Bullet Proof: A Johnny Liddell Mystery

Frank Kane

Aug 2025 · Bonhopai Books

Ebook

136

Pages

Eligible

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About this ebook

Bullet Proof plunges readers into the gritty, hardboiled world of Johnny Liddell, Frank Kane's wisecracking New York private eye. When a seemingly routine case explodes into a web of murder, mob politics, and double-dealing, Liddell finds himself navigating a dangerous cityscape where the wrong move can be fatal. The streets are thick with shadowy informants, tough-talking gangsters, and dames whose loyalty is as slippery as their charm. With his trademark blend of cynicism, street smarts, and relentless persistence, Liddell digs for the truth, knowing full well that in his line of work, trust is a luxury and bullets are always in plentiful supply.

Kane's prose crackles with sharp dialogue and rapid pacing, perfectly matching the noir atmosphere of smoky bars, rain-slick alleys, and backroom deals gone sour. Every lead takes Liddell deeper into a conspiracy where lawmen and criminals blur into the same shade of gray, and the only way out is through a gauntlet of lies and violence. The action is punctuated by moments of sardonic humor, giving the novel a distinctive personality that keeps the tension taut yet engaging.

First published during the golden age of American pulp fiction, Bullet Proof delivers all the hallmarks of the genre—tight plotting, colorful underworld characters, and a hero who's as tough as he is resourceful. For fans of classic detective fiction, it's a reminder that the mean streets will always belong to those willing to walk them with their eyes open and their nerve intact.

Bullet Proof plunges readers into the gritty, hardboiled world of Johnny Liddell, Frank Kane's wisecracking New York private eye. When a seemingly routine case explodes into a web of murder, mob politics, and double-dealing, Liddell finds himself navigating a dangerous cityscape where the wrong m...

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About the author

Frank Kane (1912–1968) was an American author best known for his prolific output of hardboiled detective fiction, particularly the long-running Johnny Liddell series. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kane worked in journalism and radio before turning to fiction, bringing a sharp ear for dialogue and a feel for urban grit to his storytelling. Over his career, he penned more than forty novels and hundreds of short stories, many appearing in leading pulp magazines of the era. Kane's creation, Johnny Liddell, became a fixture of mid-century crime fiction—a tough, wisecracking private eye navigating a morally ambiguous underworld. Kane's work stood out for its snappy prose, fast-moving plots, and colorful gallery of gangsters, cops, and femme fatales. Though firmly rooted in the conventions of the noir tradition, his stories carried a distinct energy and personality, earning him a loyal readership and a lasting place in the history of American pulp literature.

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