L.J. Washburn

Mystery/Western Writer
wildnite.jpg (15808 bytes) Winner of The American Mystery Award and The Private Eye Writers Of America's Best Original Paperback Award.

Hollywood in the twenties was a fantastic place to be . . . if you were successful.  Lucas Hallam worked two jobs, movie cowboy and private detective.  As a former Pinkerton man and a Texas Ranger, Hallam thought he'd worked on just about every kind of case there was.  Then he ran into Elton Forbes, founder of the Holiness Temple of Faith, a cult with far more enemies than followers . . .

Here's the real Hollywood of the studio days . .  . glamour, glitz, and an underside of dark and dangerous secrets.
"True-to-life characters with a dash of 1920's seasoning . . . a satisfying read."             --Publishers Weekly

"There is more tension than in a barbed-wire fence."                                      --The Los Angeles Times

"A striking original detective set against a lush, fascinating narrative backdrop." --The Dallas Morning News

Buy a signed hardback  copy of Wild Night at The Book Place

Tie A Black Ribbon

By James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn
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Five Star Mystery, March 2000Buy signed copy at THE BOOK PLACE

 Skeeter Barlow spends her nights as head of security for the Horsehead Bar and Grill . . . in other words, she bounces rowdy cowboys before they cause serious problems. Skeeter developed early, her mama said, and didn't stop for quite a while. A shade under six feet and a shade over a hundred and fifty pounds, she's big and well proportioned in her snug jeans, Western shirt, and comfortable boots. But, during the day, Skeeter is a private investigator. The two jobs intertwine when she's hired to locate a missing dog. What should have been an easy investigation turns into mayhem, and Skeeter has to dance pretty fast to stay ahead of dogfighters, crooked cops, mobsters, and a few other bad ol' boys in this fast-paced tale of bad guys and the gals who hunt them down.
"James Reasoner is a pro's pro."  --Mystery Scene

"Livia Washburn's Hallam mysteries are among the best thrillers of the '90's. --Mystery News
L.J. Washburn's first story appeared in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine.  After Selling WILD NIGHT which had a strong western influence, Washburn decided to try writing a western.  EPITAPH, published by M. Evans in 1988 & reprinted in 1990 by Pocket Books, was a result of researching her own family.  But this was just the beginning.  GHOST RIVER, published by M. Evans in 1988, was written while she was pregnant and definitely had mystic elements.  BANDERA PASS, published by M. Evans in 1989 continues where EPITAPH leaves off with an older Hank Littleton in the beautiful hill country of Texas.  RIDERS OF THE MONTE, published by M. Evans in 1990 and reprinted by Jove in 1998, is also a continuation of EPITAPH but with Buffalo Newcomb.  The last M. Evans novel was RED RIVER RUSE published in 1991.  If you read very many of the Reasoner/Washburn novels or short stories you'll find many instances of characters crossing over or relatives of characters.  For instance, Lucas Hallam (WILD NIGHT) is the grandson of Esau (THE EMERALD LAND) and his daughter Beth Hallam (short story in Feline & Famous: Cat Crimes Goes Hollywood) owns the agency where Skeeter Barlow works (TIE A BLACK RIBBON).   Skeeter is related to the Barlows of the ABILENE series.  And of course Elizabeth Hallam is the pen-name for Livia's romances.  It would be interesting to see how many of these stories are tied together in James' and Livia's tales.

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