Step into the thrilling world of Ed Noon, where wisecracking private eye adventures collide with Cold War espionage and a dash of sci-fi flair! Created by Michael Avallone, the Ed Noon series follows a sharp-tongued New York detective who evolves from gritty gumshoe to a presidential spy across three decades. With his trusty .45 and a love for baseball and movies, Noon tackles everything from Broadway murders to global conspiracies, captivating readers with his charm and grit.
Spanning over 30 novels from 1953 to 1990, this series blends hardboiled mystery with pulp excitement, offering a unique slice of American crime literature. Whether you’re a fan of noir or spy thrillers, Ed Noon’s fast-paced tales promise a wild ride through a bygone era of danger and intrigue.
How Ed Noon Began
Michael Avallone, dubbed the 'Fastest Typewriter in the East,' launched the Ed Noon series in 1953 with The Tall Dolores. A prolific writer born in New York, Avallone drew inspiration from classic pulp detectives like Philip Marlowe, infusing Noon with a Runyonesque wit and a passion for pop culture. His goal? To craft a hero who could navigate the gritty streets of Manhattan and the high-stakes world of international espionage, all while cracking jokes and dodging bullets.
Avallone’s own life—growing up as one of 17 children, serving in World War II, and churning out over 1,000 works—shaped Noon’s underdog spirit. The series began in a tiny Midtown office dubbed the 'Mouse Auditorium,' reflecting Noon’s humble start before his rise to fame as a presidential operative.
The Heart of Ed Noon
The Ed Noon series kicks off with The Tall Dolores (1953), where Noon investigates a towering femme fatale’s deadly schemes, setting the tone for his hardboiled adventures. The Voodoo Murders (1957) dives into pulp weirdness, with Noon facing voodoo cults and zombie plots in a nod to cliffhanger serials. Assassins Don’t Die in Bed (1968) marks Noon’s spy era, tasking him with protecting a statesman on a high-speed cruise ship packed with sumo wrestlers and seductive foes. Finally, High Noon at Midnight (1988) takes a sci-fi turn, pitting an aging Noon against alien threats.
Themes of loyalty, justice, and resilience run deep, wrapped in Avallone’s playful prose and vivid settings. From smoky Manhattan bars to exotic locales, the series captures the 1950s–1980s cultural pulse—think fedoras, martinis, and Cold War paranoia. Noon’s humor, often laced with baseball trivia or movie references, keeps the tone light, while his romantic streak adds heart to the mayhem.
The series’ chameleon-like shift from detective noir to spy thriller to sci-fi reflects Avallone’s versatility and the era’s evolving tastes. Fans love Noon’s consistency—a movie-obsessed romantic who always fights the good fight, whether against mobsters or extraterrestrials.
Why Ed Noon Resonates
Ed Noon’s enduring appeal lies in his everyman charm and Avallone’s fearless genre-blending. The series influenced later pulp and spy fiction, offering a uniquely American take on the private eye archetype. Its cult following cherishes the nostalgic mix of hardboiled grit and over-the-top plots, preserved today through ebooks curated by Avallone’s son, David. For fans of vintage crime literature, Noon’s adventures are a time capsule of mid-century bravado and imagination.
Despite its niche status, the series’ bold storytelling and quirky hero continue to inspire, proving that even a small-office PI can leave a big mark. Noon’s legacy lives on in the hearts of readers who crave action, wit, and a touch of the absurd.
- Publication Years: 1953–1990
- Number of Books: Over 30 novels, plus 70+ short stories
- Creator: Michael Avallone
- Genres: Mystery, espionage, science fiction
Grab The Tall Dolores and dive into Ed Noon’s wild world of mystery and mayhem! Whether you’re chasing mobsters or thwarting spies, Noon’s got a quip and a gun ready for the adventure.