Rick Walker
Private Investigator
A series of novels by G.E. Nordell
The fictional character of Rick Walker, private investigator, exists in the milieu of Fifties L.A. noir, as epitomized by Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe detective character. The rules are the same – 'a man who down these mean streets must go', ..the fedora, ..the irony – with the addition of Rick's love for the developing West Coast jazz scene, expressed as a serviceable and in-demand semi-pro musician, playing both the tenor and alto saxophone.
Rick grew up in Northern California, the son of the manager of the local lumberyard. After a single year of college, he was swept up in the fervor surrounding WWII, becoming a lieutenant in intelligence behind the lines in Europe for Patton's Third Army.
Like Marlowe, Rick's post-war stint as an investigator in the Los Angeles D.A.'s office ended badly and soon: both were discharged for insubordination, though both held the moral high ground.
Rick's career as a private investigator crept along until his bold solution of the Updike case, wherein he recovered several stolen works of art; the visibility of that case – and its daring – made his reputation.
In March 2005 the first book about Rick Walker's exploits, "Backlot Requiem", was published {see below} in hardcover & paperback & ebook editions, with other novels in the series soon to follow. And in September 2005, the Croation-language edition of "Backlot Requiem" was published.
The Rick Walker Novel Series
"Backlot Requiem"
published by iUniverse in March 2005
When a long-buried body is discovered at National Pictures Studios, private investigator Rick Walker is called in to identify it. His investigation leads to a thirty-year-old murder case, a dying film director and his wild daughters, a legendary film star of the Silent Era, local gangsters, and a very discreet love affair.
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You captured the noir feel excellently and it kept me glued to the pages. It was fun that it was located in old L.A. and I had fun picturing the places in my mind and hoping to get by some of them to see what's there now. All the best, George S. To borrow from the title of an old radio drama series, I love a mystery, and this one is short and sweet. Move over Raymond Chandler, [G.E.] Nordell's Rick Walker, P.I. has taken center stage. |
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Fifties Culture Research Page
Route 66 Research Page
The Author
G.E. Nordell's homepage
Index of All G.E. Nordell's Writings
Feel free to e-mail the author with comments or questions.
Mystery Links
The Raymond Chandler Website
Another Raymond Chandler Website
Online Continental Detective Agency
Noir Films at the Palace
Alan Cook's 'Thirteen Diamonds' Novel
Mysterious Homepage (now at ClueLass)
Murder Out There (of Canada)
ArtLinksList.com - arts directory / Fiction
BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Raymond Chandler [1888-1959] Pages
Dashiell Hammett [1894-1961] Pages
Film Noir Festival Pages
Books About Film Noir
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| [ created 12/1999 . . . |
| . . . last update 5/2009 ] |