Whit Masterson

Whit Masterson was a pen name for a partnership of two American authors, Robert Allison Wade (June 8, 1920 – September 30, 2012) and H. Bill Miller (May 11, 1920 – August 21, 1961).

[1] Anthony Boucher reviewed their first novel, Deadly Weapon, in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1946.

A more recent reading by Richard Moore found that "modern readers would need to overcome instinctive reactions to racial and other slurs" but that "This was a stunning debut novel.

After Miller's death from a heart attack on August 21, 1961, Wade continued his career as a successful writer, penning over 13 more novels both under his own name and as Whit Masterson, as well as writing a regular column for the San Diego Union.

Wade also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Diego Public Library in 1998 [2] and the Ellen Nehr award from the American Crime Writers League in 2004, for his work reviewing crime fiction for the San Diego Union-Tribune.