Fat Ollie's Book (26 page)

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is the first American to receive the Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. He also holds the Mystery Writers of America's prestigious Grand Master Award. His most recent 87th Precinct novel was
Money, Money, Money.
Under his own name—Evan Hunter—he has enjoyed a writing career that has spanned almost five decades, from his first novel,
The Blackboard Jungle,
in 1954, to the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's
The Birds,
to
Candyland,
written in tandem with his alter ego, Ed McBain, to
The Moment She Was Gone,
published last year.