kate pilarcik

THE DAMP FEDORA introduces 1940's detective Nelle Callahan, gal gumshoe with gumption, with a case that struts its stuff like the breeze off a good Narragansett sail. Brisk. Brash. Knowing where the wind's coming from, and yet … wondering. Nelle's job? Cut through some slick con's shadow, lift a corner of chintz off the mist, let some truth shine in for the chippies and the chopper squad — you know — menfolk who measure themselves by how big their tommy guns really are.

In this outing, Nelle finds herself helping a damp fedora wearing Harry — who's not a Harry — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Eddie Waitkus, MLB pitcher Paul Katcher and her OSS handler-agent, none other than former White Sox catcher Moe Berg.

Praise for THE DAMP FEDORA …

"Original, distinctive, and quirky, there's something legendary about Kate's writing. 'Writing' doesn't fully describe the evocative prose, it sings off the page with the sultriness of a Hollywood starlet and raps with the cool of the Rat Pack. I can't decide if she carries her pen in a holster on her stockinged thigh or in a violin case alongside her Tommy gun." — Matt Hilton, author of the international bestseller Joe Hunter thrillers

"Fair warning — you are about to be enveloped by a whirlwind. A soft whirlwind of words and snappy pat-ter and hoods wide shouldering the front seat of mid-night sedans and a ball player on the outs and back ins and gats and tommyguns of the 45 persuasion ratatat-tating and the best cuppa joe in the world and a rock hard chunk of chocolate that ain't candy and Sinatra croonin' and Wind-song all over your mind and some secret and not-so-secret agents … and … and … and if this all sounds confusing, just keep in mind what Nelle Towse Callahan tells ya right out in front: 'Some-thing's up. Something always is.' Remember that and you'll be all right, bub. You will be exactly all right." — A.J. (Bill) Hayes, revered crime-noir author of our thriller times, who left us in shadows way too damn soon