Browne, Howard. "THE PAPER GUN: A PAUL PINE MYSTERY" [Novel]. TYPED MANUSCRIPT (TMs), a mixture of ribbon and xerographic copy. 111 leaves, plus 9 preliminary leaves. The setting copy, with copy-editing in blue pencil in an editorial hand. The manuscript is signed by Browne on the first preliminary leaf. The uncorrected working manuscript of the fifth and last Paul Pine novel, a work-in-progress which was not completed because Browne "lost interest in the private eye genre." Chicago detective Paul Pine (who made his debut in 1946 in HALO IN BLOOD, Browne's first novel) was "one of the best of the plethora of tough-guy heroes from that era. Although the Pine novels are solidly in the tradition of Raymond Chandler, they have a complexity and character all their own and are too well crafted to be mere imitations." - Bill Pronzini, Henderson, ed., Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery Writers, third edition, p 138. The provenance of the manuscript is Dennis McMillan who published THE PAPER GUN in 1985. Some sheets wrinkled and creased at edges, but nearly fine overall. (#111173)