Slice of P.I.: “Blood and Honey”

(Part of a series celebrating fictional private eyes.)



Blood and Honey, by G.G. Fickling (Pyramid, 1961). Here we find the eighth novel starring Honey West, often touted as “the nerviest, curviest P.I. in Los Angeles—or anywhere else for that matter.” The character was created in the late 1950s by the husband-and-wife writing team of Gloria and Forrest E. Fickling under their “G.G. Fickling” pseudonym. Cover art by Robert Maguire.

READ MORE: “Gloria Fickling, Who Helped Create Honey West, TV’s First Female Detective, Still a Force 60 Years Later,” by Erika I. Ritchie (Orange County Register); “You Can’t Keep a Good Gal Down: An Interview with Gloria Fickling, the Real Honey West,” by Kevin Burton Smith (The Thrilling Detective Web Site).

My Kind of Book: “Dig a Dead Doll”

Dig a Dead Doll, by G.G. Fickling (Pyramid, 1960). This happens to be the seventh novel starring Honey West, “the nerviest, curviest P.I. in Los Angeles—or anywhere else for that matter,” who was created in the 1950s by the husband-and-wife writing team of Gloria and Forrest E. Fickling under their “G.G. Fickling” pseudonym. Cover art by Robert Maguire.

The Lesser Look: “Bombshell”

Part of a month-long celebration of Ron Lesser’s artistic legacy.



Bombshell, by “G.G. Fickling,” the pseudonym of Gloria and Forest Fickling (Pyramid, 1964). This is the ninth entry in their series starring private eye (later spy) Honey West. The model for this cover was artist Lesser’s wife, Claudia.

Hot Stuff

Yesterday, author and editor Win Scott Eckert kicked off what he says will be 11 straight days of Honey West book covers decorating his blog. The first front posted was from the 1957 Pyramid Books edition of This Girl for Hire, by G.G. Fickling, with artwork by Harry Schaare. Today brings us another Schaare illustration, this one adorning the 1958 Pyramid paperback Girl on the Loose. It’ll be interesting to see what other treats Eckert has prepared for the next nine days.

Learn more about Honey West here and here.