Wonder of wonders, it appears that independent crime-fiction publisher Down & Out Books—which went out of business a year ago due to crippling sales declines—is making a comeback. Now owned and operated by former D&O author Joe Ricker (Walkin’ After Midnight, Some Awful Cunning, etc.), who acquired the press from Eric Campbell, it recently announced a short list of upcoming releases.
The first new title from this imprint is supposed to be Manhattan Tension, by 89-year-old Cleveland, Ohio, author Les Roberts, which is scheduled for release on November 3 (though I don’t see notice of that on either the publisher’s Web site or in Amazon). Ricker told author-blogger Dana King recently that “our target right now is ten books a year.” Works slated for publication in 2027 include two fresh ones from veteran D&O writers, Chris Orlet’s Sun Gone Down and Brandon Daily’s Crop Burn Stories, and another couple from fictionists who’ve not previously worked with this publisher, Mark Thomas’ World in Fluxe and Scott Kauffman’s Death Row Absolution.
We wish Ricker and company the best of luck with this revival.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
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