The Double Take

The Double Take, first published in 1946, is a classic piece of hard-boiled mystery/detective fiction, having all the elements needed to keep the reader's interest from the first page: witty, often humorous dialogue, a cast of interesting characters, and detective Stuart Bailey, who would later star in author Roy Huggins' popular TV drama, “77 Sunset Strip.” The plot begins with Bailey being hired by an influential politician who is being blackmailed in regard to his wife’s questionable past. Bailey investigates the woman in an attempt to stop the extortion, and as the story unfolds, there are many twists and turns. Following The Double Take, Huggins turned his attention to creating memorable TV shows such as “Maverick,” “The Fugitive,” “City of Angels,” and “The Rockford Files.” Huggins passed away in 2002 at age 87.