Erle A706 (1967)

Title : Kill Me in Yoshiwara

Author : Earl Norman

Cover art : Barye Phillips?  

  [Japan : Erle A706, 1967. Pseud. Norman Thompson. Burns Bannion No. 5].

style *** 

substance *

collectibility ***

I must confess that until I came across this minor gem at a thrift store I hadn’t heard of the Earl Norman books. Apparently the hero is a kind of Mike Hammer who operates in exotic locales, most specifically Japan. Anyway, like the Hammer tomes the Norman books have appeared to decidedly mixed critical acclaim. The uncredited sleaze/cheesecake cover is executed in the Barye Phillips style, and at least one source lists Phillips as the artist. The semi-nude girl lying on bed looks back enticingly at our hero. Is she supposed to be Japanese/exotic? She actually seems to have quite Caucasian features. Whatever.

   Review by Tom Johnson at Pulpden.