Saturday, January 8, 2022

J.J. Lamb: R.I.P.

This is such sad news. Author J.J. Lamb, 90, passed away this morning, reuniting, one hopes, with his beloved Bette Lamb. More information on his passing to come.

I first met J.J. in the 1970s. I was the young kid on the block, and he and Bette were so welcoming at my first MWA meeting. Over the years we met at meetings, conventions, and literary salons. I hosted both Bette and J.J. at several salons here in Berkeley, and they also came to support other writer friends. I served with him on the MWA NorCal Board, where his infinite knowledge and creativity shone through. His warmth and genuine appreciation and support of other writers and friends was forthcoming. He was a friend, and he will be missed.

Read a guest post by Bette and J.J. Lamb here on Mystery Fanfare.

J. J. Lamb is a former newspaper reporter, Associated Press staff writer, trade press correspondent, and freelance journalist. His journalism career was interrupted early on by the U.S. Army, which provided him with a Top Secret clearance and a locked room with table, chair, typewriter, and the time to write short stories. The stories evolved into an original paperback series featuring Las Vegas-based PI Zachariah Tobias Rolfe III, the most recent: NO PAT HANDS. 

NO PAT HANDS, the fourth book in the Zach Rolfe PI series, was a nominee for a 2014 Shamus Award from Private Eye Writers of America (PWA)


He also collaborated with his wife Bette Golden Lamb to produce seven medical thrillers, a suspense-adventure novel, and a political thriller, the most recent of which are BONE POINT,  and THE KILLING VOTE. His short stories have appeared in such publications as “Over My Dead Body,” “New Mystery,” “Kings River Life,” and a variety of men’s magazines
.

A link to his work at: Stop, You're Killing Me!

12 comments:

D. P. Lyle, MD said...

So very sad. Bette and JJ were friends and colleagues and absolutely wonderful people. I have so many great memories of pleasant times with them talking about writing, and well everything. Two bright lights are now gone.

Ellen Kirschman said...

They were so welcoming and helpful to me. I have one of Bette’s beautiful pots in the living room. I will miss Them both.

Terry said...

I'm so sorry to read this. I met Bette and J.J. long before we were all authors. We used to run on a path in Mill Valley and we met them there. Then saw them at a party at Marilyn Wallace's house. And remained friends ever after. Once again, I'm furious that the damn virus has kept me from seeing friends like J.J. I'll miss him.

Susan C Shea said...

Like you and everyone else, I have warm memories of how welcoming and supportive JJ and Bette were, and how deeply they were imbedded in our writing community. I still miss Bette and now I will miss JJ too.

vallery said...

Very sad. Noemi and I used to hang out with them at Left Coast Crime conventions . Wonderful memories.

Priscilla said...

Truly grieved! He and his wife were focal points at any gathering and so generous with their time and help. I miss them both!

Heather Haven said...

What a loss. But they were so devoted to each other, I am glad they are together again. I will miss JJ the same as I have missed Bette.

Camille Minichino said...

The loss of a warm and generous man.

Just a few days ago, I sent a note to JJ, hoping he was doing ok. Now it's probably on its way back to me and I'll keep it to remember him.

Diana R. Chambers said...

Theirs was a great love story. Blessings on them both.

Diana R. Chambers said...

Theirs was a great love story. Blessings on them both.

Diana R. Chambers said...

Theirs was a great love story. Blessings on them both.

Anonymous said...

My Dad, JJ Lamb, is with Bette Lamb, my mother in the after life.

They were always together and he was looking for her ever since she passed.

I see them together always