Death Rides The Valkyrie

One of pulpdom's most popular characters is back in a new adventure! Stalwart District Attorney Tony Quinn fought for justice in the courtroom until he was blinded in an attempt to save vital evidence. His remaining senses were heightened while his world remained dark. But then fate intervened and he was able to obtain the eyes of a dying policeman in a secret operation. Quinn could see again! Now to the world he remains a merely a blind, former DA but, to the criminal underworld, he is the BLACK BAT! A force for justice against the criminals the court can't touch.

On the eve of World War Two, Germany's greatest zeppelin, The Valkyrie, is on a good will tour across the US.

But there's trouble on board and disaster on the horizon if Tony Quinn, the Black Bat, and his crew can't solve the mystery of a stolen jewel in time. And why did a reformed thief suddenly commit suicide? Or did he? The clock is ticking and peace hangs in the balance!

Death Rides The Valkyrie (Pulp Adventure)

By Andrew Salmon

Timepiece Press

ASIN #B012AA52O6

Price $.99 (Kindle)

68 Pages

Rating 4-Stars

The Valkyrie, Germany’s greatest zeppelin is flying over America showing their superiority over our air space. In New York it takes on Tony Quinn and his aides, as well as Captain McGrath, who is publicizing the rehabilitation of a career criminal. This is to give plausibility to the plot. The trip plans stops in Chicago and L.A. While en route to Chicago a valuable ruby is stolen from a countess, and prints on the safe are revealed as those of the career criminal. But other things are happening. There appears to be a mysterious German team aboard, and one of them has a cloak of invisibility.

The whole story takes place on the airship, which gives it a fun read. The theft of the ruby is a red herring, however, and the real plot is the destruction of the zeppelin, with thousands of deaths, and clues to America causing the disaster.

The author switches roles with the aides a bit. Butch doesn’t get to bang any heads together, and it’s Silk who does the fisticuffs, while lovely Carol does the shooting (yeah, inside a gas bag). Plus, I didn’t think the setting was a good choice for The Black Bat, though the story was well written and plotted. The magic cloak was a bit odd for the pulp character, too, though Germany was sure into the occult at the time; though the pulps usually tried to give explanations to the reader for mysteries like invisibility. And we’re told that when the career criminal was rehabilitated, he was given new fingerprints. Really? That one I really wanted explained. But in the end, this was a fun read, and the author kept me involved in the story. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE BLACK BAT’S WAR

Behind The Mask Volume 2

BEHIND THE MASK Volume 2 by Tom Johnson. Published by FADING SHADOWS. Titles and cover design by Tom TV Powers. When the most valuable diamond in the world in stolen right under the watchful eyes of Burton Blayne, it’s a direct challenge to Funny Face, the Nemesis of the underworld. But despite all his efforts, the Star of Africa eludes him.

When a young man is found dead by cobra venom, Inspector Gregg calls in the underworld’s greatest enemy, the Phantom Detective. But before the crimefighter can unravel the mystery, Steve Huston is beaten by hoodlums, and Muriel Havens is captured by the gang. Will the Phantom reach the mastermind before another dies from cobra venom?

When the Man In Purple uncovers an evil plot of massive greed, his team of rogues plan to remove their ill-gotten gain from their vaults, but he soon discovers that these seven men of crime are as vicious as any mad dog, and a wrong move on his part could easily end his young career.

         A small time gang kills a patrol officer during a robbery, and Captain McGrath wants Tony Quinn’s help in discovering the killers. Meanwhile, the Phantom Detective also wants something from Tony Quinn, and the Black Bat might have a say in the matter.

         Now available on Amazon Kindle for $2.99, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XN5XZ88/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488391843&sr=1-1&keywords=behind+the+mask+volume+2+by+tom+johnson

The Pulp Detectives

THE PULP DETECTIVES, the short story collection by Tom Johnson. For the first time, nine all-new stories starring the classic pulp heroes of the 1930s, featuring characters such as The Phantom Detective, The Black Bat, The Lone Eagle, The Masked Detective, Secret Agent X and Nightwind. Written by pulp scholar Tom Johnson, it's nearly 400 pages of excitement! Published and available from ALTUS PRESS in hardback and paperback. It is also available in Paperback on Amazon for $24.95 at http://www.amazon.com/Pulp-Detectives-Tom-Johnson/dp/1450509444/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Black Bat's War

THE BLACK BAT’S WAR by Tom Johnson. In the trenches of war-torn Germany, soldiers were dying from the medicines they received for their wounds. The Army generals blamed America for the bad drugs, yet nothing could be done until the source of the deadly medicine was uncovered and replaced with good drugs. While investigators are stymied, The Black Bat and his team of crime fighters take up the challenge in New York, uncovering a giant plot by a master criminal. But would they be in time to save brave young soldiers dying of their wounds in a far off No-Man’s Land? Available on Amazon Kindle for $1.99 at http://www.amazon.com/Black-Bats-War-Tom-Johnson-ebook/dp/B00C0ZAIDC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The Black Bat

“The Black Bat” by Tom Johnson. The cover of Tom’s original research data first published in FADING SHADOWS in 1990, with a cover by Bobb Cotter. For the collector, this is still available from Tom for $5.00, plus postage. However, this was later expanded for ALTUS PRESS, and released in a larger and more in-depth piece of work. Published as THE BLACK BAT COMPANION, it is available for $26.96 from Altus Press at www.altuspress.com and Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Black-Bat-Companion-Tom-Johnson/dp/1618270109/ref=la_B008MM81CM_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422797734&sr=1-5