The Dead Ringer by Fredric Brown

The Dead Ringer, by Fredric Brown, 1949, Cover art by Robert Stanley.

Price = $45.00*

I bought this book thinking it was the inspiration for one of my favey cheesy Bette Davis flicks, Dead Ringer. First I was all bitchy and seethy, the nerve! Then, I was sucked in like a 9-year-old mark at a carny booth.

Fredric Brown was a lazy writer, according to his wife. (A kindred spirit) He would do anything to avoid to craft including all his hobbies, reading, housework and driving around. Then when he sat down he’d pound out tall tales by the busload. To this day Mickey Spillane’s favorite author is admired for his surprise endings, twists and bizarro casts of characters. Kind of a Twin Peaks noir for the 1950′s.

In The Dead Ringer, Brown’s sleuths Ed and Am Hunter (former carny pitchmen) try to solve slayings at a carnival. They include a naked midget, a chimp and a child. The tragedy of the third death brings everything to a quick close.

The Sreamin Mimi, Pulp Fiction

Despite his laziness, Brown wrote about 250 mystery and science books, plus short stories and tv scripts (Star Trek). Most notable among Fredric Brown’s work was his first novel, The Fabulous Clipjoint. And the most nortorious was The Screamin’ Mimi. The Screamin Mimi was made into a really dreadful version starring Anita Ekberg as the serial killer stalkee/ stripper/skrink puppet Yolanda Yang. His drunken reporter/detective is obviously Spillane inspiration. Read it, but don’t watch it. Another  film version was made in Italy in 1970. However, the director credits Dashiell Hammett and Cornell Woolrich instead of Brown……..so we won’t credit the director here.

Condition

Fine. The Dead Ringer. By Fredric Brown. Bantam 361. First editon.

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