Thursday, June 13, 2013

Paperback 659: The French Key / Frank Gruber (Belmont B75-2040)

Paperback 659: Belmont B75-2040 (1st thus, 1970)

Title: The French Key
Author: Frank Gruber
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $6

BelB752040

Best things about this cover:
  • The Detective Had A Coin Torso! You'll Flip (!) For This Mystery!
  • I believe this font is called "hyper-serif."
  • See, here's the thing. There's really only one thing to say about this cover—more girl, less Captain Coin-Body.
  • Frank Gruber was a prolific writer for pulp and paperback market. This book was originally published in 1939.

BelB752040bc

Best things about this back cover:
  • Bah, the '60s continue to suck at all things book design.
  • To its credit, this cover does have NUMISMATISTS!!!
  • What will Johnny do with the blonde who says "I never tell the truth"? Careful, Johnny! It's a paradox!

Page 123~

Johnny dropped a coin on the counter and picked up a section of newspaper. He rolled the section of lead in the paper, gripped it at one end and smacked the other end into his palm.

The plumber grinned. "Oh, it's like that, huh?"

Dang. You do not want to disappoint Johnny with shoddy workmanship.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]

2 comments:

Britt Reid said...

While the cover artist is uncredited, the male model is Steve Holland, a regular on Western, action, and mystery paperbacks as well as the model for James Bama's iconic Doc Savage paperback covers.

Michael5000 said...

Misread the header as a "Beaumont and Fletcher" mystery. Now disappointed.