Mon 6 Mar 2017
Archived PI Mystery Review: DAVE J. GARRITY – Dragon Hunt.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[8] Comments
DAVE J. GARRITY – Dragon Hunt. Signet P3203, paperback original, 1967.
Even if you’re a staunch Mike Hammer fan — and, yes, Virginia, of course there are — chances are still good that you’ve never heard of Peter Braid. One of Hammer’s best private eye drinking buddies.
You don’t believe me? Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the quote from the front cover: “Guts, action … the kind of stuff I like to read.” So says Mickey Spillane. On the back cover is a photo of Spillane and Garrity together, presumably comparing notes on each of their heroes’ latest adventures. And the coup de gras: on page 74 of the book in hand, Peter Braid is in a jam, and who does he call on to keep an eye on his client’s granddaughter? Mike Hammer. That’s who.
Apparently none of the Hammer mystique rubbed off, however. No so far as the buying public was concerned. According to Al Hubin’s Bibliography, none of the other four Garrity/Gerrity books were vehicles for Peter Braid, although, one, The Hot Mods (also published by Signet, 1969), might be. Hardly a sign of significant commercial success, wouldn’t you agree?
Braid refers to his lady acquaintances as hairpins. Cigarettes he calls nails. He has a wide propensity for wiseass leers, and the case he’s working on is plotted in comic book proportions. I liked it.
His client is a wealthy Wall Street retireee. He fears his son has evil designs on his granddaughter, Braid is St. George. Cain DuMont, son of Adam DuMont, is the dragon, the Dark Man, the man in black. His mind is twisted.
As much as they were intended to, the edge-of-the-chair climax and the accompanying heroics include no real surprises. They were effectively done, however, and the make for a fitting close to a tough guy novel Which probably means exactly what you think it does. Garrity wrote and thought in cliches, but as sure as anything, he enjoyed what he was doing. If there ever was another Peter Braid case after this one, I hope somebody out there lets me know.
A nice Ron Lesser cover, by the way, apparently of the granddaughter, wearing next to nothing at all. (Yes, Virginia, it’s in the book.)
March 6th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
For more on Garrity (David J. Gerrity) and the books he wrote, see my review of KISS OFF THE DEAD (Gold Medal, 1960).
March 6th, 2017 at 8:37 pm
I just picked this one up a few days ago. It went into my TBRBNRN (To Be Read But Not Right Now) pile
March 6th, 2017 at 8:44 pm
I have a LOT of those!
But I’m curious. If I find my copy anytime soon, I think I’ll put it my IINHTRTOABIMIUAN pile
(I’m in no hurry to read this one again but I’ll move it up a notch.)
March 6th, 2017 at 10:35 pm
This one is based on a story Spillane wrote for the Hammer comic strip and which was supposedly used without credit for an episode of 77 SUNSET STRIP. The comic strip tie is certain, the other may just be a similar plot.
The crossover isn’t unique. Chet Drum and Shell Scott did it as did Michael Shayne and Ben Gates.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Yes, it’s pretty much a given today that Spillane gave Garrity the basic story line. Even back when I wrote this review, it was obvious that there was a strong connection between the two of them.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Of the “Spillane satellite writers,” as Max Allan Collins called them (Charlie Wells, Earle Basinsky, Joe Gill), Garrity was the best, although this is far from my favorite by him as it just leans too heavily on Mickey. I think “Cry Me a Killer” is his best book, and “Kiss Off the Dead”, with being almost as good. Though they’re not crime novels, his two stock car racing novels (“The Hot Mods” and “Rim of Thunder”) are both good reads. His later hit man novels, cashing in on the Mafia fad in the 1970s, left me cold.
March 6th, 2017 at 11:41 pm
I know the other two authors, but I’m not sure I recognize Joe Gill’s name, Stephen. Are you referring to the comic book writer?
March 7th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Yes. Joe and Mickey remained friends long after their comics work together. “Sarge Steele, Private Eye” is a heavily Mickey-influenced series Joe Gill created and scripted for Charlton Comics.