What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sleeper Caper
Richard S. Prather's creation, Shell Scott, was the second most popular private detective (after Spillane's Mike Hammer) of the 1950s. With over 40 million books sold. The Shell Scott stories were as powerful as a gut-wrenching Spillane story, but used more tongue-in-cheek humor.In The Sleeper Caper, Shell is sent to Mexico to find who is rigging the horse races. When the most honest jockey south of the border is drugged and literally bites the dust on the race track. Shell is not only out to close this case—he out for revenge!
37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2009
15 people want to read
About the author
Richard S. Prather
94 books43 followersRichard Scott Prather was an American mystery novelist, best known for creating the "Shell Scott" series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 20, 2023
Richard S. Prather’s name isn’t as well known today as Mickey Spillane’s, and he never became the cultural icon that Mick did. But he was a fabulous writer in the hardboiled vein, whose sales and popularity were right up there with the best of them for many years.
Whereas Spillane had Mike Hammer, Prather had Sheldon “Shell” Scott to make his way through the hardboiled and often violent streets of mystery/detective fiction. Unlike Mickey, however, Prather, whose first Shell Scott book, Case of the Vanishing Beauty, appeared in 1950, was very prolific. He left a literal slew of Shell Scott stories for us to enjoy.
Also unlike Mickey, Prather filled his Shell Scott novels with almost as much offbeat humor as violence, and the combination proved irresistible, especially during the glory days of Shell Scott in the 1950s and '60s. By the time he passed away at 85 in 2007, three years after losing his wife of nearly 60 years, Tina, his books had sold over 40 million copies.
The Sleeper Caper first appeared in Manhunt, and it's one of his shorter Shell Scott stories. The Sleeper Caper is a terrific and enjoyable story, and a perfect way to acquaint yourself with Prather’s creation to see if you like him. In Prather’s case, this is important because a great number of his Shell Scott novels were released on Kindle, and now have been packaged into boxed sets which are are a real bargain.
Shell is in Mexico to lend bookie Cookie Martini a hand. Cookie’s been losing a bundle because something very funny is going on around the horse track in Mexico. Too many long-shots have been paying off, and it’s obvious the fix is in. Scott’s at the track in Mexico as the story opens, and naturally there are a couple of hot tomatoes on his arms in Vera and Elena. When a tough little jockey refuses to throw a race, it doesn’t end well, and Scott wants revenge.
Shell knows Hammond and his right-hand man, Rath, are behind it, but before he can wrap this one up, things get pretty ugly. Right away Shell is on the wrong end of a brutal beating, but it isn’t enough to send him back home, not by a long-shot. When a dancer shows Scott the knife scars on her belly, he realizes someone is even more sadistic — and to his shock, masochistic — than he thought, which places a doll in danger. Said doll is in need of saving as only a guy like Shell Scott can.
The Sleeper Caper has a great, if violent ending, but there is a smoothness here in the writing, and within the flow of the story. In addition, Prather’s trademark humor lightens the mood at just the right moments, making this a truly enjoyable short story. A fine introduction to Prather’s wonderful Shell Scott stories, which will make you want to grab the novels up while they’re still being offered on Kindle. A fun read!
Whereas Spillane had Mike Hammer, Prather had Sheldon “Shell” Scott to make his way through the hardboiled and often violent streets of mystery/detective fiction. Unlike Mickey, however, Prather, whose first Shell Scott book, Case of the Vanishing Beauty, appeared in 1950, was very prolific. He left a literal slew of Shell Scott stories for us to enjoy.
Also unlike Mickey, Prather filled his Shell Scott novels with almost as much offbeat humor as violence, and the combination proved irresistible, especially during the glory days of Shell Scott in the 1950s and '60s. By the time he passed away at 85 in 2007, three years after losing his wife of nearly 60 years, Tina, his books had sold over 40 million copies.
The Sleeper Caper first appeared in Manhunt, and it's one of his shorter Shell Scott stories. The Sleeper Caper is a terrific and enjoyable story, and a perfect way to acquaint yourself with Prather’s creation to see if you like him. In Prather’s case, this is important because a great number of his Shell Scott novels were released on Kindle, and now have been packaged into boxed sets which are are a real bargain.
Shell is in Mexico to lend bookie Cookie Martini a hand. Cookie’s been losing a bundle because something very funny is going on around the horse track in Mexico. Too many long-shots have been paying off, and it’s obvious the fix is in. Scott’s at the track in Mexico as the story opens, and naturally there are a couple of hot tomatoes on his arms in Vera and Elena. When a tough little jockey refuses to throw a race, it doesn’t end well, and Scott wants revenge.
Shell knows Hammond and his right-hand man, Rath, are behind it, but before he can wrap this one up, things get pretty ugly. Right away Shell is on the wrong end of a brutal beating, but it isn’t enough to send him back home, not by a long-shot. When a dancer shows Scott the knife scars on her belly, he realizes someone is even more sadistic — and to his shock, masochistic — than he thought, which places a doll in danger. Said doll is in need of saving as only a guy like Shell Scott can.
The Sleeper Caper has a great, if violent ending, but there is a smoothness here in the writing, and within the flow of the story. In addition, Prather’s trademark humor lightens the mood at just the right moments, making this a truly enjoyable short story. A fine introduction to Prather’s wonderful Shell Scott stories, which will make you want to grab the novels up while they’re still being offered on Kindle. A fun read!
February 7, 2016
A dead jockey, naked senoritas, and plenty of violence in this Shel Scott novelette from Manhunt pulp magazine March 1953.
August 27, 2011
I like Shell Scott, have been a reader of Richard Prather for many years. At one time I owned all the books that he had written. Looking for more of them on Kindle.
February 27, 2017
Another great noir story, from the Masters of Noir series.
July 13, 2013
Author recommended by Stephen King. Best beach trash, detective book I come across in awhile.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews