Books in Order: Celebrating the Meticulous Mind of Craig Rice
The body of work from renowned author Craig Rice, born Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig, harbors a unique dimension woven into the tapestry of American literature. A profound exponent of mystery novels, her writing journey unfurled with her emblematic John J. Malone series. It is her unmatched ability to marry hardboiled detective fiction with a dose of light-hearted humor that truly sets her apart.
Her prolific career, spreading over two decades, saw her work with the likes of George Harmon Coxe and Gypsy Rose Lee, while also contributing to the body of work of Stuart Palmer and Ed McBain. Craig Rice’s fame crossed a significant landmark when she became the first female mystery writer to grace the cover of Time Magazine – a testament to her literary genius.
Commencing her narrative odyssey in 1939 with the novel “Eight Faces at Three”, which later also became known as “Death at Three”, Craig Rice embarked on an illustrious writing journey. Here is a vivid presentation of Books in Order: the journey through the penned universe of this enigmatic author.
Books in Order: Craig Rice’s Unique Writing Style
Rice’s writing style, a delightful mix of suspenseful mystery, and chirpy wit, is beautifully illustrated in the order of her books. From her debut novel to her subsequent works, you can trace her evolution as a writer, growing increasingly confident in the unique genre she seemed to have crafted solely for herself.
Books in Order: A Continual Legacy
Craig Rice left an indelible imprint with her captivating storytelling proficiencies. As we traverse her Books in Order, we inhabit a fascinating realm that intertwines complex mysteries infested with a sprinkle of lighthearted jest. What remains above all, is the unmissable imprint of a talented wordsmith whose novels continue to enthral readers, one book at a time.
Publication Order of John J. Malone Books
| Eight Faces at Three / Death at Three | (1939) |    |
| The Corpse Steps Out | (1940) | |
| The Wrong Murder | (1940) | |
| The Right Murder | (1941) | |
| Trial by Fury | (1941) | |
| The Big Midget Murders | (1942) | |
| Having a Wonderful Crime | (1943) | |
| The Lucky Stiff | (1945) | |
| The Fourth Postman | (1948) | |
| The Double Frame / Knocked for a Loop | (1957) | |
| My Kingdom for a Hearse | (1957) | |
| The Name is Malone | (1958) | |
| People vs. Withers & Malone | (1963) | |
| Murder, Mystery and Malone | (1963) | |
| But the Doctor Died | (1967) | |