PaperBack: “The Terrible Night”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.



The Terrible Night, by Peter Cheyney (Avon 1959). This “thrilling” novel was originally published in 1947 as Dark Interlude. Cover illustration by by Ernest Chiriacka (aka Darcy).

PaperBack: “After Hours”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.



After Hours, by Brian Black (Beacon Signal, 1964). The Facebook page Vintage Paperback & Book Covers says: “Brian Black is yet another unimaginative pen or house name employed by unnamed purveyors of fine 1960s sleaze. I care not for its provenance and it matters not a whit who exactly penned the following. Revel, as always in the art of the covers and concern yourself not with what lies beneath.” Cover illustration by Ernest “Darcy” Chiriaka.

PaperBack: “Sweet Cheat”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.



Sweet Cheat, by “Peter Duncan,” aka Butler Markham Atkinson Jr. (Dell, 1959). Cover illustration by Ernest Chiriacka.

READ MORE: “Forgotten Books: The Tell-Tale Tart—Peter Duncan,” by Bill Crider (Bill Crider’s Pop Culture Magazine).

PaperBack: “The Torrid Widow”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.



The Torrid Widow, by Tom Harland (Beacon Signal, 1963). Harland also produced such “sleaze classics” as The Lustful Three (1962), This Breed of Woman (1964), Insatiable (1965), and S As in Sex (1964). Cover illustration by Ernest Chiriacka, aka Darcy.

PaperBack: “The Best from Manhunt”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.



The Best from Manhunt, selected by Scott and Sidney Meredith (Permabooks, 1958). The contents page can be found here.
Cover illustration by Ernest “Darcy” Chiriacka.

PaperBack: “The Big Fix”

Part of a series honoring the late author and blogger Bill Crider.


The Big Fix, by “Ed Lacy,” aka Leonard S. Zinberg (Pyramid, 1960). Cover illustration by Ernest Chiriacka, aka Darcy.