Fritz Thieringer
& Maggie McGuane
Created by Brad Solomon

Those who like Dennis Lehane's Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro books (and those who don't) should try and find a copy of Brad Solomon's The Open Shadow (1978), about the L.A.-based male-female private detective team of FRITZ THIERINGER and MAGGIE McGUANE. They have the same sort of spiky relationship as Lehane's couple, and Thieringer's first-person narration is similar to the Lehane protag's, too. But the plot relies more on tricks and twists than on shock. Very tough, but you can still eat dinner after reading it.

As far as I can tell, Solomon wrote this novel, an earlier one, The Gone Man, about an actor turned P.I., that's pretty good too, and a third, Jake and Katie that isn't so hot. Anybody know anything more about this guy? Seems weird that he'd write just three books and fade. Maybe a pseudonym?

UNDER OATH

• "Easily the best private eye novel in years" (The Washington Star)

NOVELS

• The Open Shadow (1978)

Contributed by Dick Lochte.