Marvin Albert
Marvin H. Albert (January 22, 1924 – March 24, 1996) was an American writer of mystery, crime and adventure novels including ones featuring Pete (Pierre-Ange [French: Stone Angel]) Sawyer, a French-American private investigator living and working in France. Biography. During World War II Albert served in the United States Merchant Marine as a radio operator. After working as the director of a Philadelphia children's theater troupe he moved to New York in 1950 and began writing and editing for "Quick" and "Look" magazines. He began writing full-time over the success of his 1956 Western novel  The Law and Jake Wade. He sometimes wrote under pseudonyms such as Albert Conroy, Ian McAlister, Nick Quarry and Anthony Rome. Settings for his novels include France (where he lived for some time), Miami and the Old West. A 1975 international suspense thriller, "The Gargoyle Conspiracy", written under his own name, was an Edgar nominee in the category of Best Mystery Novel. Novels. Westerns written under the name Al Conroy. A series featuring the common character Clayburn. They were later reprinted in 1989-90 under Marvin Albert's own name. Tony Rome series. A series featuring the private detective Tony  Rome. A 1967 television pilot under the name "Nick Quarry" was based on "Tony Rome" Mafia fiction as Al Conroy. Series character: Johnny Morini, Soldato: Man Against the Mafia. Stone Angel series. A series featuring the common character Pete Sawyer. Other works. As J. D. Christilian - "Scarlet Women" (1996). As Marvin H. Albert - "Operation Lila" (1983), "The Medusa Complex", "Dancer's Progress and Schrodingers Cat"(1993 - possibly two stories in one volume) and "Hidden Lives" (1981). Personal life. He was survived by his artist wife Xenia Klar, one son, and one grandchild. In popular culture. In the movie "Once Upon a  Time in Hollywood", the character Rick Dalton is seen reading and discussing a western-themed paperback novel that features a character named Tom Breezy. The novelization of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" includes an ad for the fictitious Tom Breezy book, which is identified a "Ride a Wild Bronc" by Marvin H. Albert.