Richard Aleas Books In Order

Publication Order of John Blake Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Richard Aleas denotes the name of an American penman whose birth name is Charles Ardai. In the run-up to choosing the said penman, Aleas considered tens of other potential pseudonyms among them Richard Darias and Richard A. Sale. Incidentally, the said names are anagrams. The penname Aleas—a homonym of alias—was hewed from his first name Charles. Even then Aleas has several books published under his legal name.

Richard Aleas is an entrepreneur and founded Juno Online Services, a company that provides Internet services. Aleas’ other professions include writing, editing, publishing, and producing TV shows. Aleas’ most notable brainchild is the Hard Case Crime series which he not only edits but also contributes to. Aleas is in his late forties and his birthday is year of birth is October 1969. New York City is the birthplace of Aleas.

In the context of his secondary education, Richard Aleas school at the Manhattan-situated Hunter College High School and was in the class of 1987. Aleas received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University whereby he studied literature, particularly British poetry; Aleas was in the class of 1991. Aleas’ work has graced the pages of notable magazines such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. American scribblers Isaac Asimov, Lawrence Block, and Richard Stark are among Aleas’ co-authors.

Richard Aleas: Historic Event Inspired Him
Richard Aleas’ mother and father were lucky to have survived the damnable Holocaust. Aleas’ parents recounted their tribulations during the Nazi-instigated pogrom, more so to demonstrate to Aleas and his siblings the dangers that existed outside their sheltered lives. Such stories form the basis of Aleas literary work.

During his teenage years, Richard Aleas was a fan of classic books and hard-boiled works. Some of the authors that influenced Aleas include American crime novelist Lawrence Block, American writer-cum-journalist James Mallahan Cain, and the late English penman Thomas Hardy.

Section on Books
Writing under the nom de plume name Richard Aleas, author Charles Ardai debuted in the mid-2000s and wrote a duology only; the duology has already been discussed in a previous article. Another series authored by Richard Aleas, albeit using his birth name, is contained in the serialized Hard Case Crime.

There are eight editions of Richard Aleas’ fiftieth book in the Hard Case Crime series. The first edition was initially published in November 2008, titled Fifty-to-One; and is shelved under the mystery, crime, and fiction genres. Patricia Heverstadt is the featured central character in the 2008 book entitled Fifty-to-One. Meet protagonist Patricia Heverstadt. Heverstadt, who hails from South Dakota, is a prospective author aged eighteen; she relocated to New York City wherein financial constraints compel her to become a dancer and get acquainted with a hideous publisher. Heverstadt doubles up as a showgirl at a nightclub operated by the mobster whereby her stage name is Trixie.

The turning point in thee book, Fifty-to-One, is when the publisher mandates Patricia Heverstadt to write a mob-oriented memoir. Unable to get ideas for the memoir, Heverstadt writes a presumably fictitious account which she submits to the publisher disguised as a memoir. Coincidentally, a specific robbery mentioned in the so-called memoir bears a striking semblance with a robbery committed by the mob a month previously; this attracts the wrath of the mob, and both Heverstadt and her publisher are at the receiving end in this book that was published in commemoration of the fiftieth book since the imprint was founded.

Richard Aleas Awards
Penman Richard Aleas has bagged literary awards and been nominated for others. Aleas’ John Blake series was nominated for the Shamus Award and Edgar Award. On the one hand, Richard Aleas was nominated for the former award in 2005; Aleas’ 2004 novel named Little Girl Lost was nominated in the Best PI Novel section. On the other hand, Aleas was nominated for the latter award in 2005; Little Girl Lost was nominated too, in the Best First Novel grouping.

The second book in the John Blake series, titled Songs of Innocence and published in 2007, bagged the Shamus Award, specifically in the Best Original PI Paperback section. The author’s short story called The Home Front clinched the Edgar Award in 2007, particularly in the Best Short Story grouping. The scribbler was a 1994 nominee for the Shamus Awards, under the Best PI Short Story section, thanks to his 1993 story named Nobody Wins. To sum it up, Richard Aleas was a 2015 recipient of the Ellery Queen Award; he won because of his efforts towards the publishing of the books in the serialized Hard Case Crime.

Richard Aleas Books Made Movies
There are film adaptations of Richard Aleas’ books, albeit at the advanced stage of development. The Comcast-owned American film company called Universal Pictures secured the film rights of two of Aleas’ books. These books, which are currently films in development, are Little Girl Lost and Songs of Innocence; incidentally, these two books comprise the John Blake series.

The team involved in the filming includes renowned American screenwriter Michael Bacall and famed film director Jonathan Levine. Among the film producers engaged in the project include famous producer Marc Platt alongside Adam Siegel and award-nominated Mason Novick.

Best Richard Aleas Books
These are are the best novels penned by Richard Aleas. The first is the aforementioned Fifty-to-One. The second is the 2004 book named Little Girl Lost. It revolves a New York-based private eye who is sleuthing the gory murder of his first lover, a woman who he thought was an ophthalmologist but was actually a stripper. The third is Songs of Innocence. A private detective is investigating the presumed suicide of a student with a hideous and chaotic life.

Other Book Series You May Like
Readers who liked Richard Aleas’ bibliography also liked these series of books. The first is called The Ryder Quartet, penned by Ian Patrick. Set in South Africa, this series encompasses various aspects including police involvement in organized crime, extra-judicial killings, and police procedures. The second is called DI Jock Johnston series, authored by Scot Mackenzie. This features protagonist Jock Johnston, an English detective investigating murders wherein one of the victims is seemingly meditating. The third is titled Charles Lenox Mysteries, a series penned by Charles Finch. Set in the mid-1800s, it features protagonist Charles Lenox, an amateur detective who drifts from mansions to lounges to Victoria-era staff quarters in his quest for clues.