Supper Sleuths

Male Private Investigators (Ex-Cops)

Former police officers now working as private investigators is a subgenre that offers the best of both major types of sleuths. The investigator has autonomy and independence that is not possible within the confines of an official law enforcement agency while, at the same time, he or she can display a knowledge and use of police procedures. Some of these sleuths are also listed as police detectives, as they played that role in their earlier books. (NoveList 10/07/04)

The following is a list of titles by author. Whenever possible, the series is in order of publication date. Often the Private Investigator begins the series as a police detective or sheriff and then changes his career path to PI, in some cases the reverse is true. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and please let us know if you feel that a title should be here. Please read one or more titles or from an author, and come prepared to discuss your impressions of them with the group.

AUTHOR PROTAGONIST TITLE

Richard Abshire Charlie Gants
Jack Kyle Shaman Tree (1989) w/William R.Clair
Turnaround Jack (1990)
Dallas Deception (1992)

Elizabeth Adler Al Giraud All or Nothing (1999)

Raymond Austin Beauford Sloan Eagle Heist (2001)

Lawrence Block Matthew Scudder Sins of the Fathers (1976)
In the Midst of Death (1976)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE.
Time to Murder and Create (1976)
Stab in the Dark (1978)
Eight Million Ways to Die (1982)
When the Sacred Ginmill Closes (1986)
Out On the Cuttting Edge (1989)
Ticket To the Boneyard (1990)
Dance at the Slaughter House (1991)
Walk Among the Tombstones (1992)
Devil Knows You're Dead (1993)
Long Line of Dead Men (1993)
Even the Wicked (1997)
Everybody Dies (1998)
Hope To Die (2001)

James Lee Burke Dave Robicheaux Neon Rain (1987)
Heaven's Prisoners (1988)
Black Cherry Blues (1989)
Morning for Flamingos (1990)
Stained White Radiance (1992)
In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993)
Dixie City Jam (1994)
Burning Angel (1995)
Cadillac Jukebox (1996)
Sunset Limited (1998)
Purple Cane Road (2000)
Jolie Blon's Bounce (2002)
Last Car to Elysian Fields (2003)

John Connolly Charlie Parker Every Dead Thing (1999)
Dark Hollow (2000)
Killing Kind (2001)
White Road (2002)

Bruce Cook "Chico" Cervantes Mexican Standoff (1988)
Rough Cut (1990)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Death as a Career Move (1992)
Sidewalk Hilton (1994)

Philip R. Craig Jeff Jackson See Massachusetts Mysteries.

Robert Crais Joe Pike Monkey's Raincoat (1987)
Stalking the Angel (1989)
Lullaby Town (1992)
Free Fall (1993)
Voodoo River (1995)
Sunset Express (1996)
Indigo Slam (1997)
LA Requiem (1999)
Last Detective (2002)
Forgotten Man (2005)

David Daniel Alex Rasmussen Heaven Stone (1994)
Skelly Man (1995)
Goofy Foot (2003)

David Daniel & Chris Carpenter Frank Branco Murder at the Baseball Hall of Fame (1996)
Murder at the Tennis Hall of Fame (1997)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE

Stephen Dobyns Charlie Bradshaw Saratoga Longshot (1976)
Saratoga Swimmer (1981)
Saratoga Headhunter (1985)
Saratoga Snapper (1986)
Saratoga Bestiary (1988)
Saratoga Hexameter (1990)
Saratoga Haunting (1993)
Saratoga Backtalk (1994)
Saratoga Fleshpot (1995)
Saratoga Strongbox (1998)

Michael Geller Slots Resnnick Major League Murder (1988)
Heroes Also Die (1988)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Three Strikes You're Dead (1992)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE

Jane Haddam Gregor Demarkian Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990)
Precious Blood (1991)
Act of Darkness (1990)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Quoth the Raven (1991)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Great Day for the Deadly (1991)
Feast of Murder (1992)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Stillness in Bethlehem (1992)
Murder Superior (1993)
Bleeding Hearts (1994)
Dear Old Dead (1994)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Festival of Deaths (1994)
Fountain of Death (1995)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Baptism in Blood (1996)
And One To Die On (1996)
Dearly Beloved (1997)
Skeleton Key (2000)
True Believers (2001)
Somebody Else's Music (2002)
Conspiracy Theory (2003)

Steve Hamilton Alex McNight Cold Day in Paradise (1998)
Winter of the Wolf Man (2000)
Hunting Wind (2001)
North of Nowhere (2002)
Blood is the Sky (2003)
Ice Run (2004)

Joe Hensley Al Sears Loose Coins (1998)

William F. Love Davey Goldman Chartreuse Clue (1990)
Fundamentals of Murder (1991)
Ruby Red Clue (1991)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE
Bloody Ten (1992)
Bishop's Revenge (1993)

John Lutz Fred Carver

Alo Nudger Tropical Heat (1986)
Scorcher (1987)
Kiss (1988)
Flame (1990)
Bloodfire (1991)
Hot (1992)
Spark (1993)
Torch (1994)
Burn (1995)
Lightning (1996)
Buyer Beware (1976)
Nightlines (1985)
Right to Sing the Blues (1986)
Ride the Lightning (1987)
Dancer's Debt (1988)
Time Exposure (1989)
Diamond Eyes (1990)
Thicker Than Blood (1993)
Death By Jury (1995)
Oops! (1997)
Nudger Dilemmas: Short Stories (2001)

Seth Jacob Margolis Joe DiGregorio False Faces (1991)
Vanishing Act (1993)
Out of Print|Not in NOBLE

Michael McGarrity Kevin Kerney Tularosa (1996)
Mexican Hat (1997)
Serpent Gate (1998)
Hermit's Peak (1999)
Judas Judge (2000)
Under the Color of Law (2001)
Big Gamble (2002)
Everyone Dies (2002)
Slow Kill (2004)

John Milne Peter Moody Dead Birds (1986)
Moody Man (1987)
Daddy's Girl (1998)

Robert B. Parker Spenser See Massachusetts Mysteries.
Or The Spensarium for a history of the character and an annoted list of the series.

George P. Pelecanos Derek Strange Right As Rain (2001)
Hell to Pay (2002)
Soul Circus (2003)
Hard Revolution (2004)

Don Pendleton Joe Copp Copp for Hire (1987)
Copp On Fire (1988)
Copp in Deep (1989)
Copp in the Dark (1990)
Copp On Ice (1991)
Copp in Shock (1992)

Michael Raleigh Paul Whelan Death in Uptown (1990)
Body in Belmont Harbor (1993)
Maxwell Street Blues (1994)
Killer on Argyle Street (1995)
Riverview Murders (1997)

Stephen Solomita Stanley Moodrow Twist of the Knife (1988)
Force of Nature (1989)
Forced Entry (1990)
Bad to the Bone (1991)
Piece of the Action (1993)
Damaged Goods (1996)

Graham Swift George Webb Light of Day (2003)

Joseph Wambaugh Winston Farlowe Golden Orange (1990)

John Wells Frank Sweeney Death in a Dry Season (1997)

Charles West Tom Grant Funnelweb (1988)

Richard Whittingham Joe Morrison State Street (1991)
Their Kind of Town (1993)

Stuart Woods Stone Barrington New York Dead (1991)
Dirt (1996)
Dead in the Water (1997)
Swimming to Catalina (1998)
Worst Fears Realized (1999)
LA Dead (2000)
Cold Paradise (2001)
Short Forever (2002)
Dirty Work (2003)
Reckless Abandon (2004)

AUTHOR	PROTAGONIST	TITLE
Richard Abshire	Charlie Gants Jack Kyle	Shaman Tree (1989) w/William R.Clair Turnaround Jack (1990) Dallas Deception (1992)
Elizabeth Adler	Al Giraud	All or Nothing (1999)
Raymond Austin	Beauford Sloan	Eagle Heist (2001)
Lawrence Block	Matthew Scudder	Sins of the Fathers (1976) In the Midst of Death (1976) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE. Time to Murder and Create (1976) Stab in the Dark (1978) Eight Million Ways to Die (1982) When the Sacred Ginmill Closes (1986) Out On the Cuttting Edge (1989) Ticket To the Boneyard (1990) Dance at the Slaughter House (1991) Walk Among the Tombstones (1992) Devil Knows You're Dead (1993) Long Line of Dead Men (1993) Even the Wicked (1997) Everybody Dies (1998) Hope To Die (2001)
James Lee Burke	Dave Robicheaux	Neon Rain (1987) Heaven's Prisoners (1988) Black Cherry Blues (1989) Morning for Flamingos (1990) Stained White Radiance (1992) In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993) Dixie City Jam (1994) Burning Angel (1995) Cadillac Jukebox (1996) Sunset Limited (1998) Purple Cane Road (2000) Jolie Blon's Bounce (2002) Last Car to Elysian Fields (2003)
John Connolly	Charlie Parker	Every Dead Thing (1999) Dark Hollow (2000) Killing Kind (2001) White Road (2002)
Bruce Cook	"Chico" Cervantes	Mexican Standoff (1988) Rough Cut (1990) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Death as a Career Move (1992) Sidewalk Hilton (1994)
Philip R. Craig	Jeff Jackson	See Massachusetts Mysteries.
Robert Crais	Joe Pike	Monkey's Raincoat (1987) Stalking the Angel (1989) Lullaby Town (1992) Free Fall (1993) Voodoo River (1995) Sunset Express (1996) Indigo Slam (1997) LA Requiem (1999) Last Detective (2002) Forgotten Man (2005)
David Daniel	Alex Rasmussen	Heaven Stone (1994) Skelly Man (1995) Goofy Foot (2003)
David Daniel & Chris Carpenter	Frank Branco	Murder at the Baseball Hall of Fame (1996) Murder at the Tennis Hall of Fame (1997) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE
Stephen Dobyns	Charlie Bradshaw	Saratoga Longshot (1976) Saratoga Swimmer (1981) Saratoga Headhunter (1985) Saratoga Snapper (1986) Saratoga Bestiary (1988) Saratoga Hexameter (1990) Saratoga Haunting (1993) Saratoga Backtalk (1994) Saratoga Fleshpot (1995) Saratoga Strongbox (1998)
Michael Geller	Slots Resnnick	Major League Murder (1988) Heroes Also Die (1988) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Three Strikes You're Dead (1992) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE
Jane Haddam	Gregor Demarkian	Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) Precious Blood (1991) Act of Darkness (1990) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Quoth the Raven (1991) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Great Day for the Deadly (1991) Feast of Murder (1992) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Stillness in Bethlehem (1992) Murder Superior (1993) Bleeding Hearts (1994) Dear Old Dead (1994) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Festival of Deaths (1994) Fountain of Death (1995) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Baptism in Blood (1996) And One To Die On (1996) Dearly Beloved (1997) Skeleton Key (2000) True Believers (2001) Somebody Else's Music (2002) Conspiracy Theory (2003)
Steve Hamilton	Alex McNight	Cold Day in Paradise (1998) Winter of the Wolf Man (2000) Hunting Wind (2001) North of Nowhere (2002) Blood is the Sky (2003) Ice Run (2004)
Joe Hensley	Al Sears	Loose Coins (1998)
William F. Love	Davey Goldman	Chartreuse Clue (1990) Fundamentals of Murder (1991) Ruby Red Clue (1991) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE Bloody Ten (1992) Bishop's Revenge (1993)
John Lutz	Fred Carver Alo Nudger	Tropical Heat (1986) Scorcher (1987) Kiss (1988) Flame (1990) Bloodfire (1991) Hot (1992) Spark (1993) Torch (1994) Burn (1995) Lightning (1996) Buyer Beware (1976) Nightlines (1985) Right to Sing the Blues (1986) Ride the Lightning (1987) Dancer's Debt (1988) Time Exposure (1989) Diamond Eyes (1990) Thicker Than Blood (1993) Death By Jury (1995) Oops! (1997) Nudger Dilemmas: Short Stories (2001)
Seth Jacob Margolis	Joe DiGregorio	False Faces (1991) Vanishing Act (1993) Out of Print\|Not in NOBLE
Michael McGarrity	Kevin Kerney	Tularosa (1996) Mexican Hat (1997) Serpent Gate (1998) Hermit's Peak (1999) Judas Judge (2000) Under the Color of Law (2001) Big Gamble (2002) Everyone Dies (2002) Slow Kill (2004)
John Milne	Peter Moody	Dead Birds (1986) Moody Man (1987) Daddy's Girl (1998)
Robert B. Parker	Spenser	See Massachusetts Mysteries. Or The Spensarium for a history of the character and an annoted list of the series.
George P. Pelecanos	Derek Strange	Right As Rain (2001) Hell to Pay (2002) Soul Circus (2003) Hard Revolution (2004)
Don Pendleton	Joe Copp	Copp for Hire (1987) Copp On Fire (1988) Copp in Deep (1989) Copp in the Dark (1990) Copp On Ice (1991) Copp in Shock (1992)
Michael Raleigh	Paul Whelan	Death in Uptown (1990) Body in Belmont Harbor (1993) Maxwell Street Blues (1994) Killer on Argyle Street (1995) Riverview Murders (1997)
Stephen Solomita	Stanley Moodrow	Twist of the Knife (1988) Force of Nature (1989) Forced Entry (1990) Bad to the Bone (1991) Piece of the Action (1993) Damaged Goods (1996)
Graham Swift	George Webb	Light of Day (2003)
Joseph Wambaugh	Winston Farlowe	Golden Orange (1990)
John Wells	Frank Sweeney	Death in a Dry Season (1997)
Charles West	Tom Grant	Funnelweb (1988)
Richard Whittingham	Joe Morrison	State Street (1991) Their Kind of Town (1993)
Stuart Woods	Stone Barrington	New York Dead (1991) Dirt (1996) Dead in the Water (1997) Swimming to Catalina (1998) Worst Fears Realized (1999) LA Dead (2000) Cold Paradise (2001) Short Forever (2002) Dirty Work (2003) Reckless Abandon (2004)