The Fourth Postman — Craig Rice

The Fourth Postman by Craig Rice, the first mystery writer to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.


“Mass murder of postmen in a posh Chicago suburb interests lawyer Malone, Jake and Helene Justus, and other well-remembered Riceomaniacs.

Plot and people as wacky as ever, with busted Malone and chicken-poxed Justuses supplying plenty of comedy and, surprisingly, much intriguing sleuthing. Verdict: Fun” -- Saturday Review of Literature


1 POSTMAN! 2 POSTMEN! 3 POSTMEN! ALL MURDERED!

John J. Malone sticks his nose into the case of the dead postmen and picks up a crack on the head, an Australian beer hound, and six redheaded twins. It all begins when he takes on a new client, Rodney Fairfaxx. Rodney was tabbed for the postmen murders because he hadn't received a letter from a dead girl for more than 30 years. Malone doesn't think that this is enough reason to kill, but he can't prove it. …


"Three companions of, and in, crime joined to untangle the killing of three postmen on the same route. John J. Malone, Helene and Jake Justus have their troubles with the too-cooperative Fairfaxx family, John J. has his usual race against elusive finances, not so elusive hangovers, but in spite of a solution fabricated for the police and the public uncovers the true story of the tampering with the mail. Amiable -- A1." -- Kirkus Reviews