Books in Order: A Comprehensive Guide to Richard S. Prather's Publications
Books in Order: A Deep Dive into the Author Richard S. Prather’s Accomplishments and Unique Writing Style
Richard S. Prather (1921-2007), a prominent author hailing from America, was renowned for his compelling hard-boiled investigator novels. His most distinguished work was the awe-inspiring Shell Scott series that wowed readers with its gripping narrative and dynamic plot.
Born and raised in California, Richard developed a deep love for literature from a young age. This fondness for the written word led him to study at Riverbank Junior College. After serving diligently during World War II as a firefighter, oiler, and technologist, he married and settled into civilian life, working as a chief clerk at an Air Force base.
However, Richard always nurtured the ambition of becoming a full-time writer. His dedication to fulfill his dream led him to devote around 16 hours a day to writing, only taking intermittent breaks for meals. His hard work paved the way for his resounding success in the field of writing.
Richard’s journey as an author began in 1950 with his debut novel titled The Case of the Vanishing Beauty. However, his relationship with Pocket Books ran into a snag, prompting him to take a break from writing. During this phase, he occupied himself with growing avocados. After nine long years, Richard made a triumphant return to writing with the novel The Amber Effect, published in 1986.
A Comprehensive List of Richard S. Prather’s Books in Order
Books in order of their publication serves as an excellent roadmap for navigating an author’s work. Below is an exhaustive list of Richard S. Prather’s books in order of their release:
Publication Order of Shell Scott Books
| The Case of the Vanishing Beauty | (1950) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Bodies in Bedlam | (1951) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Everybody Had a Gun | (1951) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Find This Woman | (1951) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dagger of Flesh | (1952) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Darling, It’s Death | (1952) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Way of a Wanton | (1952) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Pattern for Murder / The Scrambled Yeggs | (1952) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Always Leave ’em Dying | (1953) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Ride a High Horse / Too Many Crooks | (1953) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Pattern for Panic | (1954) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Strip for Murder | (1956) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Wailing Frail | (1956) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Have Gat – Will Travel | (1957) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Three’s a Shroud | (1957) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Slab Happy | (1958) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Take a Murder, Darling | (1958) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Over Her Dear Body | (1959) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Double in Trouble | (1959) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dance with the Dead | (1960) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dig That Crazy Grave | (1961) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Shell Scott’s Seven Slaughters | (1961) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Kill the Clown | (1962) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dead Heat | (1963) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Joker in the Deck | (1964) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Cockeyed Corpse | (1964) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Trojan Hearse | (1964) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dead Man’s Walk | (1965) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Kill Him Twice | (1965) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Meandering Corpse | (1965) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Kubla Khan Caper | (1966) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Gat Heat | (1967) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Cheim Manuscript | (1969) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Kill Me Tomorrow | (1969) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Shell Scott Sampler | (1969) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Dead-Bang | (1971) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Sweet Ride | (1972) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Sure Thing | (1975) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Amber Effect | (1986) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| Shellshock | (1987) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |
| The Death Gods | (2011) | 📚 Buy on Amazon |