Conversations - The Book Graveyard & Bad Taste Books

Nick from The Book Graveyard and Bryan from Bad Taste Books drop in to help me out with a review of THE TERROR TRUCKERS, a 1977 vintage men's action-adventure paperback starring former Mafia hitman The Butcher. We dig into the series conception, writers, origin story, and the definitions of various CB radio slang terms. Watch it below, stream it at YouTube or listen to just the audio portion as a podcast episode on any streaming platform.

The Three Investigators #01 - The Secret of Terror Castle

Edgar Award winner Robert Arthur Jr. (1909-1969) attended college at William & Mary and University of Michigan. After graduation he worked as an editor and wrote stories for magazines like Collier's, Black Mask, Thrilling Detective, and The Phantom Detective. He later moved to Hollywood to write screenplays, television, and radio scripts. But, his most successful creation was a juvenile fiction series originally titled Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators. 

From 1964 until 1987, 43 books were published starring three teenage boys solving crimes. The first 31 installments included “Alfred Hitchcock” in the titles before dropping the famed Hollywood director's name for simply “The Three Investigators”. Arthur wrote books 1-9 and 11 before other writers like Dennis Lynds, Kin Platt, Mary Virginia Carey, and Marc Brandel became involved. 

From 1985 through 1987 there were four Find Your Fate Mysteries starring the investigators. These were written by Megan and H. William Stine. From 1989 through 1990 there was a 13-book series featuring the characters titled Crimebusters authored by Dennis and Gayle Lynds among others. 

In this series debut, The Secret of Terror Castle, three boys living in a fictional coastal California town called Rocky Beach, have won a contest that allows them the use of a Rolls Royce and a chauffeur named Worthington. The kids come up with an idea that they will be investigators and design business cards and a special colored coded “?” symbol to use in the investigations. The kids consist of Jupiter Jones (First Investigator, former child actor, spunky), Pete Crenshaw (Second Investigator, athlete, action), and Bob Andrews (Records and Research, librarian, nerdy).

The “terror castle” is first introduced as a way for the kids to obtain and solve their first case. Jupiter leads the trio to Alfred Hitchcock's studio office to pitch an investigation – discovering a real haunted house that the director can use for his next motion picture. Hitchcock isn't amused with the kids' idea and quickly dismisses them. But, before he scoots them out he agrees that he will introduce their mystery and resolution if they can find a haunted house – which they kinda do in a Scooby sort of way. This sets up an early theme where the end of each book features a brief introduction into the next mystery which will be unveiled in the following series installment. 

The Secret of Terror Castle is a cliffside mansion once owned and inhabited by a horror actor named Stephen Terrill. He “died” under mysterious circumstances years ago when his car plunged from the rocky highway. His body was never found. Since his death the mansion is apparently haunted by a mist-like appearance deemed Fog of Fear and a music-playing apparition named Blue Phantom. As the kids dig into Terrill's disappearance they are attacked by a gang inside the mansion, placed in a basement dungeon, and fall victim to a tunnel collapse. They also interview Terrill's suspicious assistant and befriend their chauffeur Worthington. 

By 1964 these types of juvenile stories had already ran through a marketing blitz and saturation thanks to Edward Stratemeyer,. His titles like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Kay Tracey set the standard for juvenile mystery stories. By having the Hitchcock name attached to this series certainly made publishing waves for Random House and led to commercial success. The formula is a familiar one – some type of supernatural element appears to exist and is later debunked by the heroes. But, the enjoyment is the trio's work ethic, characterization, and interaction with the various participants in the mystery. All three kids have their own skill-set and personality that enhances the overall title and individual stories. 

If you love a good mystery, no matter what your age is, then The Secret of Terror Castle is worth a stay. I really enjoyed this series debut and look forward to reading more.

You can get series installments HERE. You can also listen to a full audio dramatization of this novel, ripped from the 1984 Rainbow Communications cassette, HERE.

Paperback Warrior Podcast - Episode 118

This new episode hits the operating room for a deep dive into the life and career of successful surgeon, officer, and author Frank G. Slaughter. He wrote over 60 novels, sold 23 million copies, and was published in 23 languages. Eric connects to the author in a personal way and shares his experiences. Additionally, Eric reviews a 1991 vintage paperback titled Winterkill and discusses his most recent vintage fiction finds. Stream below, download HERE, or watch on YouTube HERE.

Listen to "Episode 118: Frank G. Slaughter" on Spreaker.

The Most Dangerous Game

One of the most common themes running through men's action-adventure fiction is man hunting man. Books like Penetrator #14 – Mankill Sport (1976), Peter Lefcourt's Deer Hunt (1976), and David Eddings High Hunt (1972) feature men hunting men in a variety of situations. The concept even spilled onto the big screen with Surviving the Game (1994) and the John Woo film Hard Target (1993). But, the origin of man versus man in the printed page began with a short story titled “The Most Dangerous Game”.

Richard Edward Connell Jr. (1893-1949) was an American author and journalist that saw his literary work published by the likes of The Saturday Evening Post. His most notable story is “The Most Dangerous Game”, a man versus man concept that appeared in Collier's in the January 19, 1924 issue. The story was also published with the title “The Hounds of Zaroff”. “The Most Dangerous Game” was adapted into a 1932 RKO Pictures film and a 1943 episode of CBS Radio's Suspense. 

The story begins when big-game hunter Sanger Rainsford falls from the top rail of a passenger ship during a late evening. Plunging into the dark oceanic depths, Rainsford attempts to swim back to no avail. He then makes a difficult swim to a nearby island that the locals scrutinize as a “ship trap”. There he is rescued on shore by a General Zaroff and his deaf-mute servant Ivan.

Over dinner and drinks Zaroff explains to Rainsford and readers that he has hunted wildlife all over the globe. He's desperate for a challenge and had become complacent with the typical big-game variety offered on all continents. Now, Zaroff lives on this tiny secluded island and has sailors conveniently trapped for sport. He stores the men in his cellar and gives them the opportunity to become human prey. They are supplied a three-hour start ahead of Zaroff, a high-powered rifle, and food for three days. If they can survive without being killed for three days then Zaroff will give them freedom. However, Zaroff explains he has hunted men for years and has never lost. The next morning Rainsford himself is forced into the most dangerous game.

Reading this story seemed mandatory after experiencing so much media that used Connell's basic premise. The dialogue between Rainsford and Zaroff dominates much of the story but was compelling enough to keep me vested. I really enjoyed both characters and how the author presented them with different moral codes. I also enjoyed the story's beginning with Rainsford's friend Whitney philosophizing about hunting. Whitney's theory that hunting is cruel and barbaric for the animals was an interesting foreshadowing that's directly opposed by Rainsford. I loved how the narrative unfolded and Rainsford became the animal. It was a neat twist and the book's finale was subjective on just what Rainsford plans next.

If you enjoy action-adventure in general then “The Most Dangerous Game” deserves to be read. The story is now in the public domain and can easily be found online. 

The Assassinator

David H. Vowell was a television writer for shows including Mod Squad, Mannix, and Adam-12. His paperback fiction output appears to be a couple noir books written in French, a Dragnet TV tie-in and this slim Los Angeles police procedural novel, The Assassinator, from 1975. 

Our narrator is a tough and cynical LAPD nameless detective who is investigating a series of seemingly random gunshot murders of people on the streets of Los Angeles getting their heads blown off by a shooter. The first three victims were a low-level dope dealer, a loan shark and a transsexual prostitute. 

The cop conducts a good and logical investigation allowing one interview to open the door to the next one. He also shares his evolving theory of the case as the reader rides along. The term “serial killer” was first used in 1974 - a year before The Assassinator was published, but the author never uses it here. Nevertheless, this is definitely a serial killer novel. And a damn good one at that. 

The narration is really interesting and at times, some of the best I’ve read. However, there’s very little dialogue in the novel. The narrator just tells the reader the substance of what was said in most conversations - back and forth. It’s an odd choice that gives the novel the feel of a story being told to you by a guy sitting on the next barstool. 

The mystery’s solution is weird and a bit out of left field but, upon reflection, satisfying. Mostly, I was left wishing Vowell had written more original crime fiction because The Assassinator is pretty awesome, and I can’t recall reading a book quite like it. At 138 pages, it’s the perfect short paperback to break a reading slump. Recommended.

The Private Wound

Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972) was a praised British author that wrote crime-fiction and melodramas from 1935 through 1968 using the pseudonym Nicholas Blake. His most popular work was the Golden Age of Detective Fiction star Nigel Strangeways, a private-detective that appeared in sixteen novels between 1935-1966. My first experience with the author is coincidentally his last career effort, a poignant period-piece titled The Private Wound. It was originally published in hardcover by Collins in 1968 and then in paperback by Dell in 1970 and again by Penguin in 1975.

The book is set in Ireland during the summer of 1939. In first-person perspective, a 30 year-old British author named Dominic Eyre has arrived in the fictional rural village of Charlottestown. His car has broken down on the highway so he receives a suggestion to stay the night at the town's small hotel. Later, Dominic meets with the colorful villagers and is smitten with a young married woman nicknamed Harry (real name Harriet). Dominic explains that he is searching for a quiet summer in the country to finish his manuscript. After a tour of a nearby farm, Dominic is offered a rental of a small cottage and accepts.

There's a close-knit group of characters that consistently become an intimate part of Dominic's life. Of the males, there's former veteran and tough-nosed farmer Flurry, Harry's husband. Harry learns of Flurry's rugged war efforts and a revenge mission he took upon himself to torture and kill some evildoers. The melodrama and lofty feel of the narrative is sliced in two with this scene evidencing Flurry's violent nature. But, Flurry is an alright guy and one of my favorite characters in recent memory. There's also Flurry's brother Sean who is making a political climb. Also, a local priest that often interviews Dominic about his life and future ambitions. On the female side is Sean's wife Maire, a hardworking woman who wants the best for everyone. 

Then there is Harry.

Harry immediately takes to Dominic and the two begin a summer affair. They make love on the cool grass by the river and then nearly every other day in various locations throughout the village. Oddly enough, Dominic quickly realizes that Harry has claims to many of the village men. She also has no regrets and insists that Flurry either doesn't care what she does or, truth be known, he loves her so much that he wants her to be happy no matter who, or what, she occupies her time with. Dominic falls in line. But, one evening Harry is found stabbed to death on the riverbank and fingers point to Dominic. 

This was one of the best books literary books I've read. It's clear that Lewis was writing his send-off novel, his final effort before leaving this world. The final pages of the book were just so unique and left me with that emotional “ah-ha" moment that is hard to duplicate. The book's last few pages were stylish and changes the narrative and the feel of the character to a degree. However, getting to that point was just such a pleasure. Lewis writes dialogue with a smooth prose that tells the story. Additionally, the author weaves in some premonition regarding the upcoming war, Hitler's rise to power, and the IRA-Protestant troubles. 

I can't help but connect The Private Wound with Patrick Kavanagh's 1944 Irish poem, the basis for one of my favorite songs of all-time - “Raglan Road” (preferably Van Morrison/Chieftains). The song pairs well with the book and I probably played it 20 times throughout my page flipping. If you are looking for a moving crime-fiction melodrama then look no further than The Private Wound. Highest possible recommendation. Get your copy HERE. 

Let's Play a Game Show

Let's play a game show! On this exciting new book shopping video, Eric transforms the book shelves, covers, and pricing into a fun interactive game show. You'll be guessing the name of the book and the price through a series of entertaining questions sure to boggle the minds of book collectors, readers, and fans of Paperback Warrior. View below or directly on YouTube HERE.