Collin Wilcox (writer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Collin Wilcox (September 21, 1924 – July 12, 1996) was an American mystery writer who published 30 books in just 30 years.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, he began with "The Black Door" (1967), whose sleuth possessed extrasensory perception. His major series of novels was about San Francisco police lieutenant Frank Hastings.Titles in the Hastings series included "Hire a Hangman," "Dead Aim," "Hiding Place," "Long Way Down" and "Stalking Horse." Two of his last books, "Full Circle" and "Find Her a Grave," featured a new hero-sleuth, Alan Bernhardt, an eccentric theater director. Wilcox also published under the pseudonym "Carter Wick".
However, Wilcox's most famous series-detective was created in Hollywood: Sam McCloud, the New Mexico deputy solving New York crime. The "urban cowboy" was brought to life on the small screen by Dennis Weaver in the 1970-1977 TV series McCloud. Wilcox wrote three original novelizations based on this character: "McCloud" (1973), "The New Mexico Connection" (1974), and "The Park Avenue Executioner" (1975).
He died in San Francisco from cancer at the age of 72. Wilcox was survived by two sons, Christopher of Berkeley, Calif., and Jeff of Diablo, Calif., and four grandchildren.
