ACE Double Mystery Series

THE ACE G-mystery series do not follow the tête-bêche format of the earlier D- and F-series. They are published as ACE GIANT DOUBLE edition, with a price of 50 cents. They are interesting as they are exclusively by women authors and represent first combined publication of their works, many of which are reprint editions. The copyright dates are often included, but not the publication dates - this results in them being considered first printed editions in the ACE format.

The other interesting thing is the publication itself. The colour scheme for the spine of these mysteries changed from a red/white to a yellow/white banding around G-512. I am uncertain as to the reason for this change, while the other ACE Double series had a consistent colour format for each letter-number series.

Lastly, a number of these have interior illustration, generally a frontis page or on the first page of text, by Jack Gaughan (and I am finding a number of these for the ACE Westerns as well).

G-501 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Incident at a Corner (1962; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-501b The Unsuspected (1962; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

G-503 URSULA CURTISS The Face of the Tiger (cover by Johnson; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-503b The Stairway (1963)

G-506 DORIS MILES DISNEY Black Mail (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-506b Did She Fall or Was She Pushed? (cover by Lou Marchetti; 1963; listed as "Abridged")

Original cover art for Did She Fall or Was She Pushed? Artist is Lou Marchetti (1920 - 1992). Gouache on board (image size 22" x 15"). Artist signature on right vertical margin.

G-508 RUTH FENISONG The Schemers (original title: The Case of the Gloating Landlord; c.1957; 1960; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")and G-508b But Not Forgotten (c.1960; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Original cover art for But Not Forgotten. Acrylic on board. 19.25" x 13.5." Close up of figures. Publisher notes and ACE letter-number on verso. No signature.

G-509 ELISABETH SANXAY HOLDING The Virgin Huntress (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-509b The Innocent Mrs. Duff (c.1951; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

G-511 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The Chocolate Cobweb (cover by Lou Marchetti; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-511b Who's Been Sitting In My Chair? (1963; listed as "First Book Publication")

G-512 ELISABETH S. HOLDING The Blank Wall (c.1940; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-512b The Girl Who Had To Die (c.1947; 1963)

G-513 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Then Came Two Women (1963; listed as "First Book Publication") and G-513b Catch-As-Catch-Can (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

G-518 HELEN REILLY Follow Me (c.1960; 1963) and G-518b The Opening Door (1963)

Two stories involving Inspector Christopher McKee.

G-519 ELISABETH SANXAY HOLDLING The Old Battle Axe (c.1943; 1963) and G-519b The Obstinate Murderer (c.1938; 1963)

G-521 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Mischief (c.1951; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged;" 2nd ACE edition) and G-521b The Better to Eat You (c.1954; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (1905-1969; aka Charlotte Armstrong Lewis) was an advertising writer, fashion reporter and whose quick rise to popularity was due in part to her bestseller Mischief (1950 by Coward-McCann and 1951 PBO Pocket Books) becoming the basis for the movie Don't Bother to Knock, which debuted a young Marilyn Monroe as a mentally unbalanced baby-sitter.

G-523 URSULA CURTISS The Forbidden Garden (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-523b Hours to Kill (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

G-524 ELISABETH SANXAY HOLDING Who's Afraid? (cover by Al Brule; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-524b Widow's Mite (1963)

G-525 DANA LYON (aka MABEL DANA LYON) The Tentacles (cover by Lou Marchetti; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-525b Spin the Web Tight (1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

G-526 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The Mark of the Hand (1963; listed as "First Book Publication") and The Dream Walker (original title: Alibi For Murder; c.1955; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Original cover art for The Dream Walker. Gouache on board. 26" x 18."

G-528 HELEN REILLY Certain Sleep (cover by Bob Schinella; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-528b Ding Dong Bell (cover by Bob Schinella; c.1961; 1963)

Two stories involving Inspector Christopher McKee.

Original cover art by Bob Schinella for Ding Dong Bell. Mixed media on board. 25" x 18." Signed lower left.

G-529 DOROTHY MILES DISNEY Unappointed Rounds (1963) and G-529b Mrs. Meeker's Money (cover by Lou Marchetti; c.1961; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Original cover art by Lou Marchetti (1920-1992) for Mrs. Meeker's Money. Oil on board. 20" x 15." Not signed. Verso gives title, ACE letter-number series and artist name. Printers note in lower left hand corner.

G-530 ELISABETH SANXAY HOLDING The Unfinished Crime (1963) and G-530b Net of Cobwebs (1963)

G-531 HELEN REILLY Not Me, Inspector (c.1959; 1963) and The Canvas Dagger (c.1956; 1963)

Two stories involving Inspector Christopher McKee.

G-533 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The Black-Eyed Stranger (cover by Lou Marchetti; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-533b The One-Faced Girl (1963; listed as "\Complete & Unabridged")

G-534 ELISABETH SANXAY HOLDING Kill Joy (1963) and G-534 Speak of the Devil (cover by Rudy Nappi; c.1963; 1963)

Original cover art by Rudy Nappi for Speak of the Devil by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. Closeup of characters. Gouache on board. Overall size is 26.5" x 16.8." The painting is signed in lower right. Verso has title and ACE letter-number series.

G-535 DANA LYON (aka MABEL DANA LYON) The Lost One (cover by Bob Schinella; interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-535b The Frightened Child (cover by Rudy Nappi; frontis illustration by Jack Gaughan; c.1948; 1963; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")

Original cover art by Bob Schinella for The Lost One by Dana Lyon. Gouache on board. Overall size is 26.5" x 19" with an image size of 25" x 15.5". Note that the board is oddly cut - the measurements noted above take this into account. The painting is signed twice by Bob Schinella, in the middle right and again lower right. Also note how much of the original painting was lost in the published book cover.

G-539 HILDA LAWRENCE Duet in Death: Composition for Four Hands (cover by Bob Schinella and interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; c.1947; 1963) and G-539b Duet in Death: The House (cover by Bob Schinella; interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; c.1947; 1963)

Original cover art by Bob Schinella for Composition in Four Hands. Gouache on board. 20" x 15." No signature.

G-543 MILDRED DAVIS The Dark Place (c.1955; 1964; listed as "Complete & Unabridged") and G-543b They Buried A Man (c.1955; 1964; listed as "Complete & Unabridged")