STORM2K

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- Mickey Spillane, the macho mystery writer who wowed millions of readers with the shoot-'em-up sex and violence of gumshoe Mike Hammer, died Monday. He was 88.

Spillane's death was confirmed by Brad Stephens of Goldfinch Funeral Home in his hometown of Murrells Inlet. Details about his death were not immediately available.

After starting out in comic books Spillane wrote his first Mike Hammer novel, "I, the Jury," in 1946. Twelve more followed, with sales topping 100 million. Notable titles included "The Killing Man," "The Girl Hunters" and "One Lonely Night."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/books/0 ... index.html

Sorry to hear about this; but frankly I didn't know he was even still alive. The guy who really brought him nationwide recognition to the general public was Darrin McGavin, who has preceded him in passing on, by a few years. I still remember sitting in front of our old Motorola B&W watching "Mike Hammer"... and can hear that music still....

A2K