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