Pulp fiction cover art: "The Marijuana Mob" (1950)

By Richard K. Barry

"The Marijuana Mob" was written by Englishman James Hadley Chase (René Lodge Brabazon Raymond by birth). It's a story about private detectives trying to break up a dope ring. 

I understand that James Hadley Chase is one of the best known writers in the crime fiction, mystery, thriller amd detective genre with over 90 titles to his name.

Incredibly, 50 of his books have been made into movies.

Though I am no expert, I believe this type of literature qualifies as pulp fiction, which, according to one definition, is "fiction dealing with lurid or sensational subjects, often printed on rough, low-quality paper manufactured from wood pulp." 

Here are a couple of lines from the book:

She was - in one of those soft, clingy blue nightgowns. I walked towards her and took her hand. It was cold and the room stank from Marijuana smoke!

He came in quietly, cautiously and there was a faded, fixed smile on his dead white face. His drugged, enlarged pupils gave him a blind look. In his right hand he carried a vicious blade!!!

"The Marijuana Mob" was published in 1950, and judging by these few lines and the cover art work, it seems to be one particularly sordid tale. 

Actually, I was just looking for an interesting picture to use as a screen image for my iPad and came across this, which I love, right down to the scantily clad blond, who looks like trouble.