December 1934 issue ~ cover art by Fred Craft

December 1934

cover art by Fred Craft

~ Dwight V. Babcock, “Too Many Slips”, ‘1st Al, bodyguard, story’, 3rd of 21 stories in BM

~ W.T. Ballard, “Murder Isn’t Legal”, 11th of 27 stories with ‘Bill Lennox, troubleshooter for Consolidated Films’, 11th of 43 stories in BM

~ Eugene Cunningham, “An Old Spanish Custom”, 2nd of 2 with Western with Pony Kerr, 12th of 14 stories in BM

~ Hugh Lundie, “A Farewell to Strife”, author’s sole appearance in BM

~ H.H. Stinson, “Trivial, Like Murder”, 2nd of 14 with ‘Ken O’Hara, fighting reporter on Los Angeles Tribune’, 2nd of 27 stories in BM

1959 Dell reissue – cover art by Robert McGinnis

August 1959 Dell reissue, first printing

completed by Ed McBain after Rice’s death

cover painting by Robert McGinnis

better image than previously posted

1977 Signet reissue

May, 1939 issue ~ cover art by J. George Janes

cover art by J. George Janes

better image than previously posted

~ Carroll John Daly, “Murder Made Easy”, ‘Clay Holt’, 68th of 71 appearances in BM

~ Frank Gruber, “Funny Man”, 8th of 10with ‘Oliver Quade, The Human Encyclopedia’, ’Quade in Hollywood; see p. 5 for letter from FG on OG’, 12th of 14 stories in BM

~ H. Randolph Peacock, “Bare Facts”, ‘nudist camp setting; epistolary style’, last of 4 stories in BM

~ Stewart Sterling (pseud. of Prentice Winchell), “Strictly for Suckers”, 1st of 3 stories with Vince Mallie, debut in BM, 1st of 12 stories

~ Emile C. Tepperman, “Death of Sale”, ‘vacuum cleaner salesman’, last of 3 stories in BM

~ K. Webster, “Prison Break”, 2nd of 3 stories in BM

©Seattle Mystery Bookshop

[post updated 4/25/25]

November 1929 issue ~ cover art by J.W. Schlaikjer

November 1929 issue, Joseph T. Shaw, editor

better image than previously posted

cover painting by J.W. Schlaikjer

Frederick Nebel, “Hell-Smoke” (Capt. MacBride novelette)

Dashiell Hammett, “The Maltese Falcon” (part two of the serialized novel before publication as a novel – first appearance of this section- not even mentioned on the cover)

Earl and Marion Scott, “The Second Spartan”

Carroll John Daly, “The Silver Eagle” (Race Williams novelette)

Erle Stanley Gardner, “Brass Tacks” (Ed Jenkins novelette)

Tom Curry, “The Man from Headquarters”

Henry Wallace Phillips, “The Demon in the Canyon”

©Seattle Mystery Bookshop

[image updated 9/13/24, 6/21/26]