LOS ANGELES — Richard S. Prather, a novelist best known for his mysteries featuring private investigator Shell Scott, died at his home in Sedona.
Prather died of complications from pulmonary disease on Feb. 14, author Linda Pendleton, a friend of Prather's, said this past week. He was 85.
Prather's Shell Scott mysteries of the 1950s and '60s featured a Marine-turned-private eye who kept his hair in a military buzz cut and was missing part of an ear shot off during World War II. He also wrote several novels under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.
Prather introduced Scott in his 1950 novel "Case of the Vanishing Beauty." More than 30 others followed. Unlike stuffier heroes of the time, Scott had a wry sense of humor that got him through odd assignments.
In "Strip for Murder" he investigated a homicide in a nudist colony. Other books showed Scott threatened by zombies or spying on X-rated moviemakers. The author's choice of titles tipped off readers to his wry humor, including "Three's a Shroud" and "Slab Happy."
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Prather wrote books in a single draft and turned out as many as three a year in his prime. He spent most of his writing career in Southern California before landing in Scottsdale and eventually Sedona.
He won a lifetime achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America in 1986.
