Frank Kane (1) (1912–1968)

Grave Danger stands out among the Johnny Liddell books. Instead of chasing some penny ante blackmailer, here Liddell goes to war against the entire Syndicate from corrupt union bosses to police officers on the take. And, the Syndicate will stop at nothing in its war against Liddell including car bombs, ice pick murders, shotgun blasts on city streets, and roughing up Liddell's own secretary in front of him. Just like Hammer before him, nothing fazes Liddell in his efforts to bring down the show more Mob. Back in 1960 when this was published, it might have seemed like the Mob had its tentacles everywhere and, particularly on the docks, had everyone either on the take or cowed into silence. There's also a different side of Pinky shown in this book. She's not just painting her nails.
This is about as action-packed as it gets and never have the odds been this far out of Liddell's favor. What a terrific read. show less

Green Light For Death (1949) is the second of thirty Johnny Liddell private eye novels that Frank Kane published over a twenty-year period. Kane had immense talent at writing easily readable yarns.
This one takes Liddell from New York City up to some small town, obstensibly in upstate New York and introduces the reader to a classic pulp motif of the small town with the crooked police chief in cahoots with the local hood/nightclub owner. Although this particular take on the detective novel has show more been many times, Kane manages to make it feel fresh. Since this particular novel does not take place in the city, there’s no place for galpal reporter Mugsy in the storyline. Nevertheless, Liddell manages to get involved with the local press in Waterville and to find the one honest lawman in town to back his play. Of course, the story is filled with murders, corruption, hoods, chorus girls, cigarette girls, and all manner of gunslingers. This story takes Liddell out on his own following a call from an old friend, who had been a Broadway star, but now had disappeared into this small town, working in the local ginmill, at least until she called Liddell to help her. But, before he got find out what the trouble was, she was found floating in the river. With her clothes neatly folded on the pier, the locals are all too willing to call it suicide or accident, but Liddell isn’t buying that story. It just doesn’t work.
This is just a terrific read and, if you are looking for old style detective tales and one man tilting at windmills until justice is done, there can be no more satisfying a read. show less

3.5*

This is, I believe, the third Johnny Liddell novel by Frank Kane that I have read--the second in a row. It's a nice series worth recommending.

In this one, Johnny gets hired by an anonymous client who believes that the police shooting of a very unpopular hood wasn't what it seemed. Eventually Johnny develops the theory that someone is doing a 1950s version of 'swatting' and setting their enemies up for death by trigger-happy cop.

It's a fun tale, well-told.

Once again I appreciate that show more Johnny is not the typical super-hero hard-boiled detective. He has a steady gal and he takes his licks, solving crimes with tenacity and brains instead of his fists and machismo. show less

Kane's Johnny Liddell series is one of the best of the numerous fifties- era private eye series. It's everything you could want in a PI novel, a tough, uncompromising detective who plays everything close to the vest, chorus girls, actresses, gambling syndicates, and a few honest cops who are frustrated no one - not even Johnny -- is sharing info with them. And, of course, you have Johnny's gal pal, Mugsy Kiely, the ace cub reporter for her father's paper and Pinky, Johnny's secretary.
Red Hot show more Ice is a story that begins with a gambling airplane and a world famous, blonde actress who drinks like she got poured out of the bottle. Gambling and booze of course lead to gambling debts and murder. And then there's the gigolo husband looking for a better touch and a missing fortune in diamonds and a pair of out of town hitmen. Kane has a great writing style and it makes for an easy and quick read. This is simply old fashioned classic PI stuff and it's as good and as action packed as anything you'll find. show less