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Softboiled Detectives

Softboiled Detectives use their brains rather than their fists to fight crime, providing us with "Cozy Mysteries." Soft-boiled detective or classic detective uses more brain less brawn to solve the most baffling of crime.

Softboiled Detectives

54 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 26 hours, 868 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
28 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from December 01, 1950:

"Nero Wolfe: The Brave Rabbit"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Thin Man

Vincent Price on the radio, circa 1955We like to assume that Old Time Radio fans are salt-of-the-earth types, hard-working and honest sorts who would never consider short-changing a customer, let alone more nefarious crimes like robbery, embezzling, burglary, or, heavens forbid, murder!

However, all the evidence points to the fact that Crime Dramas are one of the most popular forms of the Old Time Radio experience. Of course, it is not the crimes that listeners tune in to hear, it is the exploits of the heroic (if sometimes flawed) crime fighters, the detective. When we mention Radio Detective stories, the first image that comes to mind is the gum-shoed refugee from pulp magazines, the Hard-Boiled Detective.

Softboiled Detectives are also known as golden age detectives and the term "softboiled" is in response to Hardboiled detectives though some detectives don't neatly fit in either category.  Softboiled Detective fiction tends to focus more on plot twist and development sometimes called a whodunit as the audience solves the crime along with the detective. 

An important feature of hard boiled detectives is the boilerplate conditions that made them so Hard-boiled in the first place. It may have been a series of tough breaks, perhaps time in the military, or a fall from fortune, but most likely there was a dame involved. Although the process of hard-boiling has taken a lot from our noir-ish hero, it has left behind an admirable toughness which is only matched by the gumshoe's code of honor and justice.

As heroic (or anti-heroic) as Hard-Boiled Detectives are, the rough-and-tumble (not to mention often blatantly sexual) nature of the genre is hardly the sort of fare sponsors of Network Radio would want their names attached to. In comparison, however, a Softboiled Detective would come off as hopelessly milquetoast, or would he?

In recent years, the Softboiled Detective story has been reimagined as the "Cozy Mystery". "Cozies" eschew many of the troupes found in Hard-boiled stories; the investigator is usually an amateur, and even though he is hunting for someone guilty of murder-most-foul, even the crook is usually a sympathetic character who will, when his or her guilt is proven, give up willingly to the authorities. This means no gunplay, little or no fisticuffs, and is reduced to perhaps a hug and a peck-on-the-cheek.

Nick Carter radio show

This begs the question: without violence and sex, why would anyone tune in to hear a Softboiled "Cozy" Mystery? The answer lies in the Whodunit puzzle that makes mystery stories such a mystery. It is a contest of wits between gentlefolk, and if there was any premeditation then the murderer has done their best to have created "the perfect crime". Only the intelligence, powers of observation, and deductive energy of the investigator could hope to stop them.

Is a Softboiled Investigator always going to be milquetoast? In comparison to a scruffy-cheeked hombre with his fedora pulled down low, eternally bruised knuckles, and a .38 snub-nosed revolver tucked under his jacket, maybe. However, the "Cozy" Detective still observes a code which dictates that bad men should be punished.

The Softboiled genre can be even more complex than the Hard-boiled. The most celebrated Softboiled Detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes, could be described as more "prickly" than "Cozy", although he definitely uses his brain more than his fists. Nero Wolfe leaves the action to his assistant, Archie, but still engages his intellect to bring down the crooks. In The Thin Man, Nora does the snooping while Nick does the brain work. Mr. Keen is another investigator who leans more on his wits than his fists.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is considered the archetype of the classic detective using his keen mind and deductive reasoning skills to solve crime.  The Softboiled Detective is often cultured and not in need of physical domination to defeat his opponent.  Nero Wolfe used only his mind and his assistant to solve crime and could even tackle cases without leaving his office or his orchid collection.  Vincent Price as The Saint kept fighting to a minimum and relied on "Louie" the Brooklyn Cab Driver to keep him street smart.  Other Softboiled Detectives include: Hercule Poirot, Thin Man, Nick Carter, Mr. Keen, and Adventures of the Abbotts

For a change of detectives, see also: Hardboiled Detectives and Defective Detectives,

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    7
    6     1


    COMMENTS

    This is an excellent assortment of detective mysteries. The sound quality is mostly good to excellent. It is fun listening to samples of the different detective series that were broadcast during the Golden Age of Radio. Plus, the purchase price is a true bargain!

    Bruce Verified Purchase

    For my taste, murder mysteries & the soap operas were the mother's milk of radio that delighted me in the 1930's & 1940's. First, laying on the floor in front of the big Philco in the living room then up in my big bedroom on the 2nd floor all alone in bed with only one ear-phone connected to my amazing crystal set which, if the weather was just right, brought me "I Love A Mystery" from KGO down in San Francisco. If the weather was not good, or if I bumped the table & moved the cat's whisker, even a tad- I missed the show. Now, I play your wonderful collection of shows on a portable MP3 player which I carry in my back pocket & wear 2 ear-phones as I walk around my house doing the chores, like repairing my player piano rolls. Still, at bedtime, the best is yet to come when I listen to 2 or 3 murder mysteries in the dark before calling it a day. It's just like being a kid again & at 87 that's going some. Thank you for making them available to us!

    Francis Verified Purchase

    Hello. I am enjoying my Softboiled Detectives CD and appreciate it that OTR makes these available for our pleasure. T

    Joyce Verified Purchase

    Your email and newsletters are a wonderful way to start my day.

    Carl Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    54 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 26 hours, 868 min
    54 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 26 hours, 868 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 54 shows – total playtime 26 hours, 14 minutes
    2. Aot Abbotts 1 Afrts Cotroyalpurscooter.mp3
    3. Aot Abbotts 2 Afrts Rickshawredlipstick.mp3
    4. Aot Abbotts 3 Afrts Theyellowchip.mp3
    5. Aot Abbotts 4 Afrts Burntcopperpowder.mp3
    6. Aot Abbotts 5 Afrts Bloodreddiamond.mp3
    7. Charlie Chan 1945 Marching Ants Charlie Ambushed.mp3
    8. Charlie Chan 452 The Murder Of Deacon Jessup.mp3
    9. Charlie Chan Charlies Daughter Is Kidnapped.mp3
    10. Charlie Chan Fiery Santa Claus 049.mp3
    11. Charlie Chan In Radio City.mp3
    12. Fat Man 460909 The Crooked Horse.mp3
    13. Fat Man 471003 A Window For Murder.mp3
    14. Fat Man 480102 Murder Plays Hide And Seek.mp3
    15. Fat Man 480409 Murder Rents A Flat.mp3
    16. Fat Man 490401 Murder Wins The Draw.mp3
    17. Hercule Poirot 450222 01 The Careless Victim.mp3
    18. Hercule Poirot 450712 Rendevous With Death.mp3
    19. Hercule Poirot 450719 22 Deadest Man In World.mp3
    20. Hercule Poirot 450913 Money Mad Ghoul.mp3
    21. Mr Keen 440413 Leaping Dog.mp3
    22. Mr Keen 440615 Case Of Woman In Blue.mp3
    23. Mr Keen 441116 Case Of Frightened Child.mp3
    24. Mr Keen 450315 Case Of Absent Minded Professor.mp3
    25. Mr Keen 460523 Case Of Glamorous Widow.mp3
    26. Mr Keen 490609 Case Of Murder And Star Of Death.mp3
    27. Nero Wolfe 501124 E06 The Beautiful Archer.mp3
    28. Nero Wolfe 501201 E07 The Brave Rabbit.mp3
    29. Nero Wolfe 501208 E08 The Impolite Corpse.mp3
    30. Nero Wolfe 501215 E09 The Girl Who Cried Wolfe.mp3
    31. Nero Wolfe 501222 E10 The Slaughtered Santas.mp3
    32. Nick Carter 431025 029 An Angle On Murder.mp3
    33. Nick Carter 431103 030 Body On The Slab.mp3
    34. Nick Carter 431110 031 Drug Ring Murder.mp3
    35. Nick Carter 470413 283 Chemical Chickens.mp3
    36. Nick Carter 470420 284 Case Of The Lucrative Wrecks.mp3
    37. Nick Carter 470427 285 Case Of The Luminous Spots.mp3
    38. Saint 480303 Case Of Unhappy Homocide.mp3
    39. Saint 480526 Case Of Blond Who Lost Her Head.mp3
    40. Saint 490731 Conley Silver Mine.mp3
    41. Saint 490814 Old Man's Car.mp3
    42. Saint 490918 Color-blind Killer.mp3
    43. Saint 491106 Unhappy Homocide.mp3
    44. Saint 491107 Prove I Did It.mp3
    45. Sherlock 320519 Final Problem.mp3
    46. Sherlock 360530 Devil's Foot (Hector, West).mp3
    47. Sherlock 471228 New Years Eve Off The Scilly Islands.mp3
    48. Sherlock 541019 The Red Headed League.mp3
    49. Sherlock 550109 A Scandal In Bohemia.mp3
    50. Sherlock 580406 Hound Of The B.mp3
    51. Lux360608 The Thin Man.mp3
    52. Thin Man 431010 Nora's Wedding Anniversary.mp3
    53. Thin Man 441006 Nora's Night Out.mp3
    54. Thin Man 441201 Plunger And Joan Winslow.mp3
    55. Thin Man 480706 Adventures Of The Passionate Palooka.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    54 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 26 hours, 868 min
    54 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    638 MB – total playtime 26 hours, 14 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 54 shows – 638 MB – total playtime 26 hours, 14 minutes
    2. Aot Abbotts 1 Afrts Cotroyalpurscooter.mp3
    3. Aot Abbotts 2 Afrts Rickshawredlipstick.mp3
    4. Aot Abbotts 3 Afrts Theyellowchip.mp3
    5. Aot Abbotts 4 Afrts Burntcopperpowder.mp3
    6. Aot Abbotts 5 Afrts Bloodreddiamond.mp3
    7. Charlie Chan 1945 Marching Ants Charlie Ambushed.mp3
    8. Charlie Chan 452 The Murder Of Deacon Jessup.mp3
    9. Charlie Chan Charlies Daughter Is Kidnapped.mp3
    10. Charlie Chan Fiery Santa Claus 049.mp3
    11. Charlie Chan In Radio City.mp3
    12. Fat Man 460909 The Crooked Horse.mp3
    13. Fat Man 471003 A Window For Murder.mp3
    14. Fat Man 480102 Murder Plays Hide And Seek.mp3
    15. Fat Man 480409 Murder Rents A Flat.mp3
    16. Fat Man 490401 Murder Wins The Draw.mp3
    17. Hercule Poirot 450222 01 The Careless Victim.mp3
    18. Hercule Poirot 450712 Rendevous With Death.mp3
    19. Hercule Poirot 450719 22 Deadest Man In World.mp3
    20. Hercule Poirot 450913 Money Mad Ghoul.mp3
    21. Mr Keen 440413 Leaping Dog.mp3
    22. Mr Keen 440615 Case Of Woman In Blue.mp3
    23. Mr Keen 441116 Case Of Frightened Child.mp3
    24. Mr Keen 450315 Case Of Absent Minded Professor.mp3
    25. Mr Keen 460523 Case Of Glamorous Widow.mp3
    26. Mr Keen 490609 Case Of Murder And Star Of Death.mp3
    27. Nero Wolfe 501124 E06 The Beautiful Archer.mp3
    28. Nero Wolfe 501201 E07 The Brave Rabbit.mp3
    29. Nero Wolfe 501208 E08 The Impolite Corpse.mp3
    30. Nero Wolfe 501215 E09 The Girl Who Cried Wolfe.mp3
    31. Nero Wolfe 501222 E10 The Slaughtered Santas.mp3
    32. Nick Carter 431025 029 An Angle On Murder.mp3
    33. Nick Carter 431103 030 Body On The Slab.mp3
    34. Nick Carter 431110 031 Drug Ring Murder.mp3
    35. Nick Carter 470413 283 Chemical Chickens.mp3
    36. Nick Carter 470420 284 Case Of The Lucrative Wrecks.mp3
    37. Nick Carter 470427 285 Case Of The Luminous Spots.mp3
    38. Saint 480303 Case Of Unhappy Homocide.mp3
    39. Saint 480526 Case Of Blond Who Lost Her Head.mp3
    40. Saint 490731 Conley Silver Mine.mp3
    41. Saint 490814 Old Man's Car.mp3
    42. Saint 490918 Color-blind Killer.mp3
    43. Saint 491106 Unhappy Homocide.mp3
    44. Saint 491107 Prove I Did It.mp3
    45. Sherlock 320519 Final Problem.mp3
    46. Sherlock 360530 Devil's Foot (Hector, West).mp3
    47. Sherlock 471228 New Years Eve Off The Scilly Islands.mp3
    48. Sherlock 541019 The Red Headed League.mp3
    49. Sherlock 550109 A Scandal In Bohemia.mp3
    50. Sherlock 580406 Hound Of The B.mp3
    51. Lux360608 The Thin Man.mp3
    52. Thin Man 431010 Nora's Wedding Anniversary.mp3
    53. Thin Man 441006 Nora's Night Out.mp3
    54. Thin Man 441201 Plunger And Joan Winslow.mp3
    55. Thin Man 480706 Adventures Of The Passionate Palooka.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    54 recordings on 28 Audio CDs. Total playtime 24 hours, 49 min
    54 recordings on 28 Audio CDs
    total playtime 24 hours, 49 min

    Softboiled Detectives Disc A001

    1. Aot Abbotts 1 Afrts Cotroyalpurscooter
    2. Aot Abbotts 2 Afrts Rickshawredlipstick

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A002

    1. Aot Abbotts 3 Afrts Theyellowchip
    2. Aot Abbotts 4 Afrts Burntcopperpowder

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A003

    1. Aot Abbotts 5 Afrts Bloodreddiamond
    2. Charlie Chan 1945 Marching Ants Charlie Ambushed
    3. Charlie Chan 452 The Murder Of Deacon Jessup

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A004

    1. Charlie Chan Charlies Daughter Is Kidnapped
    2. Charlie Chan Fiery Santa Claus 049

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A005

    1. Charlie Chan In Radio City
    2. Sherlock 320519 Final Problem

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A006

    1. Sherlock 360530 Devil's Foot (Hector, West)

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A007

    1. Lux360608 The Thin Man

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A008

    1. Thin Man 431010 Nora's Wedding Anniversary
    2. Nick Carter 431025 029 An Angle On Murder

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A009

    1. Nick Carter 431103 030 Body On The Slab
    2. Nick Carter 431110 031 Drug Ring Murder

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A010

    1. Mr Keen 440413 Leaping Dog
    2. Mr Keen 440615 Case Of Woman In Blue

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A011

    1. Thin Man 441006 Nora's Night Out
    2. Mr Keen 441116 Case Of Frightened Child

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A012

    1. Thin Man 441201 Plunger And Joan Winslow
    2. Hercule Poirot 450222 01 The Careless Victim

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A013

    1. Mr Keen 450315 Case Of Absent Minded Professor
    2. Hercule Poirot 450712 Rendevous With Death

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A014

    1. Hercule Poirot 450719 22 Deadest Man In World
    2. Hercule Poirot 450913 Money Mad Ghoul

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A015

    1. Mr Keen 460523 Case Of Glamorous Widow
    2. Fat Man 460909 The Crooked Horse

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A016

    1. Nick Carter 470413 283 Chemical Chickens
    2. Nick Carter 470420 284 Case Of The Lucrative Wrecks

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A017

    1. Nick Carter 470427 285 Case Of The Luminous Spots
    2. Fat Man 471003 A Window For Murder

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A018

    1. Sherlock 471228 New Years Eve Off The Scilly Islands
    2. Fat Man 480102 Murder Plays Hide And Seek

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A019

    1. Saint 480303 Case Of Unhappy Homocide

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A020

    1. Fat Man 480409 Murder Rents A Flat

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A021

    1. Saint 480526 Case Of Blond Who Lost Her Head
    2. Thin Man 480706 Adventures Of The Passionate Palooka

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A022

    1. Fat Man 490401 Murder Wins The Draw
    2. Mr Keen 490609 Case Of Murder And Star Of Death

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A023

    1. Saint 490731 Conley Silver Mine
    2. Saint 490814 Old Man's Car

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A024

    1. Saint 490918 Color-blind Killer
    2. Saint 491106 Unhappy Homocide

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A025

    1. Saint 491107 Prove I Did It
    2. Nero Wolfe 501124 E06 The Beautiful Archer

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A026

    1. Nero Wolfe 501201 E07 The Brave Rabbit
    2. Nero Wolfe 501208 E08 The Impolite Corpse

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A027

    1. Nero Wolfe 501215 E09 The Girl Who Cried Wolfe
    2. Nero Wolfe 501222 E10 The Slaughtered Santas

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    Softboiled Detectives Disc A028

    1. Sherlock 541019 The Red Headed League
    2. Sherlock 550109 A Scandal In Bohemia

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