Cleve Adams American mystery writer Date of Birth: 05.09.1894 Country: USA

1. Biography of Clive Adams
2. Early Writing Career
3. Later Career and Legacy
4. Selected Bibliography
5. Novels written under the pseudonym John Spain:

Biography of Clive Adams

Clive Franklin Adams, an American detective writer, was known as the author of thrilling detective novels. He was often referred to as the link between the works of Dashiell Hammett and James Ellroy by many critics. Adams was born on September 5, 1894, in Chicago. Before becoming a writer, he had a variety of unimaginable professions and was forced to wander and make a living through odd jobs. Adams worked as a copper miner, an art director at a film studio, an insurance agent, and a private detective.

Early Writing Career

Similar to Raymond Chandler, Adams took up writing later in life, when he was in his fifties, after he allegedly beat his typewriter. His first stories appeared in ordinary magazines that published numerous stories of average quality during that time. However, as Adams' creativity became more popular, his stories were accepted by well-known magazines of that time, such as The Black Mask and others. By the end of the 1930s, his name appeared in various magazines several times a month, and in 1940, he published his first detective novel, "And Sudden Death." In the following years, he published two more novels, "The Black Door" and "Decoy." However, these novels were actually reworked versions of his earlier stories. All three novels featured the tough and hard-boiled private detective Rex McBride. The novels had multiple plotlines and stylistically resembled Hammett's novels, albeit with slightly darker content. Adams was accused of excessive rudeness and some chaotic plot construction, which led to allegations of pro-fascist tendencies. However, his colleagues appreciated Adams' unconventional plots, and the writer continued to accumulate experience and symbolic capital.

Later Career and Legacy

Adams' subsequent novels became increasingly furious and attracted attention not only from readers, who provided him with numerous enthusiastic responses, but also from directors. Based on their recommendations, film companies acquired the rights to his novels. However, the author suddenly disappeared from the writing scene. Adams was known for his friendliness and counted Robert Belleme, another author of thrilling detective novels, among his closest friends. Initially, they published a novel under the joint pseudonym Franklin Charles. After Adams' sudden death, Belleme completed some of his works.

Despite the small number of published novels, Adams, including the completed ones with Belleme, wrote a total of 11 novels. The novels can be grouped into two series based on the names of the main characters: the Rex McBride series and the John J. Shannon series. Clive Adams passed away on December 28, 1949.

Selected Bibliography

- "And Sudden Death" (1940)
- "Sabotage" (1940)
- "The Black Door" (1941)
- "Decoy" (1941)
- "The Private Eye" (1942)
- "What Price Murder" (1942)
- "Up Jumped the Devil" (1943)
- "The Crooking Finger" (1944)
- "Contraband" (1950)
- "No Wings on a Cop" (1950)
- "Shady Lady" (1955)

Novels written under the pseudonym John Spain:

- "Dig Me a Grave" (1942)
- "Death Is Like That" (1943)
- "Evil Star" (1944)