


published in 1936 in hardcover by Morrow
cover art by Gil Tompkins
2nd book published with this pen name and second book with newspaperman Robin Bishop
pseudonym of Daniel Mainwaring who, as Homes, wrote Build My Gallows High (1946), adapted into the classic film noir Out of the Past (1947). 2nd book published with this pen name and second book with newspaperman Robin Bishop

Burnett, W[illiam] R[iley]. IRON MAN. New York: Lincoln Mac Veagh The Dial Press … Toronto: Longman, Green & Co., 1930. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1-2] 3-312, original blue cloth, spine panel stamped in gold, publisher’s monogram stamped in blind on front panel, top edge stained red, other edges rough trimmed. First edition. Burnett’s second novel, preceded by his well-received gangster novel, LITTLE CAESAR (1929). The story of a mechanic’s helper who becomes a prize fighter and finally middleweight champion. Hanna 527. A fine copy in fine pictorial dust jacket (with art deco illustration by Edna Reindel) with light wear at upper spine end and corner tips and tiny, narrow chip at lower spine end.

better image than previously posted
a non-mystery, it was his second novel, published the year after Little Caesar
[post updated with paperback 9/27/25]

1950 Avon Monthly Novel digest original – first appearance
cover art by Mike Doyle

1951 Avon paperback – first mass market
cover art attributed to Barye Phillips
better image than previously posted

cover art by John Vernon
better image than previously posted


first published in 1946 by Mystery House as There are Dead Men in Manhattan. in addition to this 1957 title from Avon, it was published in 1951 as Manhattan Underworld (1951, Harlequin) and as Triple Cross (1962, Belmont). not known if the other editions were also ‘revised’

cover art by Robert Maguire
Avon cover art repurposed for this 1959 Digit release


1948 Doubleday hardcover in the US, 1949 Hodder and Stoughton hardcover from the UK, a collection of Simon Templar short stories
1954 Avon reissue
cover art by Ray Johnson

originally published in 1932 by Viking as by Barnaby Ross. 2nd in the cousin’s series with actor/sleuth Drury Lane.
cover art by George Gross
better image than previously posted

5th in the Lord Peter Wimsey series, originally published in 1930 – this a later reissue and, certainly, ‘pulped up’ and made to appear much more hardboiled. It is also the novel in which Lord Peter first meets the love of his life, mystery writer Harriet Vane