Posts Tagged ‘True Detective’

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Quarry Turns Fifty!

Tuesday, November 10th, 2026

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Heath Holland has interviewed me about the new Quarry novel, Quarry’s Reunion, the publication date of which is TODAY, Nov. 10 2026. It’s in depth, almost a full hour, and it’s a YouTube Premiere. It airs 10 a.m. Central today, Nov. 10, [One hour after this post! –Nate] and is accompanied by a live chat with both Heath and myself, just for the duration of the premiere. After the premiere broadcast the interview will of course still be available.

https://youtu.be/DvxOCZWBvhc

Actually, Quarry’s a little older than fifty, as I created him in 1972 at the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, where my class was pretty much underwhelmed by the first two chapters of Quarry (aka The Broker). My instructor, William Price Fox, wasn’t bowled over either. But when I sold two books not long after (Bait Money and No Cure for Death), I was suddenly taken a little more seriously, particularly since nobody else sold anything while I was in the Workshop.

I had to set that first Quarry novel aside when those two books sold, because the publisher requested sequels from both of them. When I came back to Quarry, I did so feeling I had something special – a concept of my own, as opposed to Nolan in Bait Money coming from Richard Stark/Donald E. Westlake, and Mallory in No Cure for Death representing Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane.

There was (and is) plenty of Stark and Chandler and Spillane in the Quarry novels, but the mix is mine and so is the evolving concept of a hitman hero. Not anti-hero: he has always been a good guy, in his bad way, to me.

But the four Quarry novels I wrote for Berkley Books published in 1976 and 1977 did not lead to the publisher requesting more entries in the series. I thought I had a tiger by the tail but it appeared to be just a mouse that briefly roared.

I went on about my business, including Nate Heller and his long successful run.

A funny thing happened on the way to Quarry’s apparent early demise: readers at mystery conventions would approach me liking the series – smart ones, like Bill Crider and Steve Mertz – and others would write me actual letters, in those pre-e-mail days, loving the novels.

When True Detective became a big deal, I had the opportunity to do various things of my choice. For example, I did a new Nolan and Jon novel for TOR (Spree, now from Hard Case Crime as Mad Money). And I did a new Quarry novel for a terrific boutique house, Foul Play Press.

It’s time to acknowledge the unsung hero of Quarry’s success. Louis Wilder, the editor at Foul Play Press, wanted to reprint all of the four existing Quarry novels in classy new editions, featuring my preferred titles. Berkley had retitled all of them, without telling me – I never knew what any of the first four Quarrys would be titled till I held each book in my hand.

Louis knew that I was unhappy in particular that my book Quarry had been published by Berkley as The Broker, and that the second novel, Quarry’s List, had been called by Berkley The Broker’s Wife – literally giving away a major plot point! Louis wanted to do all four and commissioned a new one, the first – and to date only – Quarry hardcover, Primary Target.

Ironically, when Charles Ardai reprinted the first five Quarry novels at Hard Case Crime, we decided to retitle that one Quarry’s Vote to make the titling pattern consistent.

Meanwhile, back in the ‘80s, Louis Wilder passed away. He was a fine editor and a good friend to me and Quarry; but we lost him. No other editor or publisher showed any interest in picking up this cult-ish series. Remember, as Don Westlake said, a cult writer is seven readers short of making a living.

But throughout the ‘90s, interest in Quarry bubbled. Fan mail continued. I would write occasional Quarry short stories, one of which, “A Matter of Principal,” was reprinted several times. That story also attracted the attention of a young filmmaker, Jeffrey Goodman, who pursued me for the rights to make a film from the story. I finally consented on the condition that I write the screenplay. It became an award-winning film festival favorite, and was shown at a Bouchercon to a great reaction.

This led to the Quarry feature film directed by Jeffrey and co-written by me, The Last Lullaby, which also became a film festival favorite. In addition, it generated a novelization of sorts, The Last Quarry, written from my initial draft of the screenplay before the film was shot.

While the short film was attracting attention and with the possibility of a feature brewing, Charles Ardai – a hero I’ve sung much about – responded to my offer to do an original novel for Hard Case Crime instead of just provide a reprint. I said I’d do a new book for reprint money if he could get me a Robert McGinnis cover.

He did.

The Last Quarry, as some of you know, was designed to put a button on this on-and-again-off-again series. But it would generate eleven more novels, including today’s Quarry’s Reunion.

The interview Heath did with me for the YouTube Premiere goes into how my late friend Jon McCrea had been a major influence on Quarry. He represented a smart, funny, normal-ish guy who went to Vietnam a Marine, did several tours, and came back damaged after having killed a lot of Viet Cong. Audie Murphy, the underrated actor who was also the most decorated soldier of World War II, was another influence. So were several other friends of mine who went to Vietnam, one of whom was a sweet, simple soul who returned hardbitten and unrecognizably the person I’d known (he was in my first rock band in high school).

It should be said that Quarry, despite all those influences, is me. I didn’t serve, unless you count my draft physical, but I was collateral damage. I drew a number that guaranteed I would serve and faced that fear with my lovely young wife (only my severe migraine headaches spared me). I saw body bags being loaded on transports as I ate my TV dinners getting numb to the violence. I lived with survivor’s guilt which beat dying heroic. I saw America change and not always in good ways. That war did no one any favors in this great country of ours. And on some level, the Quarry stories are always about that.

That a good guy from a small Midwestern town in Ohio could become a person who learned to kill as a perfectly reasonable option.

He goes home again in Quarry’s Reunion.

This long, uneven ride has somehow led to Quarry apparently being the longest-running series in mystery fiction – not by number of books and stories, but simply by lasting so many years.

I know how he feels.

* * *

Here’s a vintage appearance I made in 2002 in relation to the Quarry short film, “A Matter of Principal.” It’s a brief excerpt but may be of interest.

M.A.C.

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The Borne Girls Are Back! And So Is Quarry…

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

Antiques Web, the latest adventure of Brandy Borne and her diva mother Vivian, will be published next week – on September 22 (an earlier date than we’d been told).


Pre-order the hardcover here:

Two of my series have distinctions relating to the length of their runs. Quarry, who will return in Quarry’s Reunion (available November 10), is (I’m told) the longest-running mystery series around, having begun in 1976 with Quarry (aka The Broker). It has suffered some stops and starts but has continued on throughout the decades for 17 novels and a short story collection. There’s also been a Quarry short film, a feature film and one-season TV series from HBO/Cinemax.

Other series of mine have had long runs, notably Nathan Heller, starting with True Detective in 1983. Nate’s delivered 19 novels, one short story collection and one novella collection.

But the real winner for durability is the Antiques series (aka the Trash ‘n’ Treasures mysteries) from Barbara Allan, the joint byline of my wife Barb and me. There are twenty novels, starting with Antiques Roadkill in 2006, and a three-novella collection (Antiques Ho-Ho-Homicides, in 2018, including Antiques Fruitcake, the basis of our micro-budget indie, Death by Fruitcake). Antiques also represents the most novels in the shortest span of time, basically one a year.

Nonetheless, because of its cozy nature – even though critics tend to call us a subversive cozy – some readers of my tough stuff have never tried Barbara Allan and the Antiques series. To be fair, some have and found it not to their taste, and that’s okay. I write to keep myself interested and that has seen me jumping around more than some writers of mystery fiction. Barb finds the Antiques novels are a handy way for her to explore numerous themes, motivated as she is by what’s currently of interest to her in what we laughingly refer to as real life.

It’s always puzzled me a bit when a reader loves Quarry but doesn’t go for Nate Heller. Some mystery fiction readers seem to be put off by the historical nature of the books, particularly those who haven’t tried one. Quarry novels are a quick read and the Hellers offer some heft, though they are first and foremost traditional hardboiled private eye stories and only secondarily historical. But doing all these historical cases has kept the books from blurring together, as is often the case with long-running series.

The Antiques series has a quirky, sometimes wacky sense of humor that isn’t for everybody. No apologies for that, because the traditional mystery field is cluttered as hell and being distinctive – even if it turns a few readers away – seems a positive to us. From the beginning Antiques has been a tongue-in-cheek affair.

If you haven’t tried one of the Antiques entries, here’s a brief introduction to Antiques Web.

When Serenity’s most eccentric sleuthing duo is involved, even a quiet Iowa river town can become a hotbed of murder, mayhem, and mid-century collectibles.

Brandy Borne is hoping for a calm life – new marriage, new routines, and only the usual chaos courtesy of her mercurial, melodramatic mother, Vivian.

But when an antiques auction turns disastrous and Vivian’s close friend Evelyn dies in what looks like a freak fall, the Bornes sniff out something far more sinister.

Then another woman turns up dead – crushed beneath a massive Frank Lloyd Wright statue – and the pattern becomes impossible to ignore. Someone in Serenity is weaving an elaborate con, preying on the vulnerable with a too-good-to- be-true investment scheme…and eliminating anyone who gets in the way.

With a suspicious niece, a furious financial advisor, a cryptic message from a dying mob boss, and a fierce dog who can be bribed, Vivian and Brandy find themselves tangled in a web of secrets, scams, and deadly deceit.

To save their friends – and themselves – they’ll have to outsmart a killer, out bid a con artist, and maybe (just maybe) keep Vivian from getting arrested. Again.

* * *

This blog/update space is a politics-free zone.

It always has been, though I’ve slipped a few times. I don’t feel my readers should be subjected to my politics. For one thing, it’s bad business – it can unintentionally chase customers away. For another, it’s way too off point to be tolerated. This is just not the appropriate platform.

But away from here, on Facebook, I have started sharing occasional posts that make my political slant easily perceived. I am doing this because, with the November midterm election looming, I feel it’s my responsibility as an American citizen to express these views.

Nonetheless, I have no intention of alienating or insulting readers who (obviously) have every right to their own opinions. The hardcore followers of the President are not my intended target. It’s the independents and more traditional Republicans (I know them when I see them because I used to be one) who I would hope to reach. To provoke thought and even debate.

Years ago, when I first got on Facebook, I would comment about disagreements I had with friends who had posted political opinions. I damaged several such friendships – including several quite painful losses (miss you, Joe) – and I stopped posting any comments on their sites.

I don’t think it’s ever been hard to detect that I am left of center; but generally I’m not very far left of center, which frequently puts me in the middle of the road where I can be swiped by cars coming from either direction. (One of them driven by my son.)

I do this only because of this coming election, the importance of which is something I think we can all agree about. Interestingly, my sharing of these videos has been greeted mostly were smiley faces, but a few scowls are scattered in as well. What’s confusing is whether the scowling faces mean they agree or disagree.

Of course, if AI kills us all, I suppose the point is moot.

M.A.C.

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Return of the Maltese Falcon, Nate Heller & Nolan Get Some YouTube Love

Tuesday, August 4th, 2026

This week is a YouTube fest, and we begin with a fan of The Maltese Falcon taking a smart look at Return of the Maltese Falcon.

There’s something on You Tube called Private Eye July, and Mystery and Mayhem host Jim (don’t know his last name) took a look at both True Detective (and the Nathan Heller series) and Return of the Maltese Falcon.

First, on what appears to be a regular show, Jim offers Mystery and Mayhem recommendations.

Second, he offers a wrap-up of this year’s Private Eye July, including a look at Return of the Maltese Falcon.

Finally the Book Graveyard has a review of my first published book, Bait Money.

Though the Graveyard host is knowledgeable, and apparently a big fan of my work, he is unaware that the 1981 edition from Pinnacle of Bait Money is a somewhat revised reprint of the Curtis Books original that had appeared in 1973. A Nolan book preceded it, Mourn the Living, but it didn’t see publication till much later (this early work is included with Spree in the Hard Case Crime title, Mad Money).

The Book Graveyard host is obviously an enthusiast of paperback originals in the men’s adventure and Executioner-type crime vein, and I admit to being delighted for my early ‘70s self when he talks about my writing being on a whole other level than what he regularly reads.

M.A.C.

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True Noir on CD, Love for Fruitcake & A Falcon Nice Review

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026

This week marks the release of the Blackstone/Skyboat four CD-set of True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak (a one-disc MP3-format edition is also available). I’ve talked here often about the amazingly stellar cast (headed up by Michael Rosenbaum) and the direction by my buddy Robert Meyer Burnett. Rob and I both think True Noir is among the best things either of us has done.

You can order it here: https://downpour.com/products/book-101t

[Or here on Amazon. –Nate]

Incidentally, this link accesses 81 titles of mine, in all formats, including Return of the Maltese Falcon.

I get a few inquiries about why True Detective has been adapted under the name True Noir. The obvious (and correct) answer is that HBO used the title on its acclaimed series of a while back. But I like getting the word “noir” in there (and it was my suggestion).

For those of you unfamiliar with this project, here’s what True Noir is: a full-cast, fully scored (by Alexander Bornstein), complete with meticulous sound effects, scripted-by-me adaptation of the first Nathan Heller novel, True Detective. That book won the 1984 Best Novel “Shamus” award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and led to a long-running series (that I may return to one of these days). It really is a movie for the ears, running four and a half hours and providing several evenings of entertainment, or good company on a long road trip.

We hope to do more, but that’s up to you.

A big True Noir event at the Putnam in Davenport, Iowa, is coming up next month. Much more about that later.

* * *

Alisabeth Von Presley and Paula Sands in Death by Fruitcake

My old Ms. Tree cohort Terry Beatty stepped up to inform his Facebook friends about my little movie, Death By Fruitcake, which has just recently been offered here: Xumo (free); Roku Channel (free); Amazon Prime Video (free); YouTube ($2.99); Google Play Movies & TV ($2.99); and Apple TV ($4.99).

Here’s what Terry had to say:

My pal Max Allan Collins’ latest “no budget” movie is now available to stream on Amazon Prime — based on the cozy “Antiques” series of novels written by Max and his wife Barb, under the pen name of Barbara Allan. Well, this one’s based on a novella from an anthology of Christmas themed mysteries — but it features the mother/daughter amateur sleuths from the books. I’ve been providing illustrated maps of the fictional town of Serenity, where the books take place, for the whole run of the series, and just turned in a newly revised map for the next book this morning.

If you’ve been reading the books, you’ll know what to expect here. If “Brandy and Vivian” are new to you, you’ll have fun being introduced to them. As I noted — this is a super low budget movie, so don’t go in expecting Hollywood production values. You also shouldn’t expect a “tough guy” mystery here — this is drawing room/cozy stuff — but with the Collins touch all over it.

You’ll likely have to use Prime’s search function to find it, as they’re busy highlighting bigger budget fare. Enjoy — and don’t eat the fruitcake.

This nice post from Terry elicited this post from Steven Thompson:

HT (hat tip) to Terry Beatty for this morning’s entertainment, a delightful little cozy mystery on Prime written and directed by the estimable Max Allan Collins. The two leads playing mother/daughter small town sleuths are extremely charismatic and both quite well-known in other fields. The non-violent murder mystery is more fun than mysterious, with numerous winks and 4th wall breaks. The dialogue sounds stagey but hey, I talk that way sometimes myself. People tell me I sound odd. Having been an amateur actor myself, too, I certainly recognize that in the film’s entire cast but by no means is that saying they’re bad in any way. As a director, Max makes the most of his low budget quite well indeed, and he even gives a cameo to Dick Tracy, the strip he wrote for years!

Having looked into them now, I see where Paula Sands retired a couple years back from a 40 year career as an Iowa newswoman and talk show host. She is great fun as the theatre director attempting to solve the murder of her much disliked leading lady. Tall and sharply eyelashed Alisabeth Von Presley is really a singer and has appeared on shows like American Idol but she can deliver lines well and she has a wonderful grin and wink. Her relationship with Paula as her mother carries the show.

Highly recommended as long as you don’t expect Oscar-quality anything! A great way to start my morning.

And mine! Though Fruitcake is probably best watched some quiet evening over several glasses of wine with someone you love.

I’m grateful to all of you who have given Fruitcake a try, and especially if you’ve posted at Facebook or elsewhere, including Amazon reviews, where right now we only have two reviews but they are overwhelmingly positive.

* * *

In case you haven’t got round to picking up the current Return of the Maltese Falcon, this review from Matthew Legare should encourage you.

First serialized in 1929, The Maltese Falcon is one of the mystery genre’s most enduring titles. It’s been adapted, parodied, and inspired countless writers. But now, it gets a sequel in the form of Max Allan Collins’s Return of the Maltese Falcon.

Not an official sequel, mind you, but since Dashiell Hammett’s original novel entered public domain this year, any writer can use it however they wish. It’s a bit dicey, since only the original novel is public domain, not the famous 1941 film with Humphrey Bogart, probably the single most influential piece of media for film noir and the hardboiled PI genre. Whenever a stock or cliché gumshoe detective shows up, they’re imitating Bogie as Sam Spade, not the original novel.

(MAC: Hard disagree. The novel itself was already the seminal influence on the private eye novel when the Huston/Bogart film appeared.)

As such, the sequel’s Sam Spade is described as he is in the original novel, i.e. a “blond Satan” and distinctly opposite to Bogart. What’s more, it’s written in Hammett’s distinctive, staccato prose, and all in third-person. That’s a detail I appreciate as too many mystery novels are first person à la Spillane and Chandler, but I’m biased as I always prefer third-person.

The 1941 film (as well as the less famous 1931 adaptation) actually follow the novel pretty closely, so Collins’s sequel actually works pretty well if you’ve only seen the movie and never read the book. Even the cover (a glorious piece of art by the legendary Hard Case Crime imprint) is more evocative of the original novel, with Sam Spade younger and more hawkish than his film versions, the femme fatale a sultry flapper, and the black bird itself more spindly than its bulky movie counterpart.

It starts off shortly after the events of the novel, set in late 1929 (Hammett never specified a date but 1929 is a perfect year in my opinion), Sam receives another mysterious femme fatale in the form of Rhea Gutman, daughter of the villainous Caspar Gutman aka the Fat Man and mastermind of the original novel.

(MAC: a gentle correction. The novel takes place in December 1928 as the text says.)

She’s convinced the Maltese Falcon is not only real but still in San Francisco. If you will remember, the Falcon was procured by a shadowy Russian officer, General Kemidov, who duped Gutman and his two criminal associates, Joel Cairo and Brigid O’Shaughnessy, with a lead phony.

Spade isn’t so sure, but he believes Rhea’s money and visits Cairo and Brigid in jail, asking where Kemidov’s whereabouts may be. Cairo, who was probably the best character in the original novel after Spade himself (famously played by the legendary Peter Lorre) is used sparingly here, which is unfortunate, but there really was no way to get him out of jail after being arrested in the original novel I suppose.

Regardless, Spade does what he does best, snooping for clues and getting into trouble. Sketchy characters emerge out of the San Francisco fog, like our old pal Wilmer Cook, Caspar’s boy gunsel, who has a few violent run-ins with Spade.

Added to the mix are a few other characters like Dixie Monahan, briefly mentioned in the original novel as a dangerous Chicago gangster, who is now also looking for the Falcon. Stewart Blackwood, a refined Englishman from a museum who has, apparently, already paid for the Falcon. Also there’s Brigid O’Shaughnessy’s sister, trying to find the black bird to help pay for legal fees. Kemidov himself features prominently in this novel with his invisible presence felt everywhere, something I appreciate since he was just a name and plot device in the original novel.

Spade juggles multiple clients and leads, along with a mysterious dead body he’s asked to identify, until he finally gets on the Falcon’s scent. Not a decoy, not a misdirect, but the actual Maltese Falcon. This time there’s no going back, but the dangers get even more perilous for Spade – Wilmer Cook keeps popping up but even more troubling, the Police check up on Rhea’s backstory and it turns out, Caspar Gutman never had a daughter.

Everything is wrapped up in the classic “exposition room” scene with all the suspects together and facts laid out. Cliché, but it works.

The Maltese Falcon is one of my favorite novels and Hammett’s prose has influenced me in ways I am forever grateful. It’s a masterpiece and a great piece of American literature, albeit pulp fiction. There are definite problems, some important characters mentioned (like Kemidov) never show up and some of the plot seems rushed together, and the fate of several characters are explained to us off screen. However, all the elements flow together into a beautiful canvas by the end. If you’ve never read it, you don’t know what you’re missing.

(MAC: These are excellent observations. Hammett famously claimed not to have plotted the book in advance, rather writing it by the seat of his pants, as we pulp writers put it, which explains some of what Matthew has to say here.)

Max Allan Collins is what I call a “working man’s writer.” This guy has been writing for decades, across multiple platforms – novels, novelizations, comic books, comic strips (he used to write the official Dick Tracy strip) – and shows no signs of slowing down. He has over two hundred novels to his name with multiple series like the historical detective Nathan Heller, the hitman Quarry, and has collaborated with the legendary Mickey Spillane to finish off the Mike Hammer books. You can tell this man loves the crime genre with a passion and if there’s one living writer worth, and dedicated enough, to write its sequel, it’s Collins.

Return of the Maltese Falcon is a worthy addition to American pulp fiction and worth your time.

It’s incredibly gratifying to receive a smart review like this. I try not to be influenced by either good or bad reviews. I regard the good ones as positive publicity and the bad ones as negative publicity; but don’t allow myself to be influenced by either…though, like most people in the arts, I remember the bad reviews vividly while the good ones are a blur.

* * *

My son Nate and grandson Sam have been watching Cowboy Bebop on Blu-ray. It’s a favorite of Nate and mine, and it was a joy revisiting this incredible s-f/crime anime after so long a time. I would rank it with the original Star Trek and Lexx (a show criminally off my recent “favorites” list) as among my very favorite science fiction series (call it Number 6, although I should probably put The Prisoner there and give Lexx the Prisoner’s slot on the five favorites).

One of the things that characterizes the series is its outstanding music by composer Yoko Kanno and her band the Seatbelts. They just a few weeks ago performed in the United States. Here they are performing the opening theme of Cowboy Bebop (a theme rivaled only by Peter Gunn and James Bond). Enjoy!

M.A.C.

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