Circus fat-lady turned private detective Violet McDade is not your typical femme fatale, but she's a definitely a femme, and there are few more fatal. With her partner (and narrator), the slim, trim Nevada Alvarado, she starred in at least a dozen novelettes in Clues Detective Stories. Violet packs a pair of .45s at all times, and welcomes any excuse to start slinging lead. In one tale, after gunning down a lady murderer, she deliberately steps on her rather than walk around.
"The Voice," from the Sept. 1936 issue, actually delivers three femme fatales for the price of one. Along with Violet, we get Nevada and her high-society pal Kay, a suspected dope smuggler. Cleve Adams obviously had a lot of fun writing this story, and I had fun reading it. I think you will too.
Your FFB Femme Fatale Headquarters is pattinase.
This was good, and fun. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Cap'n Bob on this one! I've never read a VIOLET MCDADE adventure before. Very entertaining! Of course, I have read Cleve F. Adams and enjoyed his other work, too.
ReplyDeleteThey are fun. Like Hammet’s Bodies Piled Up was fun. Too bad they are not collected! And same with Carrie Cashin, too.
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