First Cases: First Appearances of Classic Private Eyes

A unique anthology presents the short story debuts of fifteen top private investigators, including Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder, Sara Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski, and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone. 12,500 first printing. $10,000 ad/promo.

This indispensable collection is not quite what the title advertises, for many of these PIs cracked their first cases in novels. No matter, for editor Randisi (author of the Nick Delvecchio and Miles Jacoby series) has chosen topflight short-story debuts of bestselling sleuths (e.g., Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone and Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder) and 13 equally worthy PIs. In "Out the Window," a pre-AA Scudder still drinks bourbon with his coffee. "My hand was trembling slightly when I picked up the glass," he says. "It was a little steadier when I set it down." But the same guilt and sense of obligation that drive Scudder today are evident in this early work. Joe Gores introduced Daniel Kearney Associates in "File #1: The Mayfield Case," in which a rookie investigator learns that even apparently simple cases can carry emotional risk. Carlotta Carlyle premiered in Linda Barnes's "Lucky Penny." Driving a cab to supplement her measly PI income, Carlotta must discover why a fare robbed her and promptly threw away the money. With award winners such as Michael Collins, Bill Pronzini, Marcia Muller, John Lutz, Loren D. Estleman, Sara Paretsky and others, this anthology is a must for mystery devotees and a perfect introduction for future fans.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Most of the 15 stories (196792) collected here aren't true debuts, since the detectives of Michael Collins, Lawrence Block, John Lutz, Marcia Muller, Loren D. Estleman, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Max Allan Collins, Jeremiah Healy, Benjamin F. Schultz, and editor Randisi had already appeared in novels predating these short stories. But all these pieces--like the debuts of Bill Pronzini's Nameless, Joe Gores's Dan Kearny Agency, Rob Kantner's Ben Perkins, and Linda Barnes's Carlotta Carlyle--are doubly fascinating in retrospect. Randisi's concept can't miss, since detectives like Kearny and Perkins who hit the ground running are a joy to revisit, while the lesser efforts starring Sharon McCone and Nate Heller leave you marveling how the characters grew after such routine beginnings. A sequel promising non-p.i. debuts should be equally collectible. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

No fan of the contemporary private-eye genre will want to miss this wonderful collection. Who would even consider passing up early Kinsey Milhone, a young "Nameless," a still-skittish Alo Nudger, or an always-incisive, young John Cuddy? Some of the short stories collected here represent a series hero's first appearance, while others simply predate the author's fame. In addition to the gumshoes named above, editor Randisi also includes stories starring Dan Fortune, Leo Haggerty, Amos Walker, V. I. Warshawski, and Carlotta Carlyle. Among the highlights are Sue Grafton's "Long Gone," in which a mother of three turns embezzler and then turns up dead, and Lawrence Block's "Out the Window," in which Matt Scudder discovers the fate of another lonely soul. Randisi introduces each selection with a brief biography of the character and a note or two concerning the author. An excellent mystery collection; highly recommended. Wes Lukowsky