. Love for the wrong kind of woman, and the hate for those who took justice into their own blood-soaked hands.

Printing History
Written by Judith Ann Jance

Avon Books
December 1986
ISBN 380 75138

Monday, April 23, 2012

Carter Brown Comic No. 2

Carter Brown Comic No. 2


Stories Included
The Cutie Kidnapped
Murder To Music
The Corpse Cut In
Diamonds To Kill
Hi-Jack High Jinx!
Ace High Honey
Killer Bait

Drawn by C. E. Drury
Trivia
The second of two comics by Horwtiz Publications on behalf of Transport Publishing Company.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

The Naked Countess Of Liechtenstein by John Colleton


Aimee, the beautiful and amorous countess of Liechtenstein, had many lovers.
Cover Photograph by Carl Kravats
There was Beauregard Benton, the free-wheeling American writer, who researched his own novels. And had reserved several chapters for Aimee.

And Carlotta, sensuous and liberated, a nubile playmate who played for keeps.

Cloris, whose committeemen to unrepressed film making was a voyeur's perfect pose.

And then there was Spagnola, for whom Aimee would do anything for.

Printing History
Written by Robert W Marks (1908-1993)

Simon and Shuster, Inc
Pocket Books
ISBN 671 80532
July 1976

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Decoy Hit by Robert J Randisi

Nick Carter Killmaster #181
Agent N3 matches wits with a diabolical and deadly foe


To catch the killer who's been knocking off Defense Intelligence Agency couriers, AXE agent Nick Carter becomes a carrier of vital defense information, and the target of murder. But it soon becomes evident that Nick is more than the killer's next victim as he is lured into a diabolical plot to reveal top U.S. defense secrets. Nick Carter uncovers layer upon layer of treachery and intrigue. And finds himself pitted against an unexpected and implacable enemy. 

Printing History
Written by Robert J Randisi

Berkley Publishing Group
Charter Books
ISBN 441-14221
October 1983

Trivia
Working title was Operation Round Peg

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Garde Save The World! by Jerry LaPlante

 Like you, he's mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore!


Chameleon #3
DELILAH is the culprit. An international feminist organization of Columbia graduates who want to rule the planet. And they might, if Vance Garde does not stop them in time. From the Florida Keys to Marrakesh to the Yucatan jungle, Vance goes girl hunting, determined to wipe out the enemy before they wipe out the world!

Printing History
Written by Jerry LaPlante

Kensingston Publishing Company
Zebra Books

ISBN 89083 564 (1979)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Dream Merchant by Carter Brown

With a hot-blooded honey and a cooled-down corpse, 
Al Wheeler faces the craziest killer of his whole career....!

International Edition
 "You're next, you bitch!"
It was just an average crank note found in a beautiful blonde's apartment. the only difference was that this kook left his message plastered on a real dead body. And it was up to Police Lieutenant Al Wheeler to pin the crime on the killer.But who would want to murder private eye Nathan Lloyd and leave him in his secretary's closet? Certainly not secretary Julie! Rumor had it she'd love her boss above and beyond the cal of duty, and besides, according to the note, she was next on the list. How about the jealous wife? She was too busy bouncing from bed to bed to be bothered, wasn't she? What about Nathan's partner? No, he was happily occupied with the grieving widow long before Nathan's brain was blown out.

Signet Photo Cover

And that left Al exactly where he had started. With a long list of suspects and a mysterious maniac on the loose who just might plug a few more people full of lead if he was not caught in time...



Printing History

Horwitz Publications Inc
Horwitz Group Books Pty Limited
ISBN 7255 0387
Numbered Series #181 (1976) (1977)
International Collectors Series (1981)


 Horwitz Grahame Books Pty Ltd.
ISBN 7255 0387
Castle Books Edition (1984)

New American Library
Signet Books
Y7031 (June 1976)





Monday, April 16, 2012

The Istanbul Decision by David Hagberg

Nick Carter Killmaster #180

Agent N3 sets a trap for a KGB killer.
And is almost caught himself.

Cover by Sergio
AXE chief David Hawk has a brilliant plan to lure one of the agency's most dangerous enemies out of Russia, and into Nick Carter's hands. Nikolai Kobelev has been the diabolical foe in some of Nick Carter's most perilous cases and N3 has to stop him before he hatches another fiendish plot. With a dead ringer for Kobelev beautiful daughter as bait, it seems the KGB killer is as good as caught. Until the tables are suddenly turned, and Nick finds himself locked in a deadly struggle to save two gorgeous American espionage agents, and himself, from certain death.

Printing History
Written by David Hagberg

Berkley Publishing Group
Charter Books
ISBN 441 37484
September 1983

Trivia
Cover design is slightly changed as the numbering of the series is included. New cover artist by the name of Sergio. Archenemy Kobelev is back once again, making his third appearance.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

The Sex Clinic by Carter Brown

 A sexual blackmailer and a neurotic nympho give ace investigator Danny Boyd his career's most private eyeful.

Robert McGinnis Cover
 Erotic Extortion
Paul Baker was a professional stud. The star staff member of a secluded sex clinic, he gave lessons in love which only the wealthiest of women could afford. Then suddenly Baker vanished. And with him went the intimate sex files of three of the clinic's coziest customers. The price for their return, $50,000 in small bills. Or there would be the hottest headlines in many a year. Danny Boyd's job was to get the files and the blackmailer, and do it in spite of three hung-up chicks and a mad little psychologist with murder on his mind.


Printing History

Horwitz Publications Inc.
Numbered Series #159 (1972)
Double Edition #2A (1978)

New American Library
Signet Books
T4658 (June 1971)
Double Edition w/W.H.O.R.E.!
E8354 (November 1978)
AE1698 (1982)



 Ullstein Bucher
Verlag Ullstein GmbH
#1467 (1972)
ISBN 3 548 01467
Frankfurt Germany

Friday, April 13, 2012

A Kiss A Day Keeps The Corpse Away by James Yardley

She's back! 
Kiss Darling, world's sexiest superchick.
vs a madman millionaire who holds the fate of mankind in a handful of pills.


What can a body do?
The purple pills are for obedience, the yellow ones for sanity. The gray powder eradicates entire towns, and the glass cage of terrors is reserved for those who fail to follow. All this the madman millionaire had created to control his vast global empire. And only one lone female stood in the way of his complete success. But what could one girl do in the face of impossible evil? Well, if she's Kiss Darling. the chick with the computer brain and the venus body, the answer is plenty! For when Kiss revs up her engines and slinks into action, the results are bound to be explosive as dynamite.. And twice as deadly!

Printing History
Written by James Yardley

copyright 1971 
Michael Joseph Ltd.

New American Library
Signet Books
T4683
July 1971

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Last Smile by Marvin Albert

Starring Pete Sawyer 
in an artful mystery 
of ancient treasure 
and thoroughly modern murder.....


On a midnight in December, Fritz Donhoff, Pete's partner and surrogate father, is shot down in Paris. Fritz has left a case behind that Pete can't turn his back on. Susan Kape, the beautiful young oil heiress, hungers for a foothold in the international art world. And the Etruscan tomb filled with priceless relics may help her get it. All she needs is an easy eighteen million dollars and Pete's protection while she has the discovery authenticated in Italy. Pete Sawyer must call on all his creative powers as a sleuth and survivor to solve this inspired mystery. While a gallery of murder victims collects artlessly around him....

Printing History
Written by Marvin Albert (1924-1996)
copyright 1988

Ballantine Books
Fawcett Gold Medal 
ISBN 449 13162 
November 1988

Monday, April 9, 2012

Dood door Geweld by Carter Brown

Dutch Edition of Suddenly By Violence


Cover Hans Borregach

Printing History

Middernacht #12
No Date


Read more here from March 2011
Suddenly By Violence

Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Death Dealer by Jack Canon

Agent N3 tracks a master assassin.
And uncovers a KGB plot to destroy the U.S.

Unknown Cover Artist
The Death Dealer

As the only KGB assassin to have taken Nick Carter and won, the mysterious Death Dealer ranks as one of AXE's most wanted enemies. Only one man, Polish dissident Stefan Borczak, holds the clues that can unmask him. Now Borczak has defected, and AXE is closing in on the missing pieces. It's up to agent N3 to uncover them, before the Death Dealer can execute his most treacherous mission yet.

Printing History
Written by Jack Canon

Berkley Publishing Group
Charter Books
ISBN 441 14217 (August 1983)

Trivia
The series revert to 3rd person. New cover design is continued as introduced with the title Operation Vendetta.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Killer Satellites by Philip Kirk

Only Butler could prevent a deadly war in the skies!


Death In Orbit
Butler #6
When several CIA Special Projects agents were assassinated, the Washington establishment was worried. When a mysterious killer satellite began to destroy American and Russian spy probes, the intelligence community was scared to death! Renegade superspy Butler seemed the last person in the world the President would call upon for assistance. But there was no one else he could turn to in a last ditch attempt to prevent WW III.

Printing History
Written by Leonard Levinson

Leisure Books
ISBN 8439 0730 (March 1980)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Lay Me Odds by Rod Gray

Odds or evens, in or out
of bed, a tumble with the
Lady is a gamble with death

Paul Radar Cover
L.U.S.T. in her heart.
 Eve Drum, The Lady From L.U.S.T., can say Yes in ten languages. She knows all the things the Kama Sutra left out. She can fieldstrip a sub-machine gun with her eyes closed. But when she starts to strip nobody goes to sleep. Join the fun as the world's sexiest spy grinds and bumps her way through the London underworld in search of missing microfilm. Hang in there while she gets the agents of H.A.T.E. quiver with desire. Oh Oh Sex is Jill of all trades and a master of the quick kill or death by inches. Her measurements are 38-22-35, but she comes in others interesting calibers, like Smith & Wesson .38 or Colt .45. In or out of bed, she will break your back, but man, what a way to go.

Printing History
 Written by Gardner F. Fox

Tower Books
1st Printing 43-860 (1967) 

Belmont Books
2nd Printing B95-2026 (July 1970)

Belmont Tower Books
3rd Printing BT 50542 (1973)


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Streaked-Blond Slave by Carter Brown

She was a silky, sexy swinger.
And she turned Rick Holman on to a new kind of murder!

Robert McGinnis Cover
Death wears a see-through shroud!
Murder is a very sexy business in star-filled Hollywood. Where private eye Rick Holman is hired to find the runaway hippie sister of a mixed-up movie idol who like to keep his girls in golden chains. Somebody wants the sister out of the way, way out of the way. Badly enough to try to drown her in LSD. And the corpse littered trail leads Rick into one of the most tantalizing traps in his career....

Signet Photo Cover
Printing History

Horwitz Publications Inc
Numbered Series #149 (1970)

New American Library
Signet Books
P4042 (October 1969)
Y7975

Monday, April 2, 2012

The Yukon Target by Robert E Vardeman

In the frozen wilderness of Alaska, 
the AXE Killmaster plays the most dangerous game.....

George Gross Cover
From his Alaskan school of assassins, psychotic ex-AXE agent Russell Chapman sens his cold blooded killers to destroy his former colleagues, including Nick Carter, as the first step in his plan to establish a new world order. But when Nick warms the bed and heart of Chapman's prize pupil, the gorgeous Laraine Shadwell turns against her insane teacher. She and Nick go to Chapman's frigid fortress where his assignment is to bring back the head of the murderous headmaster.

Printing History
Written by Robert E Vardeman

Charter Books
441 95305
July 1983

Trivia
The cover art was once again painted by George Gross. Also this title is the last one to be written in first person. Berkley Publishing Group took over Ace Charter Books in July 1982. The working title was called Those Who Survive.