Elliott Chaze

Elliott Chaze was an American author and journalist active from 1947 to 1986, primarily known for his noir crime novels and journalistic work. His most notable work, "Black Wings Has My Angel," won the Fawcett Gold Medal Paperback Award and has been reprinted multiple times since its original publication. Born in Mamou, Louisiana in 1915, Chaze pursued education at multiple institutions before graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1937. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Occupation of Japan, he established himself as a journalist working in New Orleans and Denver. Chaze's career was anchored at the Hattiesburg American newspaper in Mississippi, where he worked as a reporter and columnist from 1951, later serving as City Editor from 1970 to 1980. Beyond his newspaper work, he contributed essays to major publications including Life and Redbook magazines. Throughout his writing career, Chaze produced several novels while maintaining his journalistic work. His writing style in fiction, particularly in crime novels, placed him firmly within the noir tradition of American literature.

Readers primarily know Chaze for his 1953 noir novel "Black Wings Has My Angel," with limited awareness of his other works. Reviews focus almost exclusively on this title. Readers praised: - Raw, stripped-down writing style - Sharp dialogue and vivid descriptions - Intense relationship between main characters - Building tension and pacing - Authentic criminal perspective Common criticisms: - Dated social attitudes and language - Uneven character development - Abrupt ending - Limited availability of his other books Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (150+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Like Jim Thompson and James M. Cain had a literary love child" - Goodreads review "Pulp fiction elevated to art" - Amazon review "The prose hits like a brass knuckle to the jaw" - Goodreads review Most of Chaze's other novels have too few reviews to form meaningful consensus.

Black Wings Has My Angel (1953) A noir crime novel following an ex-convict and a call girl who plan an armored car heist in Colorado.

Goodbye Goliath (1983) A novel centered on a newspaper reporter investigating corruption in a small Southern town.

Wettermark (1947) A story about a World War II veteran readjusting to civilian life in New Orleans while pursuing a relationship with a wealthy woman.

The Stainless Steel Kimono (1947) A semi-autobiographical novel based on Chaze's experiences during the post-war occupation of Japan.

Tiger in the Honeysuckle (1965) A Southern crime novel following a detective investigating mysterious deaths in a Mississippi town.

Two Roofs and a Snake on the Door (1963) A non-fiction collection of newspaper columns about life in Mississippi during the mid-twentieth century.

Jim Thompson wrote raw crime fiction about desperate characters operating outside society's margins. His novels like "The Killer Inside Me" and "Pop. 1280" share Chaze's unflinching examination of criminal psychology.

David Goodis specialized in noir fiction featuring doomed protagonists and atmospheric urban settings. His work "Down There" and "Dark Passage" mirror Chaze's ability to blend crime narrative with psychological depth.

Charles Williams produced numerous crime novels focusing on ordinary people drawn into criminal situations, particularly in Gulf Coast settings. His work "The Hot Spot" and "Dead Calm" demonstrate the same tight plotting and regional authenticity found in Chaze's writing.

Gil Brewer wrote crime fiction centered on Florida and the American South, creating narratives about desperate characters in moral decline. His novels "The Red Scarf" and "13 French Street" share Chaze's noir sensibilities and regional focus.

Day Keene crafted crime fiction featuring morally compromised protagonists in high-stakes situations. His novels "Home is the Sailor" and "Dead Dolls Don't Talk" parallel Chaze's exploration of characters trapped by circumstances and their own choices.