JOHNNY ONE EYE

Johnny One Eye is David’s own detective creation. John Hawke is a policeman at the outbreak of the Second World War. He enlists to fight for his country but during training a rifle explodes in his face and he loses an eye. He is invalided out of the army and offered a desk job with the police, but this too dull for Johnny so he sets up as a private detective in London. Three Johnny One Eye novels are available, with a fourth currently coming to life on David's typewriter.

FOREST OF THE NIGHT was the first novel featuring Johnny, coming after a series of short stories which appeared over the last few years in detective magazines and collections.

Here’s the publisher’s blurb for Forests of the Night:
Introducing Johnny One Eye, the exciting new detective operating in London during the Blitz. Invalided out of the army after losing an eye in a rifle accident, John Hawke sets up as a private detective. In the autumn of 1940 he is engaged to investigate the mysterious death of a young woman, whom he discovers has led a double life. What is the connection between her brutal murder and the fading film star, Gordon Moore, star of the popular Tiger Blake B movies? Johnny also becomes involved in the plight of a runaway boy, a frightened child who may have witnessed something terrible. The boy’s fears bring back some uncomfortable childhood memories for Johnny.

This engrossing mystery is told with wit and humour, while at the same time evoking an atmospheric picture of the home front during those dark days of the Second World War.
An impressive debut for Johnny One Eye.

First critical responses:

'The engaging debut appearance of wartime private eye Johnny Hawke breathes new life into the traditional British mystery. He's a hero with a heart.'
Val McDermid
 
'A strong story immaculately told. What a rare pleasure to discover a book you can truly call a thriller. Wartime London is beautifully evoked in a plot as crafty as the black market.'
Peter Lovesey

‘A neatly crafted crime novel offering an unusual perspective on wartime London, by turns dark and poignant.’
Andrew Taylor – author of The American Boy

Visit the contact page to download Johnny One Eye short stories and tasters.

COMES THE DARK

The second Johnny One Eye novel to appear on bookshelves was Comes the Dark. This time Johnny becomes involved with the fascists and their plan to help Hitler’s invasion of Britain. At the same time there is a serial killer at work in the blackout, murdering prostitutes and Johnny’s brother is arrested for the crimes.




WITHOUT CONSCIENCE is the third, and most recent outing for John Hawke.