Richard Credicott

If She Only Had a Machine Gun: Crime Stories by Richard Credicott

Richard Credicott, a young man from Freeport, Illinois, established himself in 1930 as one of the best writers in the new gangster fiction magazines appearing on the newsstands during Prohibition's twilight. This collection reprints all 18 stories he published in a brief and intense career, from magazines like THE DRAGNET, GANGSTER STORIES, MOBS, and DIME DETECTIVE; wildly entertaining tales of mob mayhem, Tommy gun battles, and tantalizing molls-gang girls with happy trigger-fingers. Extensive introductory material discusses Credicott's life, writing career, and legacy. His story offers rare insights into the ups and downs of breaking into the pulps in the early years of the Depression, and glimpses of Freeport during the tempestuous '20s, including the experiences of some real-life Freeport gangsters. As a special feature, reminiscences of Richard Credicott's life are provided by his son, Dave Credicott.