Five Star first edition mystery series

Studio sleuths When Frank and Joe visit a local movie and TV studio they stumble across a real-life drama - someone has murdered screenwriter Bennet Fairburn. To track the killer the brother detectives go undercover as gofers at the studio. From the start it's clear the Hardys have been cast as victims in a sinister plot. A series of deadly "accidents" stalk the brother team, and while shooting a TV series Frank and Joe find themselves on the wrong end of some lethal stunts. The clues they need are buried in the script, but unless they uncover the villain fast, the brothers Hardy will be show biz history.

A collection of fourteen short stories from 1890s Chinatown to Venus. Includes one Nameless Detective story.

On a mist-shrouded private school campus in Southern California, ex-reporter and new teacher Ann Farrell finds the body of a student sprawled among the rocks at the bottom of a barranca. Did the victim write the ugly poison pen notes sent recently to several faculty members, including Ann? Did the notes cause his murder? Ann Farrell doesn't believe it. Determinedly, Ann starts asking questions. She gets some shocking answers, including the sad reason for a suicide and some dark truths about several faculty members, ranging from adultery to pornography. Along the way, she is attracted to Lieutenant Alonzo Fox, the darkly handsome policeman. Ultimately, Ann faces a deadly encounter with a ruthless and calculating killer.

Contents: A few words -- Paint doctor -- Deadly hunger -- Widow -- A lot of sense -- Argent blood -- Whistler -- Watcher -- Killer scent -- The home -- On the rocks -- The calculator -- Savant -- Decision -- Truly yours, John R. Jacks -- Trial -- Shut the final door -- The retiree -- Fifty Chinese. This collection of stories, hand selected by Joe Hensley, draws on the author's diverse experience as a WWII medic, lawyer, judge, and legislator to deliver frightening, sad, funny, sly, and — above all — perceptive tales of suspense. For both established fans and newcomers to Joe Hensley's work, these stories will reveal why colleague Ed Gorman wrote "Hensley is that rarity today, a writer with a hankering for the small but important truths that define our lives, and a joyous regard for language. He's a hell of a storyteller, too".