Friday, December 15, 2023

FFB: Jack Livinston books

 


Joe Binney was a deaf detective starring in four books (maybe more) in the eighties. I enjoyed the challenge of using his deafness in interesting ways in solving crimes. I think the most well known was DIE AGAIN MACREADY. He also wrote THE NIGHTMARE FILE, A PIECE OF THE SILENCE and HELL-BENT FOR ELECTION. I could not find out much about the author, Jack Livinston, but I didn't have the time to really pursue it. But I remember enjoying them at the time. My library bought them but they are long-gone now.

15 comments:

Margot Kinberg said...

Oh, that's interesting, Patti. I've never read this author. I should try some of his work.

pattinase (abbott) said...

If you can find them, Margot.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I remember the books but never read one.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I don't remember them as outstanding but solid. There was a time when I could keep up with series like this. No chance of that now.

Todd Mason said...

Open Library will let one read the scanned books here: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1073130A/Jack_Livingston

Todd Mason said...

Livingston was a pseudonym for a primarily medical writer, who might've published other novels under his real name or other byline...the jacket copy on one hardcover is vague about that.

Unsurprisingly, Gallaudet University Library (DC's university for the deaf and hearing-impaired) keeps them on-hand, says WorldCat...George Kelley's local public library system keeps at least one copy of THE NIGHTMARE FILE...Lawrence Tech and Michigan State seem to be the only libraries with reported holdings in MI, if you were to angle for an interlibrary loan...

George Kelley said...

And the Kelley Collection ( https://library.buffalo.edu/specialcollections/rarebooks/kelley/) has a copy of A PIECE OF SILENCE by Jack Livingston.

Todd Mason said...

Maureen Corrigan manages to mispronounce BEWARE THE WOMAN, but at least they show the cover at the same time on tonight's PBS NEWSHOUR.

TracyK said...

I haven't heard of this author either, Patti. Maybe someday I will run into a copy. There are copies on Abebooks, so they might show up at the book sale too.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I missed it but watched online. Didn't even catch the mispronunciation. Nice holiday present.
When I think of these old series, I remember how much more low-keyed these novels were

Todd Mason said...

She refers to it as BEWARE THE WOMEN, so not Too misleading, but as she pairs it with I Was Surprised To Find Feminist Content in a (Mere is implied, despite her bouncing on the edges of CF fandom) Suspense Novel, it adds to my lack of full appreciation of MC.

But a plug is a plug.

I think there was striving for realism in '70s/'80s CF that tends to have been filtered into naturalism since. And a resurgence of what might be referred to as conscious artifice.

Todd Mason said...

The data mining at my blog is in overdrive today (about 3500 hits), but among those items getting the most attention is the CONCRETE ANGEL blog-tour interview...

pattinase (abbott) said...

Wow was that long ago now. Hardly remember writing it.

Todd Mason said...

https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2015/06/patricia-abbott-concrete-angel-and-more.html

Todd Mason said...

Does everyone get occasional obvious data-mining spikes such as this...or perhaps Taylor Swift tweeted about me again. (Or never has.)