Source: Bremseth, Marlena E - Dime Novels BookRags Retrieved 30 December 2005

Harlan Page Halsey (1837-1898) was a writer of pulp fiction for the dime novels. His character, Old Sleuth, appeared in the first detective serial in 1872 when the Old Sleuth Detective appeared on the scene — the first detective serial.The hero was a young man who disguised himself as an elderly detective. In reality he was two-fisted, handsome, brilliant, strong and tough, and a master of disguise. The Old Sleuth Detective Weekly was published from 1885 to 1910. A collection, Old Sleuth, the Detective (1874) was chosen as one of the Haycraft-Queen cornerstones. Halsey also wrote stories as Tony Pastor.

The model for the Old Sleuth was said to be Allan Pinkerton. The success of the series caused Pinkerton to release his own casebooks in both hardcover and dime novel editions. The first was The Bankers, Their Vaults and the Robbers in 1873. The books were an immediate success, bringing both fame and some income to the Pinkerton during times when business was slow. The casebooks continued after Pinkerton died in 1884.

Some of Halsey's work is available from Project Gutenberg.

Bibliography

Old Sleuth, the Detective (1874)