Harry O [#1]

New York: Popular Library. Near Fine. (c.1975). 1st Edition (pbo). Softcover. [nice clean copy, apparently unread, with just a touch of edgewear to covers]. Mass Market PB (photo cover) Tie-in with the detective/action series starring David Janssen, which ran for two seasons on ABC-TV (1974-1976), garnering decent ratings and critical reception -- although maybe not quite the "smash-hit" described in the cover blurb. Although I've seen it stated that this novel was an adaptation of the pilot episode, that appears to not be the case: for one thing, the show had two pilot episodes (one of which aired more than a year in advance of the eventual series debut), with quite different plots; for another, both pilots were set and filmed in Los Angeles, whereas the show in its final form was set in San Diego, as is this book. (I think it's more likely that this was an original novel, making use of Janssen's character -- whose full name, by the way, was Harry Orwell.) At any rate, this optimistically-dubbed "#1" barely made it to a #2 (also by Hays, published the following year, under the title "Harry O: The High Cost of Living") before the show was cancelled. .