Sun 9 Jul 2023
An Archived Mystery Review: PHILIP CARLTON WILLIAMS – Mission Bay Murder.
Posted by Steve under Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Characters , Reviews[8] Comments
PHILIP CARLTON WILLIAMS – Mission Bay Murder. Michael Thompson #1. PaperJacks, Canada, paperback original; 1st printing, July 1988.
A lawyer for a California defense attorney intercepts a confidential memo that makes him suspicions. He takes it to a lady PI he finds in the phone book. She investigates.When her car is run off a bridge, somehow the police seem to suspect him of her murder.
This may be the worst mystery I have ever read. It is either written for dull teenagers or for illiterates who have never read a mystery before. The hero is supposed to be a lawyer, but I think he has to have someone help him on with his shoes every morning.
The Michael Thompson series —
Mission Bay Murder (PaperJacks, 1988)
The Tartan Murders (PaperJacks, 1989)
Note: The two books were reprinted later on in a combined 2-for-1 edition (1990). See image above.
July 9th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
I am assuming that Michael Thompson is the “lawyer for a California defense attorney” mentioned in the first line, but what I cannot tell you is whether or not I stated his job status correctly.
We may perhaps have to wait for somehow who happens to have a copy to tell us. The book I read is long gone, I’m afraid.
July 9th, 2023 at 10:52 pm
Is the Mission Bay the one near San Diego, or the one near Fort William, Ontario, Canada?
July 10th, 2023 at 12:57 am
Since PaperJacks was a Canadian publisher, I’d have thought the latter, but no, Hubin says the story takes place in San Diego.
July 10th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Nice cover, but glad I missed this one.
Not a terrible set up though.
I’ve only ever seen a handful of PaperJacks books. I don’t know what their US distribution was like, but they don’t seem to have been good this far south.
July 10th, 2023 at 6:09 pm
I think Paperjacks most “famous” title was RD Wingfield’s Frost At Christmas.
Michael Avallone had one book published there, High Noon At Midnight, one of the Ed Noon books.
Otherwise, not too many authors any one has heard of.
July 10th, 2023 at 7:35 pm
One other author some of whose books were reprinted by PaperJacks was Bill Pronzini and his Nameless series. They also published Jeffrey Deavers’ first book, Always a Thief (1988). Otherwise you’re right. Nothing of any consequence,
July 10th, 2023 at 7:54 pm
I don’t know how complete this list is
https://www.book-info.com/publisher/PaperJacks.htm
but it’s fairly extensive, and it includes books from their entire line, not just mysteries.
July 11th, 2023 at 8:22 pm
David P, thanks, the Avallone was the only one I ever saw, and I ordered it rather than picked it up off the racks.