First Cases, Volume 1: First Appearances of Classic Private Eyes

by Robert J. Randisi (Editor/Contributor), Bill Pronzini (Contributor), Joe Gores (Contributor)

Before they rocked to stardom on best-seller lists across the nation, today's most popular private eyes made their debuts in little-known short stories. Now, Robert J. Randisi brings mystery buffs these stories to reveal how fifteen of America's favorite sleuths got started--and how much they've changed over the years. The result is a priceless collection of stories featuring characters such as Linda Barnes' Carlotte Carlyle, Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder, Loren D. Estleman's Amos Walker, Sara Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski, and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone....

Genres: Mystery, Anthologies, Short Stories

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Robert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of these and others not so much. Mystery isn’t something I read a ton of and I just started to get a little bored with it. I did find a new series to look into though. I really loved Lucky Penny by Linda Barnes that features her female PI Carlotta Carlyle. She was very spunky and had an interesting way of solving the case. Plus her flirty friendship with Mooney, a cop in her town was adorable.

[Charlie Eckhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid first short efforts from a number of reliable PI authors, with the caveat that there's a sameness in style and attitude, with some exceptions as to the deepness of impact the case has on the eye. The Schutz and Gore stories are the most refreshing.

[Nancy Adame · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading short stories and seeing how they were written long ago.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

808.83 Short Stories - Fifteen crime stories, each featuring a famous private eye. The title is a little misleading. They are only first cases in the domain of short fiction, many having made their debut in full-length novels. Contents: No one likes to be played for a sucker / Michael Collins -- It's a lousy world / Bill Pronzini -- File #1: The mayfield case / Joe Gores -- Out the window / Lawrence Block -- Where is Harry Beal? / John Lutz -- Merrill-Go-Round / Marcia Muller -- The steinway collection / Robert J. Randisi -- Robbers' roost / Loren D. Estleman -- The takamoku Joseki / Sara Paretsky -- Long gone / Sue Grafton -- C is for cookie / Rob Kantner -- The strawberry teardrop / Max Allan Collins -- Till Tuesday / Jeremiah Healy -- Lucky penny / Linda Barnes -- Mary, Mary shut the door / Benjamin M. Schutz.

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these detectives are favorites. Based in St. Louis or by local authors I have enjoyed many tales of detection and misdirection by Lutz and Randisi. Others like V.I. have become tiresome over the years and while the short story introductions here were interesting, the characters have not weathered well over the years.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice assortments of mystery short stories involving detectives usually only found in novels. Most of these detectives I did not know, although I knew more than half of the authors.

My favorites stories were by Sue Grafton and B.M. Schutz.

[Chris]

First Cases 1: First Appearances of Classic Private Eyes (First Cases) by Robert J. Randisi (1997)

[Brian R. Mcdonald]

Includes "The Takamoku Joseki", a short story about Go.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first appearance in a short story of some of the best known series detectives—Carlotta Carlyle, V. I Warshawski, Matt Scudder, the Nameless Detective, and more.