Books in Order: A Comprehensive Guide to Richard S. Prather's Publications

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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

Start with Book 1: The Case of the Vanishing Beauty

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Start here The Case of the Vanishing Beauty (1950) 📚 Find The Case of the Vanishing Beauty on Amazon →
Bodies in Bedlam (1951) 📚 Find Bodies in Bedlam on Amazon →
Everybody Had a Gun (1951) 📚 Find Everybody Had a Gun on Amazon →
Find This Woman (1951) 📚 Find Find This Woman on Amazon →
Dagger of Flesh (1952) 📚 Find Dagger of Flesh on Amazon →
Darling, It’s Death (1952) 📚 Find Darling, It’s Death on Amazon →
Way of a Wanton (1952) 📚 Find Way of a Wanton on Amazon →
Pattern for Murder / The Scrambled Yeggs (1952) 📚 Find Pattern for Murder / The Scrambled Yeggs on Amazon →
Always Leave ’em Dying (1953) 📚 Find Always Leave ’em Dying on Amazon →
Ride a High Horse / Too Many Crooks (1953) 📚 Find Ride a High Horse / Too Many Crooks on Amazon →
Pattern for Panic (1954) 📚 Find Pattern for Panic on Amazon →
Strip for Murder (1956) 📚 Find Strip for Murder on Amazon →
The Wailing Frail (1956) 📚 Find The Wailing Frail on Amazon →
Have Gat – Will Travel (1957) 📚 Find Have Gat – Will Travel on Amazon →
Three’s a Shroud (1957) 📚 Find Three’s a Shroud on Amazon →
Slab Happy (1958) 📚 Find Slab Happy on Amazon →
Take a Murder, Darling (1958) 📚 Find Take a Murder, Darling on Amazon →
Over Her Dear Body (1959) 📚 Find Over Her Dear Body on Amazon →
Double in Trouble (1959) 📚 Find Double in Trouble on Amazon →
Dance with the Dead (1960) 📚 Find Dance with the Dead on Amazon →
Dig That Crazy Grave (1961) 📚 Find Dig That Crazy Grave on Amazon →
Shell Scott’s Seven Slaughters (1961) 📚 Find Shell Scott’s Seven Slaughters on Amazon →
Kill the Clown (1962) 📚 Find Kill the Clown on Amazon →
Dead Heat (1963) 📚 Find Dead Heat on Amazon →
Joker in the Deck (1964) 📚 Find Joker in the Deck on Amazon →
The Cockeyed Corpse (1964) 📚 Find The Cockeyed Corpse on Amazon →
The Trojan Hearse (1964) 📚 Find The Trojan Hearse on Amazon →
Dead Man’s Walk (1965) 📚 Find Dead Man’s Walk on Amazon →
Kill Him Twice (1965) 📚 Find Kill Him Twice on Amazon →
The Meandering Corpse (1965) 📚 Find The Meandering Corpse on Amazon →
The Kubla Khan Caper (1966) 📚 Find The Kubla Khan Caper on Amazon →
Gat Heat (1967) 📚 Find Gat Heat on Amazon →
The Cheim Manuscript (1969) 📚 Find The Cheim Manuscript on Amazon →
Kill Me Tomorrow (1969) 📚 Find Kill Me Tomorrow on Amazon →
The Shell Scott Sampler (1969) 📚 Find The Shell Scott Sampler on Amazon →
Dead-Bang (1971) 📚 Find Dead-Bang on Amazon →
The Sweet Ride (1972) 📚 Find The Sweet Ride on Amazon →
The Sure Thing (1975) 📚 Find The Sure Thing on Amazon →
The Amber Effect (1986) 📚 Find The Amber Effect on Amazon →
Shellshock (1987) 📚 Find Shellshock on Amazon →
The Death Gods (2011) 📚 Find The Death Gods on Amazon →