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Nathan Heller
The "perfect private eye" looks back on his career among Chicago's famous and infamous in this profile by the Shamus Award–winning author (Daily News, New York).
As a ghostwriter settles in for a series of interviews with the semi-retired Nathan Heller—who in his long career as a cop and private detective has dealt with famous cases and colorful characters, from Al Capone to Amelia Earhart, and Jack Ruby to Jimmy Hoffa. Fans of the mystery series by New York Times–bestselling author Max Allan Collins (the aforementioned ghostwriter) get to know this classic character, his A-1 Detective Agency, and the man who created him, a little better.
"A believable, enduring hard-boiled hero." —Los Angeles Times
"When it comes to noirish, hard-boiled PI thrillers, few writers can compete with Collins." —Library Journal
As a ghostwriter settles in for a series of interviews with the semi-retired Nathan Heller—who in his long career as a cop and private detective has dealt with famous cases and colorful characters, from Al Capone to Amelia Earhart, and Jack Ruby to Jimmy Hoffa. Fans of the mystery series by New York Times–bestselling author Max Allan Collins (the aforementioned ghostwriter) get to know this classic character, his A-1 Detective Agency, and the man who created him, a little better.
"A believable, enduring hard-boiled hero." —Los Angeles Times
"When it comes to noirish, hard-boiled PI thrillers, few writers can compete with Collins." —Library Journal
63 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2024
20 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Max Allan Collins
811 books1,324 followersReceived the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 14, 2025
a history of history mysteries
This is a compilation of the Nathan Heller series in an interview style where Heller is being interviewed by his chronicler, Max Collins. Apparently all of these books are founded on actual historical events or characters. JFK’s assassination, Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, John Dillinger, Bugsy Segal, and so on. Obviously, Heller’s appearance in these stories is poetic license ala Zelig or Forrest Gump, but as a private detective, Hellers point of view is a welcome change of pace. I wish I could say these mini histories of how each book came about piqued my interest enough to make me want to start reading the series. Alas, that is not the case. Maybe someday that will happen, but if it does it will not be because of this edition of Mysterious Profiles.
This is a compilation of the Nathan Heller series in an interview style where Heller is being interviewed by his chronicler, Max Collins. Apparently all of these books are founded on actual historical events or characters. JFK’s assassination, Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, John Dillinger, Bugsy Segal, and so on. Obviously, Heller’s appearance in these stories is poetic license ala Zelig or Forrest Gump, but as a private detective, Hellers point of view is a welcome change of pace. I wish I could say these mini histories of how each book came about piqued my interest enough to make me want to start reading the series. Alas, that is not the case. Maybe someday that will happen, but if it does it will not be because of this edition of Mysterious Profiles.
October 19, 2025
The stories behind the story
This book is all about the stories behind the man Nate Heller. If you love the NH series check this out.
This book is all about the stories behind the man Nate Heller. If you love the NH series check this out.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews