Kill Now Pay Later

When Ben Gates took the job guarding the presents at a ritzy upper-class wedding, he thought it would be a simple assignment: stand around, look tough, and make sure none of the bridesmaids walk off with the jewelry. But that was before someone slipped sleeping pills into Ben’s coffee and a bizarre robbery attempt left two people dead. Now Ben’s reputation is on the line – and if he doesn’t figure out which of three beautiful women is hiding a murderous secret, his life may be as well…

If Nero Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie, would ever admit to an Achilles' heel-which they wouldn't-it would be a weakness for damsels in distress. In these three charming chillers the duo answer the call of helpless heroines with nothing to lose-except their lives. First a beautiful young Aphrodite comes to Nero looking for a hero-and the answer to the mystery of her father's death....Then an old flame of Archie's reignites with a plan that may corner him into a lifetime commitment-behind bars....And finally a detective's work is never done, as a hot tip leads the team into the sizzling center of a sexy scandal that could leave them cold-dead cold.

She had a glass in one hand, a champagne bottle in the other, and trouble splashed all over her lovely lush body. Something hit me . . . and I blacked out. Right at the wrong time. The next thing I knew, a not-so-friendly voice belonging to an even less friendly police lieutenant was saying, "Crocked to the gills, lipstick all over your face, and two people dead because you don't know the meaning of the word responsibility. There is nothing I hate more than a lousy private eye, and before I'm finished with you I'm going to have your license." The fog was rolling in my head. Funny, I thought. What would a cop want with a license to be a private eye? The fog cleared, but I couldn't laugh. The joke was on me. One of the best private detective series in the "hard-boiled" genre. A must read for any fan of this style of writing. "Ben Gates is one of few engaging new private investigators, wry, jaunty, saucy and literate."-NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE 1961

Dive back into the case files of the no-nonsense detective, Ms. Tree, in another incredible volume of passion, crime and murder. Famed Hard Case Crime author Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition) and genre-defining artist Terry Beatty deliver five thrilling adventures from the exploits of Ms. Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm-carrying private eye. No matter the danger, no matter the risk, she’ll solve the case – no matter the cost. Featuring an insightful foreword by the author plus a sneak peek at the first novel to star the iconic heroine, Deadly Beloved. “Ideal for anyone who loves a bit of throwback hardboiled pulp.” – Crime Fiction Lover

Joanna Tan is back, sexier and deadlier than ever… She’ll get you the weapon you need, when you need it, where you need it – no matter how impossible. They call her GUN HONEY. But this time, somebody else is planting the weapons. Somebody who’s causing a lot of trouble. And with Joanna’s MO, the authorities are making her their number one suspect. It’s now up to Joanna to prove her innocence, and find the woman responsible for framing her for murder! Created by award-winning co-founder of Hard Case Crime Charles Ardai, and illustrated by breakout artist Ang Hor Kheng, GUN HONEY: BLOOD FOR BLOOD is a fast-paced mystery thriller that fans of the first graphic novel and classic pulp crime fiction will love.

From the minds of Road to Perdition author Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty comes another astounding collection of Ms. Tree comics featuring four classic crime cases, plus two bonus short stories. Follow Ms. Michael Tree, the 6ft, 9mm-carrying private eye, through her thrilling casebook as she races to solve crimes of passion, murder, and intrigue! No case is too small, no violence is too extreme – just as long as it gets the job done. The black widow of detective fiction returns in this third volume of classic Ms. Tree stories by the award-winning writer Max Allan Collins.