Crime, Mystery, & Gangster Fiction Magazine Index

Contents Lists

Sure-Fire Detective (Canada) [v2 #3, March 1942] (15¢, 96pp, pulp, cover by Barnard Clarke) Details supplied by Rob Preston. 2 · Rendezvous for Vengeance · Dougal McDougal · ss Double-Action Detective Jul 1940 12 · Blackmail Trouble · Leslie Fayne · na 33 · Death on Demand · Mat Rand · ss 41 · Cultured Corpse · J. Wilson · vi Double-Action Detective Jul 1940 45 · Graveyard Ghost · Brian Loomis · ss 51 · Smuggler’s Island · Fred Grange · ss 59 · Revenge in Reverse · Sax Thurmer · ss 69 · Death Down Under · Fred Maxton · ss

Sure-Fire Detective (Canada) [v2 #4, April 1942] (pulp) Issue not found. Need Contents

Sure-Fire Detective (Canada) [v2 #5, June 1942] (Duchess Printing and Publishing Co., Ltd., 15¢, pulp, cover by Harold Bennett) Details taken from Table of Contents. 4 · Kill and Collect [Kip Burland (Black Hood)] · G. T. Fleming-Roberts · na Hooded Detective Nov 1941, as “The Corpse Came C.O.D.” 20 · Tourist’s Slay Ride · Wilbur S. Peacock · ss Double-Action Detective Feb 1940 24 · Agent Provocateur · Randolph Barr · ss Private Detective Stories Mar 1941 31 · Green Leaves of Death · J. Wilson · ss Hooded Detective Nov 1941 41 · Murder—Private · Robert Fraser · ss Spicy Western Stories Jun 1938, as “Sprung Trap” by Wallace Kayton 54 · Steal a Man’s Eyes · Stephen McBarron · ss Hooded Detective Nov 1941 67 · Sure-Fire Slants · Anon. · cl 68 · Oddities in Crime · Anon. · cl

Sure-Fire Detective (Canada) [v2 #6, August 1942] (Duchess Printing and Publishing Co., Ltd., 15¢, pulp, cover by Barnard Clarke) Details taken from Table of Contents. 4 · The Whispering Eye [Kip Burland (Black Hood)] · G. T. Fleming-Roberts · na Hooded Detective Jan 1942 20 · Three Guesses · David Goodis · ss Hooded Detective Jan 1942 30 · Death Is Deaf · Cliff Campbell · ss Hooded Detective Jan 1942 35 · Sure-Fire Slants · Anon. · cl 36 · Drugstore Clerk · George Fallon · ss 46 · A Dinner Date with Murder · Harry Stein · vi Hooded Detective Jan 1942 51 · Oddities in Crime · Anon. · cl 53 · Candidate for a Coffin · T. W. Ford · ss Hooded Detective Jan 1942

Sure-Fire Detective Stories: Sure-Fire Detective Stories was typical of the action-packed, violent, crime-adventure fiction of the mid-1950s which not only continued the tradition of the pulp magazines, but added to it by inserting a large measure of brutal sex. It ran for 9 issues from January 1957 to July 1958, and was then replaced by/renamed to Off Beat Detective Stories under which title it ran for a further 26 issues (at least). It is mainly remembered today for its graphic cover art, and for the occasional contributions from authors such as Robert Silverberg and Harlan Ellison.

Sure-Fire Detective Stories Publishers: Pontiac Publishing Corporation; 1 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA: Sure-Fire Detective Stories

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #1, January 1957] (Pontiac Publishing Co, Inc., 35¢, 128pp, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) Given as December 1956 on the cover, and as Sure Fire Detective Story Magazine in the Table of Contents. Details taken from Table of Contents. 1 · The Devil’s Handmaiden · Ray Dunham · ss 6 · Smile, Damn You! · Robert G. Baird · ss 15 · You Can’t Kill Luck · Harry White · ss 25 · Hands of Madness · Bill Ryder · ss 36 · Blonde Dynamite · Dan Sontup · nv 51 · Death by Appointment · Don Unatin · ss 57 · The Prowler · Albert Simmons · ss 67 · Win, Lose, Die · Robert Turner · nv 85 · Give Me That Gun · Larry M. Harris · ss 89 · Alibi for Murder · Mike Lifton · ss 94 · Detective’s Notebook · Anon. · cl 97 · The Terrible Longing · Stuart James · ss 101 · Bloody Bus Stop · Bryce Walton · nv

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #2, February 1957] (Pontiac Publishing Corp., 35¢, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) Details supplied by James Felton. 2 · I’ll Meet You in Hell · Ray Dunham · ss 6 · The Last Martini · Robert Turner · ss 13 · Haiti Hell Hole · Al James · ss 19 · Tickled to Death · Bill Ryder · ss 24 · You’re Better Off Dead · Harry Whittington · nv 37 · I’ve Come to Kill You · C. B. Gilford · ss 46 · Her Type Is No Good · Don Unatin · ss 53 · Bad Blood · Bram Norton · nv 69 · He Won’t Live Long · Talmage Powell · ss 79 · Bursting Passions · Jim Barnett · ss 86 · Win with Murder · James W. Lumpp · ss 96 · You Don’t Have to Die · Mike Lifton · ss 106 · Murder Joins the Party · Bryce Walton · nv

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #3, April 1957] (Pontiac Publishing Co, Inc., 35¢, 128pp, digest, cover by M. E. Sherwood) 2 · Evil Has No Witness! · Robert Turner · nv 12 · These Are the Damned! · Harry Sage · ss 19 · Big Time Operator! · Robert Silverberg · ss 28 · One More for Tonight! · Charles E. Fritch · ss 34 · She Deserved to Die! · Jim Barnett · ss 38 · Backlash! · Harlan Ellison · nv 47 · The Innocent One! · Norman Struber · ss 51 · Too Anxious to Murder! · Sley Harson · ss 57 · Bury Me Deep! · L. B. Simon · ss 64 · Murder Has Its Price! · Bill Ryder · ss 72 · Its Easy to Kill! · William Logan · ss 76 · Hell’s Holocaust! · Ellis Hart · ss 82 · The Kissing Dead! · Jay Charby & Henry Slesar · ss; given as by Jay Charby & Henry Sleasar. 87 · One Horrible Afternoon! · Lou Mitchell · ss 94 · The Lost Night! · Amos Hatter · ss 103 · Gutter Scum! · Jack Oleck · ss 108 · Young Punk! · Vic Heston · ss 114 · I, the Condemned! · Herbert D. Kastle · nv

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #4, August 1957] (Pontiac Publishing Corp., 35¢, 128pp, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) 1 · The Intruder! · Norman Struber · nv 11 · Love Me and Die! · Vic Heston · ss; given as by Mike Lifton on the cover. 18 · Lust of the Wicked! · Jack Oleck · nv 27 · Boss of the Big House! · Harlan Ellison · ss 31 · Hot Stiff! · Richard Hardwick · ss 38 · Murder...and Be Happy! · George Whythe · ss 46 · The Creep! · Don Unatin · ss 53 · Poor Angie Is Dead! · G. G. Revelle · nv 65 · Mad Dog! · Jay Charby & Henry Slesar · ss; given as by Jay Charby & Henry Sleasar. 69 · Here Is a Murderer! · Carl Anders · ss 78 · Shake-Down Bait! · Bill Ryder · ss 87 · I’ll Sin Once More! · Art Crockett · ss 94 · Live a Little! · Paul Eiden · ss 99 · Death Watch! · Ray Dunham · ss 108 · The Need to Die! · Ellis Hart · ss

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #5, October 1957] (cover by M. E. Sherwood) Bloody Showdown! · Robert Turner · nv; given as “Bloody Shakedown” on the cover. Blonde Bait! · Matt Christopher · nv With Intent to Kill! · Francis Battle · nv This Death Is Mine · Hank Redman · ss Tease Me and Die! · Art Crockett · ss She Had Murder in Her Heart! · Mitch Clark · ss Worse than Death! · William Douglas · ss Time to Kill! · B. Abernathy · ss Hell’s Third Degree! · Bill Ryder · ss Murder Is So Easy! · Jack Oleck · ss The Terrible Passion! · Mike Lifton · ss The Violent Lovers! · J. Tecor · ss

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v1 #6, December 1957] (Pontiac Publishing Corp., 35¢, 128pp, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) 1 · Bloody Executioner! · John Marlin · ss 9 · There’s Death in Her Kiss! · Matt Christopher · nv 19 · This Dame Is Vicious! · Tony Phillips · ss 28 · A Housefull of Lust! · J. J. Silver · ss 36 · Buy Me That Knife! · Ellis Hart · ss 43 · Marked for Death! · Mike Lifton · ss 50 · Kill Me Too! · Jack Oleck · ss 59 · You Are Evil! · Harlan Ellison · nv 70 · Too Lustful to Live! · George H. Smith · ss 74 · One Husband Too Many! · Arnold English · ss 83 · Murder Makes a Pick Up! · Jay Charby · ss 93 · Through the Gates of Hell! · Don Unatin · ss 101 · The Violent Persuader! · Bill Ryder · nv

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v2 #1, February 1958] (35¢, digest, cover by M. E. Sherwood) Death Walks In · Joe Dunn · ss Kill Me Clean · Gordon Bliss · ss The Damned Are Dangerous · Greg Murrey · ss Too Rotten to Kill · John Larner · ss Shakedown Girl · Al James · ss She Wanted Me Dead · Art Crockett · ss Five Hours of Terror · George Wilson · ss Murder Is My Shadow · Peter Crawford · ss Evil Stalks the Night · Francis C. Battle · ss You’ll Live with Death · Jim Barnett · ss Sucker Bait · Frank Ball · ss The Violent Die, Too! · Paul Kelo · ss It’s Your Turn to Die · Randall Chaffin · ss One Second to Live · Hal Keth · ss

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v2 #2, April 1958] (Pontiac Publishing Corp., 35¢, 128pp, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) 2 · A Challenge for the Killer! · Pete McCann · ss 12 · Death Couldn’t Reach Me! · Art Crockett · ss 22 · The Edge of Terror! · Ray Dunham · ss 32 · Death with a Stranger! · Jack Oleck · ss 41 · Dead: Do Not Disturb! · Don Unatin · nv 52 · Murder Is an Accident! · Mitch Clark · ss 63 · Hell on Wheels! · Bill Ryder · nv 78 · Steel Clad Alibi! · Al James · ss 86 · The Face of Death! · Hal Crosby · ss 96 · Love Me Hard! · G. G. Revelle · nv

Sure-Fire Detective Stories [v2 #3, July 1958] (Pontiac Publishing Co, Inc., 35¢, 112pp, digest, cover by M. E. Sherwood) Details taken from eBay listing. House of the Evil! · Bob Shields · nv Don’t Rescue Me! · Dan Stribe · nv Step Up and Be Murdered! · Al Meadows · nv She Devil! · Dennis Jory · ss The Roots of Hell! · Mike Lifton · ss Shark Bait! · Jay Fox · ss Terror Has No Conscience! · Marvin Gray · ss The Counterfeit Murderer! · Chuch Wells · ss Confession of the Damned! · Jay Marshall · ss Die for Me, Pal! · Jim Allen · ss The Seventh Corpse! · Jack Mansfield · ss Man with a Passion! · Lawrence Block · ss

Off Beat Detective Stories Title changed from Sure-Fire Detective Stories. Publishers: Pontiac Publishing Corporation; 1 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA: Off Beat Detective Stories

Off Beat Detective Stories [v2 #4, September 1958] (Pontiac Publishing Corp., 35¢, 112pp, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) Details supplied by Tom Daniels. 1 · You’ll Die Again! · Steve Gordon · ss 9 · Dig My Grave Deeper! · Al James · nv 22 · The Living Dead! · Jim Barnett · ss 33 · Drive Straight to Hell! · Art Crockett · ss 43 · Death Has Many Faces! · Jed Owens · ss 50 · Murder Is My Business! · Lawrence Block · ss 56 · One Brutal Night! · Bill Rank · nv 69 · Save Me a Murder! · Bill Ryder · ss 83 · A Horrible Decision! · Anthony Strong · ss 91 · I’ll Spoil Her for You! · George Hall · ss 95 · Search for Hell! · Don Unatin · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v2 #5, November 1958] (Pontiac Publishing, digest) Details supplied by Darren Heil. 1 · Black Birds of Doom! · Bryce Walton · nv 13 · Never Cool a Cop! · Henry Slesar · ss; given as by Henry Slezar. 20 · My Name Is Terror! · Al James · ss 30 · Drink to the Damned! · Flip Lyons · ss 42 · Die, Damn You! · Keith Redmond · ss 53 · Hell’s Whistle Stop! · James Allen · ss 61 · Call My Hearse Now! · Don Unatin · nv 73 · Punks on a Tear! · Art Crockett · ss 83 · Love Me and Die! · Edward L. Stacey · ss 94 · Passion of Fury! · Bill Power · ss 97 · Payoff in Blood! · Bill Ryder · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v2 #6, February 1959] (35¢, digest, cover by Carl Pfeufer) Details taken from Table of Contents. 1 · Death Be My Lover! · Al James · ss 10 · Rumble Bait! · Sam Holt · ss 19 · Her Kind Means Death! · Tony Phillips · nv 34 · Non Stop to Hell! · Zack Steele · ss 44 · My Sin—Death! · James Allen · ss 53 · My Grave Is Empty! · Ray Dunham · nv 66 · Madness Stalks Its Prey! · Jim Arthur · ss 73 · Bargain in Blood! · Sheldon Lord · ss 81 · The Burning Fury! · Lawrence Block · ss 89 · The Evil Ones! · Art Crockett · ss 98 · The Hounds of Doom! · Bill Ryder · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v3 #1, March 1959] (Pontiac Publishing, digest) Details taken from Table of Contents. 1 · Her Price Was Slaughter · Robert Turner · ss 11 · The Deadly Pro · Al James · ss 20 · Death’s Loveless Caress · Bill Ryder · nv 33 · A Slug for My Lover · Jim Arthur · ss 41 · Dateline, Hell · Frank Cannell · ss 57 · Bloody Saturday · Richard F. Watson · nv 68 · No Wreath for Maxie · Jim Barnett · ss 82 · The Living Corpse · Doug Flanders · ss 94 · Murder Has Soft Arms · Larry Crowe · ss; given as by Larry Crown. 105 · Brains Can Kill You · Art Crockett · ss 114 · Less Lives Than a Cat · Ed Lacy · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v3 #2, May 1959] (Pontiac Publishing, digest) Details supplied by Darren Heil. 1 · Blood Won’t Wash Out · Ed Lacy · nv 15 · Too Dumb to Die! · Hal Crosby · ss 21 · One for Death Road! · Jay Richards · ss 29 · Deadly Dream Doll! · Mickey Fairbanks · ss 41 · Ring in My Corpse! · Art Crockett · ss 50 · My Executioner’s Waiting! · Bill Ryder · nv 62 · Harvest of Doom! · James Allen · ss 70 · Take Her or Die! · Luke C. Hogan · ss 80 · Lover from Hell! · Al James · ss 88 · Kids of the Devil! · Ross Hayden · ss 97 · Portrait of Evil! · Tom Phillips · ss 107 · The Crawling Madness! · Lee Caldwell · ss 113 · Kill for Me, Buddy! · Gil Grayson · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v3 #3, July 1959] (Pontiac Publishing, digest) Details supplied by Steven Slutsky. 1 · A Cutie for My Coffin! · Jim Arthur · ss 11 · Big Boss of the Tank! · Elliot Gilbert · ss 20 · Slaughter the Lovelies! · Don Unatin · nv 34 · Green Bait for the Snark! · Jack Kavanagh · ss 41 · Eva Begged for It! · Larry Crowe · ss 52 · The Murderous Moll! · Grover Brinkman · nv 62 · Night of the Ripper! · Jay Richards · ss 69 · Baby Needs a New Lover! · Flip Lyons · ss 79 · She’ll Shriek for Death! · Bill Ryder · ss 91 · Her Taunts Meant Terror! · Art Crockett · ss 103 · The Trouble Beat! · Zack Steele · ss 114 · As Cold As Doom! · Gil Grayson · nv

Off Beat Detective Stories [v3 #4, September 1959] Shake the Lady Down! · Joe F. J. Smith · nv The Dead Can Kill! · William Logan · nv Hate Needs Lovely Victims! · Don Unatin · nv Big Brains—Big Dough! · Ed Lacy · ss Homecoming for a Killer! · Mickey Fairbanks · ss Her Kind Die Bloody! · James Rosenquest · ss My Fee Is Lust! · Leslie G. Sabo · ss Her Heel from Hell! · Art Crockett · ss Kiss the Blood Off! · Al James · ss And Slaughter Again! · Bob Shields · ss Black Fins of Terror! · Jay Richards · ss