Rip Kirby #2

In "The Bandar Rubies," Rip Kirby and Desmond chase a suspect across a luxury cruise, where the trail leads to a hidden cache in a brandy cask—guarded not by a human, but by a dog named Major. When the rubies are uncovered and the smuggler is taken into custody, Desmond finds an unexpected companion in the loyal mutt.

In "Like Flies to Honey," Rip Kirby uncovers a web of secrets when he investigates the suspicious death of one of Stuart Beaumont’s former lovers, pulling him into a tense triangle between the charming playboy, the enigmatic Honey, and her lingering feelings for him. With Stuart’s family determined to block his marriage to Honey, Rip must navigate a mystery where past relationships carry dangerous weight.

In "Pagan's Cheerful Summer," Pagan finds herself entangled in a summer of secrets after accepting a strange invitation to play stock in New England for the enigmatic director Hampton Gaunt. Boarding in a secluded cottage with the reclusive John Smith and his blind wife, Mary, she soon realizes Gaunt knows more about her past than he should—and isn’t above using it to threaten her. When Gaunt arrives at the cottage unannounced and makes a startling move toward Mary, Pagan’s carefully managed calm begins to unravel.

In "My Little Runaway," Rip Kirby is drawn into a quiet mystery when a desperate mother, Jo, hires him to track down her daughter Valerie, who vanished from a boarding school. As Rip follows the trail, he uncovers a past tangled with old promises and buried secrets—starting with a decade-old elopement and a heartbreaking sacrifice that still echoes through the present.

In "Peril in the Snow," Jo finds herself caught in a web of deception during a high-stakes fashion show, where a seemingly harmless kleptomaniac’s mistake threatens to derail a jewel heist targeting the famed Chitterton emeralds—just as Honey takes the runway. Written by a master of noir tension and drawn with sharp, atmospheric detail, this 32-page tale blends suspense and unexpected charm in the world of Rip Kirby.

In "The Play's the Thing," Rip Kirby finds himself tangled in a curious romance when a mysterious woman calling herself Juliet begins sending love letters to Desmond. As the flirtation deepens, Rip uncovers the truth: Juliet is none other than Bingo Julie, a woman with a past of charming men—only to leave them empty-handed.

In "Return of the Mangler," the past resurfaces when Frisco Fritz reveals a long-buried secret about stolen jewels hidden in Europe during the war—just before his capture as a German POW. Rip Kirby is drawn into a web of intrigue when he’s hired to investigate Count Benares, the man set to marry Margie, leading both men to a tense confrontation at the Count’s villa in Italy.

In "The Little Man Who Wasn't," a quiet bank employee vanishes with over $800,000, leaving Rip Kirby to track him down through the sun-bleached streets of Florida. As the trail heats up, rival gangs led by Joe Seven and the Widow close in, each eager to claim the stolen fortune—before the real thief is found.

In "I'm OK - You're Great," Rip Kirby is drawn into a chilling mystery when Jerri’s mother, fearing for her daughter’s safety, enlists Honey’s help—leading Rip to uncover the dark truth behind the cult led by the charismatic "The Great You," whose real identity is Flick Anders. With Anders dead and the killer still at large, Rip must untangle a web of deception where everyone has something to hide.