What do you think?
Rate this book
First Cases, Volume 3: New and Classic Tales of Detection
Compare the detecting tactics of Maxine O'Callaghan's pioneering private eye Delilah West with those of contemporary lady sleuths like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Dana Stabenow's Kate Snugak. See Victorian England through the eyes of Anne Perry's Lady Vespesia, and explore modern-day Manhattan with Lawrence Block's Chip Harrison.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
242 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Randisi
244 books106 followersRobert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 12, 2019
Her Dagger Before Me: Authentic Black Mask story reprint, perhaps a little too pat.
A Change of Clients: Peculiar atmosphere (a plus), outcome vague to my mind.
Chee's Witch: Disappointing unrevealing first exposure to the characters and setting; didn't do a thing for me
The Mallory Queen: Fun roman a clef tour de force.
Snow: Strong intro to the character, though the time frame was a surprise near the end.
Someone Else: Well-done.
Polo at the Ritz: The real deal; seedy neighborhod atmosphere captured well.
Pig Man: Must be good, remembered it from earlier anthologization.
And Pray Nobody Sees You: Adequate, not especially memorable.
Nooses Give: Alien setting made me uneasy
Salad Days: Confident narration
The Last Peep: Wacky, Laurel and Hardy feel to this fast-moving joyride
Orphans Court: Best in the book for me
An Affair of Inconvenience: Nothing to hold onto here
Overall a nice introduction to some promising characters I wouldn't have known where to start with.
A Change of Clients: Peculiar atmosphere (a plus), outcome vague to my mind.
Chee's Witch: Disappointing unrevealing first exposure to the characters and setting; didn't do a thing for me
The Mallory Queen: Fun roman a clef tour de force.
Snow: Strong intro to the character, though the time frame was a surprise near the end.
Someone Else: Well-done.
Polo at the Ritz: The real deal; seedy neighborhod atmosphere captured well.
Pig Man: Must be good, remembered it from earlier anthologization.
And Pray Nobody Sees You: Adequate, not especially memorable.
Nooses Give: Alien setting made me uneasy
Salad Days: Confident narration
The Last Peep: Wacky, Laurel and Hardy feel to this fast-moving joyride
Orphans Court: Best in the book for me
An Affair of Inconvenience: Nothing to hold onto here
Overall a nice introduction to some promising characters I wouldn't have known where to start with.
March 28, 2017
First Cases, vol. 3 ed. by Robert J Randisi is an anthology of first stories by well-known mystery writers. This volume contains 14 stories:
1. Her Dagger Before Me (a Lloyd Carter/ Ed Rivers story) by Talmage Powell. A first person narrative by Lloyd, a hard-boiled Tampa detective hired ostensibly to dissuade a suitor from an heiress's step-mother, but in fact to provide an alibi for the murder of the suitor. However Lloyd is not that stupid.
2. A Change of Clients (A Delilah West story) by Maxine O'Callaghan. Delilah is hired ostensibly as a babysitter for a man's wife, but in fact to provide an alibi for his murder of her (sound like the story above?). Delilah too is not that stupid.
3. Chee's Witch (A Jim Chee story) by Tony Hillerman. Chee uses a witness who the government is hiding in his area to debunk a witch scare.
4. Death of the Mallory Queen (A Chip Harrison story) by Lawrence Block. A woman who thinks she is going to be killed upsets so many people, who try to get one another (not her), that she is indeed the one killed.
5. Snow (A Porfiry Rostinikov story) by Stuart M. Kaminsky. In a poor neighborhood in Russia, rather than allow a man to kill an innocent baby, Rostinikov backs him into a situation where the baby is safe, but he is killed.
6. Someone Else (A Fred Carver story) by John Lutz. A couple who wish to avoid getting caught, attempt to kill an untraceable victim, to substitute for the woman, but Fred realizes what they have done.
7. Polo at the Ritz (A Nick Polo story) by Jerry Kennealy. The Ritz in San Francisco is at the extreme other end of the affluence scale. Nick finds a man whose daughter is looking to make something from him, but there is nothing to take.
8. The Pig Man (A P. I. Saxon story) by Les Roberts. A man who is stalked by someone who calls him a pig learns that the man has confused him with his neighbor.
9. And Pray Nobody Sees You (An Aaron Gunner story) by Gar Anthony Haywood. Gunner is asked to find a stolen rare car. He does, but the person using him is not as interested in the car (which is the wrong year to be rare) as the cocaine he hid in it.
10. Nooses Give (a Kate Shugak story) by Dana Stabenow. Former detective returns to Alaska after having been disfigured in stateside case, and works to find person responsible for shipping alcohol into Alaskan outback where teens hurt themselves. Nicely told story.
11. Salad Days (An Angela Matelli story) by Wendi Lee. P.I. poses as a restaurant worker to find out who skimmed $50 a night from the till, rather than her sister Rosa who was blamed. Instead she finds someone selling drugs who can take the blame, and helps Janice, the real thief, who needs all the help she can get.
12. The Last Peep ( A Stephanie Plum story) by Janet Evanovich. Funny story with lively characters and interesting action--even if someone gets killed in the process.
13. Orphans Court (A Tess Monaghan story) by Laura Lippman. Lengthy, overly-complicated story.
14. An Affair of Inconvenience (A Lady Vespasia story [Pitt relative]). by Anne Perry. I love Lady Vespasia and have read a couple novellas in which she was the protagonist. But her total acceptance of the worst of society's sexual practices in this story makes it less attractive.
Altogether, I'd suggest a different anthology. Best stories are by Hillerman, Stabenow and Evanovich.
1. Her Dagger Before Me (a Lloyd Carter/ Ed Rivers story) by Talmage Powell. A first person narrative by Lloyd, a hard-boiled Tampa detective hired ostensibly to dissuade a suitor from an heiress's step-mother, but in fact to provide an alibi for the murder of the suitor. However Lloyd is not that stupid.
2. A Change of Clients (A Delilah West story) by Maxine O'Callaghan. Delilah is hired ostensibly as a babysitter for a man's wife, but in fact to provide an alibi for his murder of her (sound like the story above?). Delilah too is not that stupid.
3. Chee's Witch (A Jim Chee story) by Tony Hillerman. Chee uses a witness who the government is hiding in his area to debunk a witch scare.
4. Death of the Mallory Queen (A Chip Harrison story) by Lawrence Block. A woman who thinks she is going to be killed upsets so many people, who try to get one another (not her), that she is indeed the one killed.
5. Snow (A Porfiry Rostinikov story) by Stuart M. Kaminsky. In a poor neighborhood in Russia, rather than allow a man to kill an innocent baby, Rostinikov backs him into a situation where the baby is safe, but he is killed.
6. Someone Else (A Fred Carver story) by John Lutz. A couple who wish to avoid getting caught, attempt to kill an untraceable victim, to substitute for the woman, but Fred realizes what they have done.
7. Polo at the Ritz (A Nick Polo story) by Jerry Kennealy. The Ritz in San Francisco is at the extreme other end of the affluence scale. Nick finds a man whose daughter is looking to make something from him, but there is nothing to take.
8. The Pig Man (A P. I. Saxon story) by Les Roberts. A man who is stalked by someone who calls him a pig learns that the man has confused him with his neighbor.
9. And Pray Nobody Sees You (An Aaron Gunner story) by Gar Anthony Haywood. Gunner is asked to find a stolen rare car. He does, but the person using him is not as interested in the car (which is the wrong year to be rare) as the cocaine he hid in it.
10. Nooses Give (a Kate Shugak story) by Dana Stabenow. Former detective returns to Alaska after having been disfigured in stateside case, and works to find person responsible for shipping alcohol into Alaskan outback where teens hurt themselves. Nicely told story.
11. Salad Days (An Angela Matelli story) by Wendi Lee. P.I. poses as a restaurant worker to find out who skimmed $50 a night from the till, rather than her sister Rosa who was blamed. Instead she finds someone selling drugs who can take the blame, and helps Janice, the real thief, who needs all the help she can get.
12. The Last Peep ( A Stephanie Plum story) by Janet Evanovich. Funny story with lively characters and interesting action--even if someone gets killed in the process.
13. Orphans Court (A Tess Monaghan story) by Laura Lippman. Lengthy, overly-complicated story.
14. An Affair of Inconvenience (A Lady Vespasia story [Pitt relative]). by Anne Perry. I love Lady Vespasia and have read a couple novellas in which she was the protagonist. But her total acceptance of the worst of society's sexual practices in this story makes it less attractive.
Altogether, I'd suggest a different anthology. Best stories are by Hillerman, Stabenow and Evanovich.
February 5, 2013
12 reprints plus 2 new written just for third thematic (first hard-boiled, second cozy, this mixed) 5 Kaminsky & 13 Lippman. Old favorites and new finds to scout more.
Intro by Robert J Randisi March 1999
1 Her Dagger Before Me (Lloyd Carter/ Ed Rivers) by Talmage Powell
First appearance: this story
4* Old-timey feel, 3 titled chapters.
St Petersburg Florida narrator sent by "old man" Henry Fayette, when "hungry" heiress Allene Buford wants help warning off gigolo blackmailer Buddy () from Emagine, her new step-mother and Henry's lovely old friend
2 A Change of Clients (Delilah West) by Maxine O'Callaghan
First appearance: this story
4* Hard to watch inevitable happen to victim, and guess method of execution. Narrator, new widow, needs employer, cold Craig Zarath, who claims his despondent drunken wife Margaret may commit suicide tomorrow, the anniversary of their child's death.
3 Chee's Witch (Jim Chee) by Tony Hillerman
First appearance: The Blessing Way 1970
3* Depends on particular ethnic knowledge, yet predictable. Stranger "City Navajo" suspected of witchery by locals, but FBI Wells comes to pick him up as witness stashed by another agent.
4 Death of the Mallory Queen (Chip Harrrison) by Lawrence Block
First appearance: Make Out with Murder 1974
2* Repetition is boring, conclusion just odd. Narrator Chip observes plump boss Haig, amid "Huff" breathing exercises, determine how poison and weapons converged on their publisher client Mavis, who deliberately assembled angry suspects at dinner .
5 Snow (Porfiry Rostnikov) by Stuart M. Kaminsky (written especially)
Fa: Death of a Dissident 1981
4* Justice particular to dark Russian culture and outlook. Young Rostikov, expecting first child, limps onto roof where despondent husband, after murdering wife, threatens to toss off their baby.
6 Someone Else (Fred Carver) by John Lutz 1986
Fa: Tropical Heat 1986
3* Remember from before. Limping Carver sees first client Wayne Garnett's wife Gloria shot reading at Florida beach.
7 Polo at the Ritz (Nick Polo) by Jerry Kennealy
Fa: Polo Solo 1987
3* Unguessable. Narrator bribes clerk in run-down hotel to find murder witness Casserly,
8 The Pig Man (Saxon) by Les Roberts
Fa: An Infinite Number of Monkeys 1987
"skel" = lowlife (actress Stepfanie Kramer is no typo)
3* Remembered. Slang tough, realistic cops. Narrator returns to LA where crazy Vietnam veteran has scrawled CIA on car, house, thrown rocks, and cops can do nothing (yup, just like in real life). If he fears for adopted son Marvel, why not stay elsewhere?
9 And Pray Nobody Sees You (Aaron Gunner) by Gar Anthony Haywood
Fa: Fear of the Dark 1988
4* Funny twist on justice. It ended and "It started with a U-turn" by rude client Purdy, who gives full description of teen car-jacker who shot his arm after.
10 Nooses Give (Kate Shugak) by Dana Stabenow
Fa: A Cold Day for Murder 1992
CAVU aviation term = Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited
a'a = Hawaiian lava flow
4* Grim realities, slang not comprehensible from context. Alaskan tavern-keeper Bernie loses kids, students and relatives, to illegal liqour smuggled onto reservation, and calls in hoarse scarred Kate, recuperating from throat slashed by child killer.
11 Salad Days (Angela Matelli) by Wendi Lee
Fa: The Good Daughter 1994
4* Humor and justice from-to real situations. Narrator, ex-Marine Italian with big Boston family goes undercover as waitress when sister Rosa fired after money missing from Cowan's Salad Days restaurant till.
12 The Last Peep (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich
Fa: One for the Money 1994
4* Silly, naked, dangerous, as always. Bondsman narrator and busty sidekick Lulu find naked flasher-peeper Sammy the Squirrel Franco shot, but the corpse vanishes.
13 Orphan's Court (Tess Monaghan) by Laura Lippman (written especially)
Fa: Baltimore Blues 1997
4* Catchy twist to language and justice. "enamored" of mushrooms until they are on her plate, "shellacked" client Kathi "with an i" Sawyer insurer wants dying home-buyer Martha Pettigrew guilty of arson.
14 An Affair of Inconvenience (Lady Vespasia) by Anne Perry
Fa: Mary Higgins Clark Magazine 1998
4* Entertaining for atmosphere, if illogical. On a country weekend, Lady V sends Lady Oremia Blythe back to bed after smashing lamp onto Sir Ferdinand, for the memories and sake of her husband.
Intro by Robert J Randisi March 1999
1 Her Dagger Before Me (Lloyd Carter/ Ed Rivers) by Talmage Powell
First appearance: this story
4* Old-timey feel, 3 titled chapters.
St Petersburg Florida narrator sent by "old man" Henry Fayette, when "hungry" heiress Allene Buford wants help warning off gigolo blackmailer Buddy () from Emagine, her new step-mother and Henry's lovely old friend
2 A Change of Clients (Delilah West) by Maxine O'Callaghan
First appearance: this story
4* Hard to watch inevitable happen to victim, and guess method of execution. Narrator, new widow, needs employer, cold Craig Zarath, who claims his despondent drunken wife Margaret may commit suicide tomorrow, the anniversary of their child's death.
3 Chee's Witch (Jim Chee) by Tony Hillerman
First appearance: The Blessing Way 1970
3* Depends on particular ethnic knowledge, yet predictable. Stranger "City Navajo" suspected of witchery by locals, but FBI Wells comes to pick him up as witness stashed by another agent.
4 Death of the Mallory Queen (Chip Harrrison) by Lawrence Block
First appearance: Make Out with Murder 1974
2* Repetition is boring, conclusion just odd. Narrator Chip observes plump boss Haig, amid "Huff" breathing exercises, determine how poison and weapons converged on their publisher client Mavis, who deliberately assembled angry suspects at dinner .
5 Snow (Porfiry Rostnikov) by Stuart M. Kaminsky (written especially)
Fa: Death of a Dissident 1981
4* Justice particular to dark Russian culture and outlook. Young Rostikov, expecting first child, limps onto roof where despondent husband, after murdering wife, threatens to toss off their baby.
6 Someone Else (Fred Carver) by John Lutz 1986
Fa: Tropical Heat 1986
3* Remember from before. Limping Carver sees first client Wayne Garnett's wife Gloria shot reading at Florida beach.
7 Polo at the Ritz (Nick Polo) by Jerry Kennealy
Fa: Polo Solo 1987
3* Unguessable. Narrator bribes clerk in run-down hotel to find murder witness Casserly,
8 The Pig Man (Saxon) by Les Roberts
Fa: An Infinite Number of Monkeys 1987
"skel" = lowlife (actress Stepfanie Kramer is no typo)
3* Remembered. Slang tough, realistic cops. Narrator returns to LA where crazy Vietnam veteran has scrawled CIA on car, house, thrown rocks, and cops can do nothing (yup, just like in real life). If he fears for adopted son Marvel, why not stay elsewhere?
9 And Pray Nobody Sees You (Aaron Gunner) by Gar Anthony Haywood
Fa: Fear of the Dark 1988
4* Funny twist on justice. It ended and "It started with a U-turn" by rude client Purdy, who gives full description of teen car-jacker who shot his arm after.
10 Nooses Give (Kate Shugak) by Dana Stabenow
Fa: A Cold Day for Murder 1992
CAVU aviation term = Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited
a'a = Hawaiian lava flow
4* Grim realities, slang not comprehensible from context. Alaskan tavern-keeper Bernie loses kids, students and relatives, to illegal liqour smuggled onto reservation, and calls in hoarse scarred Kate, recuperating from throat slashed by child killer.
11 Salad Days (Angela Matelli) by Wendi Lee
Fa: The Good Daughter 1994
4* Humor and justice from-to real situations. Narrator, ex-Marine Italian with big Boston family goes undercover as waitress when sister Rosa fired after money missing from Cowan's Salad Days restaurant till.
12 The Last Peep (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich
Fa: One for the Money 1994
4* Silly, naked, dangerous, as always. Bondsman narrator and busty sidekick Lulu find naked flasher-peeper Sammy the Squirrel Franco shot, but the corpse vanishes.
13 Orphan's Court (Tess Monaghan) by Laura Lippman (written especially)
Fa: Baltimore Blues 1997
4* Catchy twist to language and justice. "enamored" of mushrooms until they are on her plate, "shellacked" client Kathi "with an i" Sawyer insurer wants dying home-buyer Martha Pettigrew guilty of arson.
14 An Affair of Inconvenience (Lady Vespasia) by Anne Perry
Fa: Mary Higgins Clark Magazine 1998
4* Entertaining for atmosphere, if illogical. On a country weekend, Lady V sends Lady Oremia Blythe back to bed after smashing lamp onto Sir Ferdinand, for the memories and sake of her husband.
dnf
April 18, 2022Two of the stories from this collection were required reading for one of my courses, and you can see their (very short) reviews below. I have no interest in pursuing the other stories in this collection though, thus the dnf.
"And Pray Nobody Sees You" by Anthony Haywood - 4 stars
I quite enjoyed this short story (especially compared to the others I've had to read in this class)! The detective was not irritating and the way the story progressed was smooth and not confusing. I'd recommend it!
"Chee's Witch" by Tony Hillerman - 1 star
Is it just me or did, like, nothing happen in this one?
"And Pray Nobody Sees You" by Anthony Haywood - 4 stars
I quite enjoyed this short story (especially compared to the others I've had to read in this class)! The detective was not irritating and the way the story progressed was smooth and not confusing. I'd recommend it!
"Chee's Witch" by Tony Hillerman - 1 star
Is it just me or did, like, nothing happen in this one?
February 3, 2022
Mix of short stories by some famous names. Some were excellent and the others not excellent, but not bad. My favorites were Janet Evanovich and Dana Stabenow. Stephanie Plum's story had me cracking up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2014
great group of short stories with some of my favorite PI's
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews