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
Cliff Hardy
Gender: Male
Hard-boiled private detective in Sydney. Cliff Hardy was born in a poor working-class family, dropped out of his university studies and was an investigator for an insurance company before opening his own detective agency. Despite the fact that he usually dresses in shabby jeans and a leather jacket, he has many wealthy clients. He is a big man and in good condition, with coarse black hair and a...