Scenarios:: A Nameless Detective Casebook (Nameless Detective Mystery) [Paperback]

Bill Pronzini (Author)

Book Description

Series: Nameless Detective Mystery | Publication Date: October 2004

Shamus Award-winning author

Few writers have ever had such a loyal reader following as Bill Pronzini and his "Nameless Detective." In terms of life on the printed page, the "Nameless Detective" celebrates his 35th birthday in 2003. The fourteen stories in this collection span the entire 35 years of "Nameless's" existence.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Nameless, the compassionate San Francisco PI, first appeared in "It's a Lousy World" in 1968. Since then he has been the subject of 28 novels and more than 40 short stories. This collection of 14 stories, presented in chronological order, spans the entire 35 years of Nameless' life in print. Clever plots are a Pronzini trademark, but what has etched Nameless so indelibly in the hearts of readers is his steady progression from lonely middle age to respectable family man in his mid-sixties. That entire process is relected here. Highlights include "Incident in a Neighborhood Tavern" and "The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch," in which Nameless confronts a rural community violently opposed to a powerful real-estate developer. Longtime fans will treasure the compressed overview of Nameless' life provided by these carefully arranged stories. Converts will have 28 novels to get up to speed. Highly recommended. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410402053
• ISBN-13: 978-1410402059
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,579,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nameless Detective, "enuff said", June 15, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Scenarios: A "Nameless Detective" Casebook (Hardcover)

Because of the well-deserved reputation of this sleuth, this reviewer is keeping this review very short as this fourteen-story casebook showcases one of the great sleuths of the last half of century, The Nameless Detective. The anthology covers the full range of decades starting back in the late 1960s and going into 2002, but most of the contributions were written between 1979-1995. Bill Pronzini displays his talent throughout the book so that readers receive what is bound to be recognized as one of the better crime fiction assemblages of the year. The numerous fans of the Nameless Detective will rejoice with this complete compilation while if there is anyone who has not tried at least one tale this is a delightful entry to one of the greats.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scenarios: A Nameless Detective Casebook, January 6, 2004

By 

Ricky N. "Ricky C. Nelson" (Commerce, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Scenarios: A "Nameless Detective" Casebook (Hardcover)

Bill Pronzini is best known for his "Nameless Detective" novels. "Scenarios" is a casebook of short stories featuring Nameless. In all there are 14 short stories in this book. Of special interest is the short story "It's a Lousy World" which is Nameless' first case and was written in 1968. There is also a Nameless/Sharon McCone story which Pronzini co-wrote with his wife, Marcia Muller. Bill Pronzini is a giant in mystery fiction and this book shows he is a master of the short story as well. "Scenarios" should be a part of any "Nameless Detective" collection.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Re-runs doom Nameless Detective fans to Deja vu, January 9, 2004

By 

James Wm Roberts (St.Joseph MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Scenarios: A "Nameless Detective" Casebook (Hardcover)

Pronzini sits at the top of the list of Hammett's successors. His Nameless Detective has established his own claim to the San Francisco neighborhoods where Sam Spade and the Continental Op once trod. As a long-time Nameless fan I sought out Scenarios, hoping to revel in a trove of undiscovered Nameless tales. Alas, this collection of mostly re-published materials overwhelmed me with deja vu. These are great stories--Pronzini doesn't write any other kind-- but if you're a Nameless fan, you've probably read most of them already in such collections as Case File and Spadework. Plot lines from several others can be found in full length Nameless novels. Only two or three of these fourteen stories sounded new to me. New fans will enjoy this book but oldtimers will be better off waiting for the next Nameless novel.