Talmage Powell

Nick Ramey, a gangster money handler, finds himself at the wrong end of a bellhop's gun, when he's robbed of a case full of money. But Nick may have the last laugh after all!

Veteran detective Odus Martin believes there's always somebody who cares about a death, that no one is truly alone. When he and a rookie investigate the death of a shy orphan with no friends, they discover her landlady, her boss, and the head of the orphanage are indifferent to her. Who will care this time? A definite change of pace for Talmage Powell!

Welcome to the second volume of The Black Cat Mystery Community's "Thrillogy" series, celebrating classic mystery short stories. This time we focus on the work of Talmage Powell (1920-2000). Included are: EASY MARK LIFE SENTENCE REWARD FOR GENIUS

"You don't know me," a thin, taut, male voice said, "and my name's not important. What I've got to say concerns your husband -- and a girl."

When Chat, a boy living in the Bayou,, goes out "Gator Baiting" with his stepfather, he is reluctant, but his abusive "Pa" steamrolls over him.

There was a house across the river. It meant nothing at first. Too many other things were real, thirty one-thousand dollar bills in each of the money belts Trantham and I wore day and night-and Ingram.

The most dangerous power you can give someone is the legal right to take a gun and go after their deadliest enemy!

I was bone-tired when I locked the last gas pump, turned off the lights and closed the garage door. It had been a long day. One of an endless number of days. I crossed the concrete apron, got in my jalopy and started the motor. I gave the filling station a last look. It was tired and grubby in the early night. I'd really tried to make a go of it here, but one man can only do so much. All I wanted was to get a hot bath, food, and some sleep. I lived...

We are delighted to present our second collection of Talmage Powell mystery short stories! Powell (1920-2000) was one of the all-time great mystery writers of the pulp magazines (and later the digest mystery magazines). He claimed to have written more than 500 short stories, and we have no reason to doubt him - we are working on a bibliography of his work and have documented 373 magazine stories so far...and who knows how many are out there under...

He's standing over you holding a razor. It's sharper than the sharpest knife...