January 1938 issue ~ cover art by Walter Baumhofer

January 1938 issue

cover art by Walter Baumhofer

Carroll John Daly, “Book of the Dead” (Race Williams)

Raymond Chandler, “Red Wind” (John Dalmas)

Jan Dana, “To the Murder Born”

B.B. Fowler, “Lead Legacy”

George A. Shaftel, “Star-Crossed”

Dale Clark, “Stone-Blind Killer”

better image than previously posted

“There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. One nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husband’s necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.” – Chandler, “Red Wind”

1st Pocket edition, December 1965

1st Pocket edition, December 1965

first hardcovers were 1964 from Hamish Hamilton the UK and Houghton Mifflin in the US

From Black Mask Magazine: “Killer in the Rain”, “The Men Who Liked Dogs”, “The Curtain” and “Try the Girl”

From Dime Detection Magazine: “Mandarin’s Jade”, “Bay City Blues” and “The Lady in the Lake”

From Detective Story Magazine: “No Crime in the Mountains”

May 30, 1936 issue

first appearance of Raymond Chandler’s “Noon Street Nemesis”, which would later be reissued as “Pick-Up on Noon Street” for The Simple Art of Murder

surreal cover illustration by Artzybasheff

The Simple Art of Murder

1977 Ballantine mass market, 3rd print

“The Simple Art of Murder” (Atlantic Monthly, Dec 1944)

“Spanish Blood” (Black Mask Magazine, Nov 1935)

“I’ll Be Waiting” (Saturday Evening Post, Dec 1939)

“The King in Yellow” (Dime Detective Magazine, Mar 1938)

“Pearls are a Nuisance” (Dime Detective Magazine, April 1939)

cover art by Whistlin’ Dixie