ACE Mystery Series - ACE Singles

Although there is a reference for the ACE Doubles Mystery genre, there is not much information about the ACE Mystery Singles. Many of these are reprints (or concurrent printings with the ACE Mystery Doubles) and often use the same cover art as the ACE Doubles. In the reference Hardboiled America, The Lurid Years of Paperbacks by Geoffrey O'Brien there are a few examples of the ACE Mystery Singles.

This is an area that I have little coverage. Please snoop through your collections and send me what you find. I have consolidated all of the mystery singles from the ACE POTPOURRI section (except for those I still am not certain about - for example, the E. R. Burroughs "Mucker" and other series). Lastly, I have recognized that there is a large subgenre of the ACE Gothic novel that is considered either "mystery" or "suspense" - generally with a heavy gothic romance overtone. I have placed these stories in the appropriate letter-number series of the POTPOURRI section unless I have read them and feel that they also have a strong mystery component.

Have fun!

ACE SINGLES

S-SERIES

S-058  JOACHIM JOESTEN Vice, Inc. (1954; listed as "ACE original")

S-067 ROBERT BLOCH The Will To Kill (cover by Rafael de Soto; c. 1954; listed as "ACE original")

S-083 ARNOLD DRAKE The Steel Noose (1954; listed as "complete novel")

S-097 NORMAN HERRIES (aka NORMAN HERSHMAN) Death Has 2 Faces (1955; listed as "complete and unabridged")

S-102 GEORGE ALBERT GLAY Oath of Seven (1955; hstorical fiction - mystery)

S-107 PETER TWIST (aka C. P. HEWITT) The Gilded Hideaway (1955)

S-108 C. S. CODY (aka LESLIE WALLER) Lie Like A Lady (1955; listed as "complete and unabridged")

S-119 LAWRENCE EASTON The Driven Flesh (1955; listed as "complete and unabridged")

S-122 LEDRU BAKER Jr. The Preying Streets (1955; listed as "complete and unabridged")

S-137 RALPH JACKSON Violent Night (1955; listed as "complete and unabridged")

S-142 GLENN M. BARNS Masquerade In Blue (1956; listed as "complete novel")

S-151 ROBERT NOVAK Climb A Broken Ladder (1956)

S-159 JOHN FARR (aka JACK WEBB) She Shark (1956; listed as "complete novel")

This is not the JACK WEBB who was the popular character of Joe Friday in the television series Dragnet. John Alfred (Jack) Webb is a mystery writer whose books often featured the detective team of Sammy Golden and Father Shanley.

S-198 WILLIAM BENDER Jr. Tokyo Intrigue (1957)

D- SERIES

D-181 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE and JOHN DICKSON CARR The "New" Exploits of Sherlock Holmes (1956; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-202 LEONARD KAUFMAN The Color of Green (1957; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-232 WILLARD MANIES The Fixers (1957; 1st ACE printing)

A college basketball crime mystery

D-312 HARLAN ELLISON The Deadly Streets (1958; listed as "complete and unabridged")

The wunderkin of science fiction and fantasy - amazing what he wrote!

D-319 HANS-OTTO MEISSNER The Man With Three Faces (1958; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-336 SAMUEL A. KRASNEY Morals Squad (listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-363 SAMUEL A. KRASNEY The Rapist (1959; 1st ACE printing; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-370 ERNEST JASON FREDERICKS (aka PAUL ERNST) Cry Flood (1959; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-383 BUD CLIFTON (aka DAVID STACTON) The Murder Specialist (1959; listed as "first book publication")

D-429 CHARLES RUNYON The Anatomy Of Violence (1960; listed as "first book publication")

D-446 EDWARD MOORE Flight 685 Is Overdue (1960; listed as "first book publication")

D-458 MARK DERBY (aka HARRY WILCOX) Womanhunt (1960; 1st ACE printing; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-472 HARRY WHITTINGTON A Night for Screaming (listed as "first book publication")

D-481 JOSEPH F. DINNEEN The Biggest Holdup (original title: The Alternate Case; 1960; listed as "complete and unabridged")

The Brinks Bank robbery

D-486 EDWARD De ROO The Little Caesars ( listed as "first book publication"; "juvenile delinquents")

D-493 ELLERY QUEEN (ed.; joint pseudonym of FREDERIC DANNAY and MANFRED B. LEE) The Queen's Awards, Fifth Series (cover by Robert Maguire; 1961; 1st thus)

D-495 SAMUEL A. KRASNEY A Mania For Blondes (cover by Rader; 1961; listed as "first book publication")

D-503 FAN NICHOLS (aka FRANCES NICHOLS HANNA) The Girl In The Death Seat (original title: Be Silent, Love; 1961; listed as "complete and unabridged")

D-518 WADE MILLER (aka BILL MILLER & ROBERT WADE) Nightmare Cruise (1961; listed as "first book publication")

A recent article on the novels of Wade Miller (aka Bill Miller and Robert Wade) can be found in "The Novels of Wade Miller" by Fred Cropper (2005), Paperback Parade, volume 63, pp. 50-62. Includes an "Interview with Robert Wade" conducted by Fred Cropper. The only ACE appearance by this duo is Nightmare Cruise. Robert Wade has two novels under his own name and a number under his pseudonym of Whit Materson.

D-520 WILENE SHAW (aka VIRGINIA M. HARRISON) One Foot In Hell (1961; listed as "first book publication")

D-522 HAL ELLSON A Nest Of Fear (1961; 1st ACE printing)

F-SERIES

F-151 NEDRA TYRE Reformatory Girls (original title: Hall of Death; 1962; listed as "complete and unabridged")

F-175 EVELYN BERCKMAN Lament For Four Brides (1962)

F-198 SIMENON The Short Cases of Inspector Maigret

F-202 EVELYN BERCKMAN The Hovering Darkness (1963)

G-SERIES

G-510 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The Case Of The Weird Sisters (1965; listed as "complete and unabridged")

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

G-514 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Something Blue (1965; 1st ACE printing)

G-536 HELEN REILLY The Day She Died (1965; 1st ACE printing; originally published by Random House in 1962; listed as "complete and unabridged")

This is one of the Inspector Christopher McKee stories that is a companion to those found in the ACE Double G-series tales of Helen Reilly.

G-540 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) A Little Less Than Kind (1965; 1st ACE printing; listed as "complete and unabridged")

G-541 JEAN POTTS The Evil Wish (1965; Ace Gothic/Mystery Novel)

Original cover art for G-541. Gouache on board with an image size of 19" x 13.5". Close-up detail. There is some minor markings and discoloration to the extreme edges of the white background. Publisher notations as well as ACE number and title on verso. This is a cross-over novel so I have also placed it on the ACE POTPOURRI site.

G-542 MARTHA ALBRAND (aka HEIDI HUBERTA FREYBE LOEWENGARD) Meet Me Tonight (c. 1960; 1st thus; ACE Gothic mystery)

G-544 RUTH FENISONG The Wench Is Dead (1965)

G-545 DANA LYON The Trusting Victim (1965; 1st thus)

G-546 HELEN REILLY Compartment K (original title: Murder Rides the Express; 1965; listed as "complete and unabridged")

This is one of the Inspector Christopher McKee stories that is a companion to those found in the ACE Double G-series tales of Helen Reilly.

G-549 URSULA CURTISS The Iron Cobweb (1964; 1st ACE printing)

G-550 THEODORA du BOIS The Listener (c. 1962; 1965; listed as "complete and unabridged"; ACE Gothic/Mystery Novel)

G-552 THEODORA du BOIS Shannon Terror (1965; ACE Gothic/Mystery Novel)

Both of the Theodora du Bois titles are probably cross-over Gothic/Mystery novels, so I have also placed them on the ACE POTPOURRI site.

G-555 URSULA CURTISS The Wasp (1965; cover by Bob Schneilla)

G-557 URSULA CURTISS Out of the Dark (alternate title: Child's Play; 1965; 1st thus; listed as "complete and unabridged")

G-559 MARTHA ALBRAND (aka HEIDI HUBERTA FREYBE LOEWENGARD) After Midnight (1965; 1st thus)

G-561 URSULA CURTISS Widow's Web (1965; 1st thus)

G-562 HELEN McCLOY The Long Body (1965; 1st thus; listed as "complete and unabridged")

G-563 MARTHA ALBRAND (aka HEIDI HUBERTA FREYBE LOEWENGARD) A Day In Monte Carlo (1965; 1st thus)

G-565 URSULA CURTISS The Deadly Climate (1965; ACE Gothic/Mystery Novel)

Original cover art for the ACE Gothic / Mystery novel The Deadly Climate by Ursula Curtis. Detail of woman. Gouache on board with an image size of 18.5" x 12.5." This is a cross-over novel so I have also placed it on the ACE POTPOURRI site.

G-568 MELBA MARLETT Escape While I Can (1965)

G-594 CHARLES RUNYON The Bloody Jungle (1966)

Vietnam locale for a mystery - war fiction novel

G-604 JESS SHELTON Daktari (1966; first thus)

Another cross-over TV series paperback edition with16 pages of photos from the television series. This is a mystery and why I have included it in this section as well as the ACE POTPOURRI section. A very good reference (well-indexed and written) on TV Tie-In volumes such as Daktari is by Kurt Peers (1999, 2nd edition) TV Tie-Ins: A bibliography of American TV tie-in paperbacks. TV Books, NY, 364 pp.

G-608 JEAN POTTS The Only Good Secretary (1967)

G-662 ELISABETH KYLE (aka AGNES MARY ROBERTSON DUNLOP) The Second Mally Lee (1967)

G-676 NANCY BUCKINGHAM (aka JOHN SAWYER and NANCY BUCKINGHAM SAWYER) Storm in the Mountains (alternate title: Heart of Marble; 1967; listed as "first book publication"; cover by Bob Schinella; ACE Gothic Mystery Novel)

Although this is listed as a Gothic novel, it is also a mystery and I am cross-listing it here.

G-699 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Bride Wore Black (original title: Beware the Lady; c. 1940; 1968)

H-SERIES

H-053 LESLIE H. WHITTEN Progeny of the Adder (interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; c. 1965, 1968; first thus; listed as "complete and unabridged")

This is an odd story - a detective mystery with a bit of supernatural overtones - interesting and quite readable. I have placed it in the ACE POTPOURRI section also as I am uncertain as how to classify this volume. I have seen some situations where it was listed under Horror as well as Gothic.

H-057 CORNELL WOOLRICH Rendevous in Black (1967)

H-063 MIRIAM ALLEN deFORD The Real Bonnie & Clyde (1968)

H-066 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Black Path of Fear (1968)

H-080 JAN ROFFMAN (aka MARGARET SUMMERTON) With Murder in Mind (1968; 1st thus; ACE Mystery/Gothic Mystery)

H-104 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Black Curtain (ACE printing 1968)

K-SERIES

K-116 ELLIOT WEST Man Running (1967)

FIVE DIGIT NUMERICAL SERIES

01350 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: Alias The Saint (graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

02272 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) And to My Beloved Husband (original title: White Lie The Dead)

02273 LOUIS CHARBONNEAU And Hope To Die

02276 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) The Angel of Death (1961; 1st ACE printing)

03125 E. V. CUNNINGHAM The Assassin Who Gave Up His Gun (cover by Adams and interior illustration by Jack Gaughan; c. 1969; first thus)

05901-5 ANNE WORBOYS The Bhunda Jewels (1981; 1st thus)

06505 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Black Angel (1965 ACE printing)

06550 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Black Curtain (c. 1968; nd)

The Black Curtain was originally published as ACE H-104 (1968).

06640 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Black Path of Fear (c. 1968; nd)

The Black Path of Fear was originally published as ACE H-066 (1968).

07890-7 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) The Break in the Circle (original title: Outside the Law)

07920 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Bride Wore Black (original title: Beware the Lady; c. 1940; 1968; nd)

07921 CORNELL WOOLRICH The Bride Wore Black (original title: Beware the Lady; c. 1940; 1968; nd)

10255 MARGARET HIGGINS The Changeling (1973; 1st ACE printing)

10435 MICHAEL MOORCOCK The Chinese Agent (cover by JL; c. 1970; first thus)

MICHAEL MOORCOCK is more noted for his various science fiction and fantasy stories - this is the first mystery I have found by him. I have also found a note (but not authenticated yet) that suggests this story is a revision of "Somewhere in the Night" by Bill Barclay - anyone have a copy?

11550 FREDE Coming Out Party

12200 McSHANE Crimson Madness of Little Doom

13570 NEELY The Damned Innocents

13800 MILDRED DAVIS The Dark Place (c.1965; 1968; nd)

Originally published in ACE Double format as G-543 (1965) bound with They Buried A Man. Also published as ACE G-751 (1968).

13928 DORIS MILES DISNEY The Day Miss Bessie Lewis Disappeared (1976)

13995 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) Day of the Arrow

14110-2 RAYMOND OBSTFELD Dead Heat (1981; 1st thus; ACE Charter edition)

14150-1 JAMES HADLEY CHASE (aka RENE BARBAZON RAYMOND) Dead Ringer (orginal title: Safer Dead; nd; listed as "complete and unabridged")

14153 WILLIAM IRISH (aka CORNELL WOOLRICH) Deadline at Dawn

14153 (back cover)

14155 PETER DICKINSON The Old English Peep Show (original title: A Pride of Heroes; nd)

14165 JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE (aka JACK VANCE) The Deadly Isles (c. 1969; first thus)

14186 ROBERT L. FISH Death Cuts the Deck (original title: Rub-A-Dub-Dub)

14204-4 STUART KAMINSKY Death of a Dissident (1981; 1st ACE printing; ACE Charter edition)

This story was also released (s'posedly) under the title "Rostnikov's Corpse." Interesting that the author name on the front is missing his middle initial (M.) which is used on all the hardcover editions. If any AIL users know what publisher or edition this was retitled I would like to know (I have a complete hardcopy set of Kaminsky's Rostnikov Russian police procedurals and have not seen this title for this story). Thank you.

14225 CHARLES COLLINGWOOD The Defector (1963?)

15735 MARGARET HIGGINS A Doctor For The Dead (1976; 1st thus?)

16690-3 DAOMA WINSTON The Dream Killers (1976)

16831-6 WALTER OLEKSY Up From Nowhere (1982; 1st thus; ACE Charter editioin)

Up From Nowhere is the first story in a series called Tom Delos & The Guardians. It appears to be aimed at the "Young Adult" crowd and is a mixture of mystery, 'coming of age' and gang affiliation (hmmmm - reminds me of the 'juvenile delinquent' stories in the late 1950's to early 1960's). I am not certain it should be here but have to see what the other volumes are like in this series - more on this later.

22416-4 BARBARA D'AMATO The Eyes on Utopia Murders (1981; 1st ACE printing)

22680 HERSHATTER Fallout For a Spy

23870 CHRIS WAYNAR Fire on the Cliffs (1975; 1st ACE printing)

24975 JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE (aka JACK VANCE) The Fox Valley Murders (no date; c. 1968; 1st thus)

25313-X JOE WEITZ Friends in High Places (1983; 1st thus; ACE Charter editiion; War Fiction/Mystery)

28920 McSHANE The Girl Nobody Knows (nd)

MARK McSHANE also writes as MARC LOVELL.

31725 SHIRLEY JACKSON Hangsaman

32270 DORIS MILES DISNEY Heavy, Heavy Hangs

36300 RON GOULART If Dying Was All: A John Easy Mystey #1 (nd; c. 1971; cover by Elaine Duillo - signed as Elaine)

First of the 'John Easy' mysteries, a Hollywood private eye by RON GOULART

36500 MARK McSHANE Ill Met By A Fish Shop On George Street (cover by Meltzer; 1970; 1st ACE printing)

A tale of murder and blackmail in Australia - pretty interesting.

37375 ROBERT L. FISH Isle of the Snakes

37475 ROBERT L. FISH Isle of the Snakes (c. 1963; 1st thus)

37598 GIL BREWER The Devil In Davos: It Takes A Thief #1 (1969: 1st thus; photo cover)

37599 GIL BREWER Mediterranean Caper: It Takes A Thief #2 (1969; 1st thus; photo cover)

37600 GIL BREWER Appointment in Cairo: It Takes A Thief #3 (1970; 1st thus; photo cover)

Still yet another TV spin-off series. A novel based on the Universal-ABC television series IT TAKES A THIEF starring Robert Wagner. Only three volumes in this series. A very good reference (well-indexed and written) on TV Tie-In volumes such as It Takes A Thief is by Kurt Peers (1999, 2nd edition) TV Tie-Ins: A bibliography of American TV tie-in paperbacks. TV Books, NY, 364 pp.

40590 RON GOULART Too Sweet To Die: A John Easy Mystey #2 (nd; c. 1972; cover by Elaine Duillo - signed as Elaine)

Second of 'John Easy' mysteries, a Hollywood private eye by RON GOULART

40591 RON GOULART One Grave Too Many: A John Easy Mystey #4 (cover by Adams; 1st ACE printing December 1974)

Fourth of 'John Easy' mysteries, a Hollywood private eye by RON GOULART

47055 GEORGE SIMS The Last Best Friend (1967; 1st ACE printing)

48335-6 MICHAEL T. HINKEMEYER Lilac Night (1982; 1st thus)

48990 DORIS MILES DISNEY Look Back On Murder

54710-9 ROBERT L. FISH The Murder League (nd)

58000 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) Nightmare in Dublin (original title: The Dublin Nightmare)

58328-8 HARLAN ELLISON No Doors, No Windows (1983; 1st ACE printing)

Mystery short story collection.

60563 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Oakdale Affair (nd; cover by Frank Frazetta)

60564-8 EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS The Oakdale Affair (nd; cover by Frank Frazetta)

The Oakdale Affair is another of the ERB stories that I have trouble placing within the ACE IMAGE LIBRARY pages. I have chosen to place this mystery (at least to me) in both this section and the five-digit ACE POTPOURRI section.

62936-9 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The One-Faced Girl (original title: Who's Been Sitting in My Chair?; c. 1963, 1965; nd)

Originally published in ACE Double Mystery format in G-533 (1965) bound with The Black-Eyed Stranger. Uses the same cover art.

65203-4 CLIFTON ADAMS A Partnership With Death (1971; 1st thus)

65225 AVELINE Passenger on the U

66050 CORNELL WOOLRICH Phantom Lady

This title was released under the pseduonym William Irish.

67110 JOHN HOLBROOK VANCE (aka JACK VANCE) The Pleasant Grove Murder (c. 1967; first thus)

67714-2 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: Prelude for War (1982; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

69293 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) The One-Faced Girl (original title: Who's Been Sitting in My Chair)

Who's Been Sitting in My Chair was originally published as ACE Double G-511 (1965) bound with The Chocolate Cobweb.

71220-7 MAX EHRLICH Reincarnation in Venice (original title: The Bond; nd)

71360 CORNELL WOOLRICH Rendezvous in Black (c. 1967; nd)

Rendezvous in Black was originally published as ACE H-057 (1967).

74875-9 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: Angels of Doom (1982; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

This story was released under the titles "The Saint Meets His Match" and "She Was A Lady."

74886-4 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: The Saint in Europe (1981; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

74895-3 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: The Saint Overboard (1981; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

74899-6 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: The Saint in Action (1980; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

75352-3 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: The Saint in Miami (1981; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

75724-3 RALPH McINERNY Second Vespers (1981; 1st thus; ACE Charter edition)

75945 RON GOULART The Same Lie Twice: A John Easy Mystey #3 (1st ACE printing January 1973; cover by Elaine Duillo - signed as Elaine)

Third of the 'John Easy' mysteries, a Hollywood private eye by RON GOULART

76015-5 ROBERT McCAIG The Shadow Maker (1970)

76721-4 PETER DICKINSON The Sinful Stones (original title: The Seals; nd)

76785 MARK McSHANE The Singular Deed of the Multiple Dead (nd)

MARK McSHANE also writes as MARC LOVELL.

77480 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Something Blue (c. 1965; nd)

Something Blue was originally published as ACE G-514 (1965)

77855 HERSHATTER The Spy Who Hated Fudge

79132-8 GRAHAM MASTERTON The Sweetman Curve (1979; 1st ACE printing)

79540-4 G. C. EDMONDSON and C. M. KOTLAN The Takeover (1984; 1st ACE printing)

G. C. EDMONDSON is the pseudonym of JOSE MARIO GARY ORDONEZ EDMONDSON. This is the first mystery I have found written by Edmondson who is better known for his ACE Doubles science fiction story The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream.

80493-4 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: Thanks to the Saint (1982; 1st thus; graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

80790 DORIS MILES DISNEY Three's A Crowd (1975)

82419-6 TERI WHITE Triangle (1982; 1st ACE printing; ACE Charter edition)

Author's first book. Edgar Award winner (Best PBO) 1983.

83370 DORIS MILES DISNEY Two Little Children and How They Grew

86105 LESLIE CHARTERIS The Saint: Vendetta For The Saint (graphic and photo mixed media cover; ACE Charter edition)

87015 PHILIP LORAINE (aka ROBIN ESTRIDGE) W. I. L. One to Curtis

87125-9 MILDRED DAVIS Walk Into Yesterday (original title: Nightmare of Murder; nd)

87351 URSULA CURTISS The Wasp (c. 1965; nd)

The Wasp was originally published as ACE G-555 (1965).

87718  HARLAN ELLSION Web of the City (1983)

This edition reprints his JD classic Rumble

88595-4 CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG (aka CHARLOTTE ARMSTRONG LEWIS) Who's Been Sitting in My Chair (c. 1965; nd)

Who's Been Sitting In My Chair was originally published as ACE Double G-511 (1965) and bound with The Chocolate Cobweb. It has also been released under the title The One-Faced Girl.

Last Update 14 July 2008

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