Sun 17 Jun 2007
The Compleat LEE GIFFORD.
Posted by Steve under Authors , Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Crime Fiction IV[3] Comments
It isn’t very difficult to create a “compleat” entry for a mystery writer when the writer has only one mystery novel to his credit, as is the case for Lee Gifford, which is quite possible a pseudonym. But as you can imagine — think about it for a bit — it’s not easy doing a Google search for anyone with a name like this. Screening out all of the unwanted entries produced nothing of interest. I also could not locate any other book, fiction or non-fiction, that I could ascribe to the name.
The reason I suspect that Gifford is a pen name is that the single book in question is not copyright in the name of the author, but by Fawcett Publications, long time publisher of the well-known (and widely collectible) line of Gold Medal paperbacks. Any further information about the writer would be welcome.
His entry in Crime Fiction IV, by Allen J. Hubin, slightly expanded:
GIFFORD, LEE
* Pieces of the Game. Gold Medal s1008, pbo, June 1960. Setting: Far East; WWII.
From the back cover:
Trapped between the calculated greed of a Japanese colonel and fear of the the savage fate with awaited them if they tried to escape, seven American POWs dove for the silver. And, in this novel, one of them lived to return, long after the war…
From the front cover:
From inside the front cover:
“There were several of us who knew where the silver was hidden.”
Yamata’s smile faded. “Your selection of past tense is correct. There were several. You are the only one left, Mr. Sheridan.”
I rose to my feet. My fists clenched. “Violence, Mr. Sheridan?” Yamata taunted. “Good! It is the last refuge of the intellectually defeated. His smile widened. “However, before engaging in precipitate action, I would suggest you meet an old friend.”
When she appeared, I froze in disbelief. Slim, regally erect, she was even more beautiful than my vivid memories. She was wearing a red kimono. Luxuriant black hair fell in soft waves, framing her composed face. Only her eyes were different — the sparkle was gone, replaces by blue-porcelain emptiness.
I swiveled my head as the Colonel spoke up. “You see, Mr. Sheridan — I have your Queen.”
July 9th, 2020 at 12:48 am
Look what I discovered in the August 14, 1960 edition of the San Bernardino Sun… the last paragraph is of particular interest…
BOOKS Lee Gifford Novel Given Fine Review “PIECES OF THE GAME” by Lee Gifford. Gold Medal, 35 cents. 176 pages. Reviewed by Anirlia Bean. “Shortly before the U.S. and Filipino forces surrendered to the Japanese on May 6, 1912, they dumped a king’s ransom estimated at $8 million in silver in the deep water south of Corregidor. A group of U.S. divers, captured in the fall of Corregidor, were forced to assist in its recovery by the Japanese.” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, March, 1058. C A BALI) BAY The foregoing capsule of fascinating information was the basis from which evolved Lee Clifford’s novel “Pieces of the Game.” The story, told in first person by one of the divers, begins in the present but moves back to war time as the narrator flies back to the scene to become involved once more in a battle of intrigue and violence over the remainder of the treasure which still lies deep at the bottom of Caballo Bay. Romance treads lightly but unintrusively for this is an action story beginning on the flight over the Pacific and recurring memories of Jim Sheridan’s lost Iove is a beautiful girl he lost track of during the war. Sheridan believes himself to be the only living member of the wartime crew of divers who knew the location of the treasure. This belief is shared by Orientals who connive to force him to locale it once more. There is well-balanced action, intrigue and suspense as the story moves along at a fast, punchy pace. The present is tied to the past in backflashes so skillfully accomplished that there is no confusion for the reader. The dialogue is especially good. Gifford has a neat knack for apt descriptive phrasing and most original and salty humor. There is also a refreshing lack of cliches throughout. GOOD START There is also a welcome difference from many current action stories: the obvious and tiresome crutch of either smutty sex or sadistic violence has not been used at all. This is clean-cut story-telling, well-plotted and handled with all the loose ends gathered up for a most satisfactory conclusion. From this promising beginning it would seem that Gifford’s literary future is off to an optimistic start indeed, We shall look forward with enthusiasm for his next book. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Lee Gifford, 38-year-old engineer at Rohr Aircrart, lives at 5585 Ramsey Dr., Riverside. This is his first book. He has a second under way now. He Is married and has two children.)Â
July 14th, 2020 at 11:44 am
Well, thank you very much, Lee. It took 13 years for anyone to come up with anything at all about Mr. Gifford, and to find out that he was a “real person” is a bona fide bonus.
The review makes the book sound very much worth reading. It’s too bad the second one never came to fruition.
July 14th, 2020 at 11:52 am
In a later email, Lee adds the following:
Here is more on Lee Gifford…aka M. Lee Gifford. His full name is Maurice Lee Gifford and he appears to have died in Prescott, AZ in 2006.
He worked for Oscar Mayer in Madison, Wisconsin, then Rohr Aircraft in Riverside, then C. Brewer & Co in Hilo, Hawaii.