Billy Cantrell Case

Simon Kaye Mystery #3

by Hillary Waugh

First edition hardcover with unclipped dust jacket, in very good condition. Jacket is lightly marked and creased, and page block head is tanned. Pages are clear and unmarked throughout. LW

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Aka Elissa Grandower (5 books), H. Baldwin Taylor (3 books), Harry Walker (1 book).

Hillary Baldwin Waugh was a pioneering American mystery novelist. In 1989, Waugh was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

During his senior year at Yale, Waugh enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps and, after graduation, received his aviator's wings. He served in Panama for two years, flying various types of aircraft. While in military service, Waugh turned his hand to creative writing, completing and publishing his first novel Madam Will Not Dine Tonight in 1947. He quickly published two more novels, but they were not very well received.

In 1949, as the result of reading a case book on true crime, Waugh decided to explore a realistic crime novel. With the cooperation of his fiancée, who was a student at Smith College, Waugh set his police procedural Last Seen Wearing... in a fictional women's college. Published in 1952, the book was a significant success and is now considered a pioneering effort exploring relentless police work and attention to detail.

After Last Seen Wearing..., Waugh went on to publish more than thirty-five additional detective novels, many aptly described as "hard boiled". Pseudonyms include "Elissa Grandower," "Harry Walker" and "H. Baldwin Taylor."

Waugh married Diana Taylor, and the couple had three children. Waugh died on December 8, 2008.

Reviews

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hillary Waugh is an overlooked crime writer these days. I don't think any of his books are in print, but second hand copies can be found. I came across Waugh through a British film Jigsaw, that is based on his novel, Sleep Long My Love, but transposed well to the UK. A classic title reminiscent of Raymond Chandler. What's not to like? I read the book, a police procedural and part of the Fred Fellows series and it was great. Thereafter it was picking up second hand copies where I could. The Billy Cantrell Case is classic private eye. Simon Kaye is investigating the death of boxer in the ring as the bookies thing something is fishy and they don't want to pay out. A readable page turner and works well. The plot hangs together and the writing style is consistent. And few more in the series to read - as I find them.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: when middleweight favourite Billy Cantrell died, PI Simon Kaye thought it might have been murder.