The Ed & Am Hunter Mysteries Series

A detective scours Chicago for his missing uncle in this classic mystery by “a real pro—a natural storyteller” (The New York Times Book Review).   Young Ed Hunter and his uncle Ambrose, an ex-carnie, have been making their mark as private detectives in post-WWII Chicago, and one day their agency gets a call from someone seeking help. Apparently, the problem involves carnivals, so Ambrose steps in to put his expertise to work—and then disappears.   To find his partner, Ed will have to pound the seedy streets of the city, get involved with a fortune teller, and delve into an old story about an “Ambrose collector,” in this smart, quirky entry in the Edgar Award–winning series.

“An engaging pair of detectives” at a traveling carnival look to capture a heartless killer in this entry in the Edgar Award–winning series (The New York Times).   As a band of carnies moves through the Midwest putting on shows for the rubes, it seems a killer is traveling along with them. The first victim is one of the pint-size performers, and two more tragedies soon follow.   Fortunately, Ed Hunter and his uncle Ambrose are there—and they have some sleuthing experience in their recent past. So even though Ed’s a little distracted by a fetching female, they intend to track down this midway murderer . . .

A woman’s wild story about killers from space leads two Chicago detectives into a bizarre case in this mystery by the Edgar Award–winning author.   Ed and Ambrose Hunter, nephew and uncle, have partnered up to open their own detective agency in early 1950s Chicago. With their experience solving the case of Ed’s father’s murder, among others, they have the skills to take criminals down. And as carnies, they’ve encountered all sorts of unusual characters.   But it’s still a surprise when a woman asks them to protect her from the Martians who are supposedly targeting her. It’s an easy story to scoff at, but when she actually turns up dead soon afterward, Ed and Am are resolved to find out who on Earth is responsible . . .   “[Ed and Am are] an engaging pair of detectives.” —The New York Times

A dead man and a pile of missing money have two Chicago detectives investigating the deceased’s daughter in this entry in the Edgar Award–winning series.   Tens of thousands of dollars have disappeared from the city of Chicago’s coffers, and the late Jason Rogers is the likely embezzler. So Rogers’s daughter seems to be the one to interview to determine where the funds are stashed.   But the nephew-and-uncle team of Ed and Ambrose Hunter is hitting a brick wall as the woman remains tight-lipped and loyal. The pair of private detectives is going to have to dig deeper if they want to balance the books of justice . . .   “[Fredric Brown is] a real pro—a natural storyteller.” —The New York Times Book Review