Bestselling American novelist Edward Sidney Aarons (1916-1975) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he began his writing journey at a young age. His determination to pursue fiction was sparked when he won a collegiate short story contest in 1933.
Aarons is perhaps best known for his acclaimed “Assignment” series, which features the tough CIA operative Sam Durell, affectionately known as Cajun, a nod to his Louisiana roots. The remarkable series spans 42 books and achieved notable commercial success, selling over 23 million copies worldwide and being translated into 17 languages.
In addition to his success in espionage fiction, Aarons made a significant mark in the detective genre during the 1940s and early 1950s. Writing under the pseudonym Edward Ronns, he published more than two dozen mysteries with various prominent paperback publishers, including Fawcett, Avon, and Pyramid.
This month, Stark House Press has released a twofer containing Death in a Lighthouse and Murder Money, a pair of standalone works originally published in 1938 under the Edward Ronns name. The first title, Aarons’s earliest copyrighted work, is a fast-paced suspense novel later published as The Cowl of Doom. The second, Murder Money, also known as $1,000,000 in Corpses, is a twisted, blood-soaked drama populated by a diverse cast of characters.
While these earlier works may not exhibit the same level of craftsmanship as his celebrated “Assignment” series, they are certainly worth exploring. The collection also includes my essay, “The Elusive Gangster and the Money Tree,” which delves into the characters and critical reception of these novels.
You can purchase this excellent double-novel collection, Death in a Lighthouse / Murder Money, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble using the provided links.