Halo in Brass
Pocket Books, 1950. Item #82128
John Evans
Halo in Brass
1st Printing, Pocket Book 709, 1950, Very Good condition.
“Halo in Brass” is a hardboiled detective novel by John Evans, a pseudonym used by Howard Browne. It was first published in the 1940s as part of the popular Pocket Book series — this specific edition is Pocket Book #709.
Overview:
• Genre: Crime / Noir / Hardboiled Fiction
• Tagline: “She expected her lover… but DEATH walked in.”
• Author: John Evans (Howard Browne)
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Cover Style: Classic pulp illustration — featuring a sultry blonde, a mysterious shadowy figure in the background, and suggestive, moody lighting, typical of mid-20th-century pulp novels.
Story:
The book features Paul Pine, a Chicago-based private eye, who appeared in a series of novels written by Browne under the Evans pseudonym. In Halo in Brass, Pine investigates the suspicious disappearance of a beautiful young woman and uncovers a web of deceit, corruption, and danger in high places. The story blends sardonic humor with tight, noir plotting.
Notable:
• The Paul Pine series is often compared favorably to Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe stories.
• Browne was not only a novelist but also an editor for Amazing Stories and later a screenwriter in Hollywood.
This title is a fine example of mid-century pulp fiction, known for its fast pace, cynical tone, and morally ambiguous characters. It’s especially prized by collectors for its vivid cover art and its place in the noir canon.
Price: $25.00