DEERSTALKER EDITIONS CATALOG

COMING SOON!

Nemesis Magazine #1: Gun Moll In Tentacles Of Evil

Nemesis Magazine #2: Rachel Rocket In Hell Wings Over Manhattan

Nemesis Magazine #3: Victory Rose In The Furher's Final Trumpet

Nemesis Magazine #4: Femme Noir In Hell's Hungry Darlings

Nemesis Magazine #5: Gun Moll In Angel With No Hands

Nemesis Magazine #6: Rachel Rocket In March Of The Molten Image

Nemesis Magazine #7: Victory Rose in Death Stalks the Ruins

Nemesis Magazine #8: Femme Noir in Claws of Fire and Ice

Nemesis Magazine #9: Gun Moll in The Prison of Guilt and Shame C166

SHADOW OF THE DAHLIA [A  Rick Page Mystery] by JACK BLUDIS

THE LAST SELLOUT by JACK BLUDIS

DIRTY WORK [A  Rick Page Mystery] by JACK BLUDIS

MUNCHIES & OTHER TALES OF GUYS, GALS AND GUNS by JACK BLUDIS

THE LAST SELLOUT by JACK BLUDIS

THE EMPEROR'S GAMBIT by CHARLES LEE JACKSON II

THE EXECUTIVE OF CRIME [THE EMPEROR'S SECRET FILES] by CHARLES LEE JACKSON II]

Corpse In The Abstract [A Lt Mark Stoddard Mystery] by J. D. Crayne

Corpse In The Camera [A Lt Mark Stoddard Mystery] by J. D. Crayne

Corpse In The Concrete: A Lt Mark Stoddard Mystery by J. D. Crayne

Murder At The Worldcon: A Science Fictional Roman a Clef by J. D. Crayne

Tetragravitron [Captain Spycer #1] by J. D. Crayne

The Cosmic Wheel by J. D. Crayne

The Investigations Of Clara Linz [The Legendary Women Detectives] by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Corpse In Color [A Lt Mark Stoddard Mystery] by J. D. Crayne

CORPSE WITH A KEY by J. D. CRAYNE

C IS FOR CATNIP [A "LUCKY PIERRE" MYSTERY] by J. D. CRAYNE

GHOST OF A PURR [A "LUCKY PIERRE" MYSTERY] by J. D. CRAYNE

MAGICAL MEOW [A "LUCKY PIERRE" MYSTERY] by J. D. CRAYNE

PAUSE FOR THE CAT [A "LUCKY PIERRE" MYSTERY] by J. D. CRAYNE

THREE CAT MYSTERIES: C IS FOR CATNIP, GHOST OF A PURR, MAGICAL MEOW [LUCKY PIERRE MYSTERIES] by J. D. CRAYNE

GETTING HIGH: A Novel of the 1960s By J. P. DOOLEY

THE RAID: A Novel of Nuclear Terrorism by IRV EACHUS

SUNSTROKE: A Novel of Suspense by IRV EACHUS

Jason [The Minstrel's Song #1] by Jac Eddins

Not the Marrin' Kind by Jac Eddins

STARLIGHT KISS by Jac Eddins

American Dreams by James Vincent Fusco

Paperback Writer by James Vincent Fusco

Faces Of Doom by S. A. Gorden

The Duce Of Pentacles by S. A. Gorden

Days Between Seasons by S.A. Gorden

Murder Picnic & Other Mysteries by S.A. Gorden

SHADOW OF THE DHALIA: The Shamus Award Nominee Mystery by JACK BLUDIS

THE LAST SELLOUT: A 1950s Hollywood Mystery by The Shamus Award Nominee Author JACK BLUDIS

Sacrifices: A Novel Of Terror

ACT OF CONTRITION: The Classic Noir Graphic Novel by NIK HAVERT and WES SWEETSER

The Mark Of Zorro: A Romance Of Old California by Johnstone McCulley

Dr Syn, the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh by Russell Thorndike

THE MR. GRYCE MYSTERY OMNIBUS: THE LEAVENWORTH CASE; A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE; THE CLUE OF THE HASTY ARROW by ANNA KATHARINE GREEN

HADES HILL by J. CHARLES HUGHES

THE DR. THORNDYKE MYSTERY OMNIBUS: THE RED THUMB MARK; DOCTOR THORNDYKE'S CASES; THE EYE OF OSIRIS by R. AUSTIN FREEMAN

THE TANK WAR MISSION [The Classic 1960s Man from W.A.R. Series] by MICHAEL KURLAND

THE THIRD FORCE MISSION [The Classic Man from W.A.R. Series] by MICHAEL KURLAND

THE PLAGUE OF SPIES MISSION [The Classic Man from W.A.R. Series] by MICHAEL KURLAND

A Point Of Murder [A Nick Bancroft Mystery] by Bob Liter

August Is Murder by Bob Liter

Death Sting [A Nick Bancroft Mystery] by Bob Liter

Murder By The Book [A Nick Bancroft Mystery] by Bob Liter

Murder Inherited by Bob Liter

And The Band Played On... [A Nick Bancroft Mystery] by Bob Liter

NO ACCOUNTING FOR DANGER by LAIRD LONG

Unaccustomed As I Am To Public Dying: Humorous And Ironic Mystery Stories

The Clarington Heritage by Ardath Mayhar

Writing Through A Stone Wall by Ardath Mayhar

Closely Knit In Scarlatt: Romantic Suspense by Ardath Mayhar

Good-bye, Maggie! - A Novel of Romantic Suspense by K. L Melvany

The P. I.: A Novel of Romantic Suspense by K. L Melvany

Busted Valentine by Jerry Oster

When the Night Comes by Jerry Oster

Nightfall by Jerry Oster

Sweet Justice [A Jake Neuman Mystery] by Jerry Oster

Kiss Di Foxx [A Joe Cullen Mystery] by Jerry Oster

THE FANTOMAS CENTENNIAL OMNIBUS EDITION by PIERRE SOUVESTRE AND MARCEL ALLAIN

Murder In Macao

Zero Hour: A Novel Of Espionage China In The Early Days Of WWII

The Diamond Bullet Murder Case by George F. Worts

The Gold Coffin Murder Case by George F. Worts

The High Seas Murder Case [A Classic Gillian Hazeltine Courtroom Mystery] by George F. Worts

The Ledger Of Life Mystery [Semi-Dual Astrological Detective] by J. U. Giesy & Junius B. Smith

Message From A Corpse [An Amy Brewster Mystery] by Sam Merwin, Jr.

The Crime Circus Murder Case by George F. Worts

The House of Invisible Bondage by J. U. Giesy and Junius Smith

NOWHERE TO HIDE & OTHER TALES OF MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE by JEAN MARIE STINE

MURDER AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN [An Ameican Icon Mystery Classic] by MIGNON G. EBERHART & GRANTLAND RICE

LADY MOLLY OF SCOTLAND YARD by BARONESS ORCZY [THE LEGENDARY WOMEN DETECTIVES SERIES]

MADAM STOREY, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR  [THE LEGENDARY WOMEN DETECTIVES SERIES] by HULBERT FOOTNER

The E. Phillips Oppenheim Mystery Omnibus: The Box with Broken Seals; The Double Traitor; The Zeppelin's Passenger

THREE CLASSIC SPY NOVELS: RIDDLE OF THE SANDS by ERSKINE CHILDERS; THE GREAT IMPERSONATION by E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM; THE CZAR'S SPY by WILLIAM LE QUEUX

THE FIRST CRAIG KENNEDY OMNIBUS: Three Classic Novels About the World's Greatest Scientific Detective  by ARTHUR B. REEVE

The Legendary Detectives II: 8 Classic Novelettes [ed.] Jean Marie Stine

SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET: THE VICTORIAN CLASSIC by ANONYMOUS (Thomas Preskett Prest)

The Legendary Detectives: 9 Classic Novelettes Featuring The World's Greatest Super-Sleuths by Jean Marie Stine [Ed.]

The Legendary Women Detectives: 6 Novelets

THE ARSENE LUPIN OMNIBUS: ARSENE LUPIN, GENTLEMAN-BURGLAR; ARSENE LUPIN VERSUS S. H, THE FAMOUS ENGLISH DETECTIVE; THE HOLLOW NEEDLE by MAURICE LEBLANC

THE COUNCIL OF JUSTICE MYSTERY OMNIBUS: THE FOUR JUST MEN; THE COUNCIL OF JUSTICE; THE JUST MEN RETURN by EDGAR WALLACE

Three Classic Detective Novels: Average Jones Detective; Marquis Of The CID Or The Sleuth Of St James Square; The Cases Of Prince Zaleski

THE SECRET AGENT X OMNIBUS: LEGION OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE MURDER MONSTER & THE FEAR MERCHANTS by BRANT HOUSE

Three More Classic Detective Novels: Uncle Abner, Master of Mysteries; Cleek, the Man of Forty Faces; Martin Hewitt, Investigator

John Silence, Psychic Investigator by Algernon Blackwood

Max Carrados, the Classic Blind Detective Stories

Thirty Nine Steps And Three Other Classic Richard Hannay Spy Adventures

The Innocence of Father Brown & The Wisdom of Father Brown

The Second Thinking Machine Omnibus: Two More Complete Books Featuring the Legendary Detective

The Thinking Machine Omnibus: The First Two Classic Books Featuring the Legendary Detective by Jacques Futrelle

The Problems Of Violet Strange [The Legendary Women Detectives] by Anna Katherine Green

The Cases Of Joseph Muller, Detective

The Raffles Omnibus: All Four Classic Novels About the Gentleman Thief

Lady Molly Of Scotland Yard

The Experiences Of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective [The Legendary Women Detectives] by Catherine Louisa Pirkis

Constance Dunlap [The Legendary Women Detectives] by Arthur B. Reeve

The First Mary Roberts Rinehart Omnibus: The Bat; The Breaking Point; Where There Is a Will

The Second Mary Roberts Rinehart Omnibus: The Circular Staircase, Dangerous Days, The Confession

The Lone Wolf Omnibus: All Four Original Novels About the Sophisticated Jewel Thief by Louis Joseph Vance

The Four Just Men by Edgar Wallace

Carnacki Ghost Finder: The Classic Of Supernatural Terrors by William Hope Hodgson

The Man In The Corner

Alias The Gray Seal: The Jimmy Dale Omnibus-The First Two Novels About The Legendary Fin-de-Siecle Gentleman Thief by Frank L. Packard

The Four Just Men

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: A SCIENCE FICTIONAL NOVEL OF SUSPENSE by RAYMOND LONG

THE GOLDEN SEAL OF ISIS by RAYMOND LONG

ACT OF EVIL by DON WHITE

THAT GOOD MAY COME: A Novel of Crime and Suspense by DON WHITE

NERO WOLFE UGLY? REX STOUT-READER LETTER EXCHANGE ABOUT WOLFE ILLUSTRATION IN 1947 MAGAZINE

Reader of The American Magazine, where many Nero Wolfe short novels first appeared, claims Stanley Erman illustration makes Wolfe look too ugly. Judge for yourself below.



SLEUTHS SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL.
 Dear Sir: The Nero Wolfe Mystery Novel, Before I Die, by Rex Stout (April, p. 157), had me shaking in my boots, but I have a complaint. I like my favorite detectives to be suave and 'hand, some, whereaS, according to the author, Nero weighs between 310 and 390 (and what a spread that is!). Not only is he fat, but ugly as well, to judge from the illustration. Couldn't your artist pare off a few pounds and make him look a little more like. Humphrey Bogart—just for us girls?
EMILY BRANDWYNE
Chicago, Ill.


The following comment on the famous sleuth's lack of personal pulchritude was supplied by Author:

Dear Sir: About Nero as exhibited for the eye in the April AMERICAN, he may not be pretty as a picture, but whoever supposed he was? Not me, and certainly not Archie. In my opinion, for what it may be worth, it's a darned good likeness.
REX STOUT
Brewster, N. Y.

If you like Nero Wolfe you may want to read another classic mystery series from the 1940s, the Amy Brewster Mysteries by Sam Merwin Jr.  A Matter of Policy features Amy Brewster, who has been called the female Nero Wolfe.

These classic reprints are only $2.99 for Kindle at Amazon. But you can get A Matter of Policy FREE right now, for a short time only.

"Amy Brewster is a cigar-smoking, 300-pound lawyer-financier introduced by Sam Merwin Jr. in 1945. Upper-class but unfeminine, she is enlisted by friends to solve crimes. She appears in Knife in My Back ), Message from a Corpse and A Matter of Policy. Amy Brewster is defined against the genre's stereotypes, particularly the femme fatale: she is not attractive, not home-bound, and not submissive, either conversationally or professionally." -Frances A. DellaCava and Madeline H. Engel, Female Detective in American Novels, A Bibliography and Analysis of Serialized Female Sleuths (1993).

Remember, you can get A Matter of Policy for Kindle at Amazon FREE right now, for a short time only.

THE FEMALE NERO WOLFE - SAM MERWIN'S FORGOTTEN 1940s WOMAN DETECTIVE, AMY BREWSTER -

WHO IS AMY BREWSTER?

"Amy Brewster is a cigar-smoking, 300-pound lawyer-financier introduced by Sam Merwin Jr. in 1945. Upper-class but unfeminine, she is enlisted by friends to solve crimes. She appears in Knife in My Back (1945), Message from a Corpse (1945) and A Matter of Policy (1946). Both Bertha Cool and Amy Brewster are defined against the genre's stereotypes, particularly the femme fatale: they are not attractive, not home-bound, and not submissive, either conversationally or professionally.' -Frances A. DellaCava and Madeline H. Engel, Female Detective in American Novels, A Bibliography and Analysis of Serialized Female Sleuths (1993).

The following is adapted from the introduction to the Amy Brewster mystery, A Matter of Policy.

 

Sadly, the late Sam Merwin, Jr.  and his mysteries are largely forgotten today.  The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, for instance, comprehensive as it is in other respects, contains no entry for him or for the Amy Brewster books. This neglect is particularly tragic when it comes to his three Amy Brewster mysteries, for Amy is a unique, proto-feminist character who stands out vividly against the background of her time (the 1940s).

Sam Merwin Jr.  was a triple-threat man who sold stories in the mystery, sports and science fiction genres.  Oddly, since mysteries were his first love, it is for his science fiction that he is remembered today, when he is remembered at all.  Science fiction fans seem to have substantially longer memories than mystery fans, for some reason.

Though he was highly regarded by his contemporaries, particularly for his work as a mystery editor—he edited the entire line of nearly a dozen mystery magazines published by then industry giant Popular Publications—during his lifetime he was overshadowed by his far more successful father.  Sam Merwin Sr.  (frequently in collaboration with Henry Kitchell Webster) was one of the bestselling authors of his own day (the early 1900s).  The two men were among the first to focus their plots on the workings of American industry in a series of novels of which Calumet K (one of the late philosophical novelist, Ayn Rand’s favorite books, according to her biographers) was representative, the story of a construction foreman working against a difficult deadline to overcome natural disasters and sabotage by competitors to finish a grain elevator on time.  The editors of the Saturday Evening Post credited Merwin with “making the novel of business popular in America."

That Sam Merwin Jr.  chose to pursue a career as a writer with a father already ranked among the giants of literature is testimony of the strength of his own urge to write.  He began as a journeyman in the pulps, where he sold stories to virtually every mystery pulp including Thrilling Detective, Popular Detective, G-Men Detective, Exciting Detective, and more than a dozen others.  Later as a matured writer his work was accepted by the classier digest-sized mystery magazines like Ellery Queen, Pursuit, and Manhunt.

As the heyday of the pulps waned due to the rise of television, Sam Merwin Jr.  increasingly turned to novel-length works.  One result was the three Amy Brewster books: A Matter of Policy, Knife at My Back, and Message from a Corpse.  (There is also an associated mystery, Murder in Miniatures, which features Sergeant Lanning, whom Amy matches wits with in this book.) Considering the public passion for mystery series at the time (consider Nero Wolfe, Perry Mason, Mr.  and Mrs.  North, Mike Shayne, etc.), why there were only three Brewster tales remains ...  a mystery.  Perhaps a woman as unconventional in every way as Amy was simply too far ahead of her time.  If she had eaten less, dressed better, avoided profanity and shed a few pounds, her chances for success in the 1940s, when all women were supposed to be-oh-so-glamorous and innocent, might have been greatly enhanced.  One imagines that if her author were living and writing today, Amy would be as popular as Kinsey Mulhone and V.  I.  Warshawski.

Where did the author come up with so original a character, not to mention a woman,  as Amy Brewster? She was modeled on a real woman, a genuine American original, and a celebrity of her time, who dropped in to visit his famous father one day.  Though the name Elsa Maxwell was a household word then, it would likely draw a blank even with a well-informed person today.  But in the 1920s and '30s, she was America’s "hostess with the mostess," a wealthy member of the Four Hundred famed for her wide social contacts which included heads of state, writers, athletes, and even interesting hobos, all of whom could be counted on to attend the lavish, and justly celebrated, bashes she gave in New York, Washington D.C.  and points west.  Her entry in American Heritage Dictionary memorializes her as an, "American gossip columnist and professional hostess noted for her extravagant high-society parties." What it leaves out is everything distinctive about her: her gargantuan gourmet’s appetite, her propensity for sizzling profanity, her size-fifty frame, her utter disregard for convention, and her penetrating intelligence. All characteristics guaranteed to leave their impression on a teenage boy whose father she dropped in to visit for a day, and all characteristics Ms. Maxwell shares with that boy’s creation, Amy Brewster.

Perhaps a word should be said about the author’s penchant for strong female characters.  The reader will note, perhaps wonderingly, that all three women in this book are steel-willed, intelligent and resourceful.  This holds true for Sam Merwin Jr.'s other mysteries.  One short novel, "The Stones in the Script," features a cool-headed brunette who isn’t afraid to use a gun and a blonde who slams out home runs on the ball field.  Likewise, it’s the young heroine of Murder in Miniature who spots the important clue. 

Samuel Kimball Merwin Jr.  was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1910.  He received his degree from Princeton, was a highly-respected writer and editor who authored more than one dozen books and several hundred short stories.  He passed away in 1996 at his home in Los Angeles, California at the ripe age of eighty-five, and is survived by his third wife, Amanda Varela, to whom he had been married for over a quarter of a century.

Today his mysteries can be found only at used and rare book shops.  Like the Amy Brewster novels, most have been out of print for more than fifty years.  The editorial board of Deerstalker Classics is particularly proud to be part of the effort to placing all three in print again after far too long a lapse of time.

Jean Marie Stine

January 2001

The blurb for A Matter of Policy (only $2.99 at Amazon/Kindle):

"This an enthralling read that begins when a young friend of Amy Brewster’s finds his life in jeopardy after an unknown mastermind insures it for one million dollars. This is the first of three classic Amy Brewster mysteries available for the first time in over fifty years! When a private detective hired to protect the young man is the first victim, Amy Brewster must think fast and act faster if she is to learn who is behind the plot on the young man’s life in time to save him. Is it Tosta Kaaren, AKA the Canarsie Swede, a platinum-blond nightclub singer whose real name is Toots Carlin? Or Paulie Paulec, the local crime boss who has a finger in every racket in town? Or playboy Lance Torrey, whose sources of income are suspect at best. A Matter of Policy is the first of three suspenseful Amy Brewster reprints by the legendary Golden Age mystery writer/editor, Sam Merwin, Jr."

(Covers from the hardcover and the paperback first editions above.)