James M. Cain 1946 Photo: AP / TT
Sample of authors
Cain, James M.
The American author and journalist James Mallahan Cain was a prominent figure in 20th century fiction. Alongside Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, he was among the first authors of "hardboiled" crime fiction that came to influence American noir fiction and film. Many of his works are considered classics, especially the novellas The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) and Double Indemnity...
Literary figures
Patrick Petrella
Gender: Male
He spent his childhood in Spain, where his father was a police detective. When he was eight years old, his English mother sent him to her home country, and he came to stay there for good. Michael Gilbert has written two novels and more than 50 short stories about Patrick Petrella, who becomes a police officer, marries Jane Orfrey and has a son. Readers get to follow his professional career from...