Cass Blue
Created by John Lawrence

CASS BLUE's a New York private dick who appeared in several short stories in Dime Detective back in the thirties. With his hard-ass attitude, a conveniently flexible set of morals and a blackjack on his hip, he's ready for just about anything. His pals include speakeasy owner Al Lascoine, who serves up booze and alibis.

The stories are all rendered in pulpster Lawrence's trademark first person, over-boiled prose style, full of gunfights and plot holes. Lawrence may not have been much of a writer, but he sure knew how to slap together the usual suspects to make a slam-bang action story.

Lawrence is probably best known for his tales of The Broadway Squad, the most ruthless, vicious gang of thugs to ever pin on badges in the pulps. He also found the time to create two other private eyes, Sam Beckett and Joey Sapphire. He was also responsible for a series about Martin Marquis, AKA the "Marquis of Broadway," a tough cop who appeared in the pages of Dime Detective.

SHORT STORIES

• "The Bloodstone" (November 1932, Dime Detective)
• "The Corpse Control" (June 1, 1934, Dime Detective)
• "Calling All Cars!" (August 1, 1934, Dime Detective)
• "Guilty Party" (August 15, 1935, Dime Detective)
• "Fade-Out" (September 15, 1934, Dime Detective)
• "The Barking Body" (February 15, 1935, Dime Detective)
• "A Burial Is Arranged" (March 1, 1935, Dime Detective)
• "Dangerous Dollars" ( June 1, 1935, Dime Detective)

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.