Milton K Ozaki

Milton K. Ozaki (June 14, 1913 – November 7, 1989) was a Japanese American writer of pulp fiction mysteries. He also wrote under the name Robert O. Saber.

Life Story

Ozaki was born in Racine, Wisconsin to a Japanese father (Jingaro Ozaki, who later changed his name to Frank) and an American mother, Augusta Rathbun. He lost a leg as a young child. In addition to his work as a writer and journalist, he operated a beauty parlor (the Monsieur Meltoine beauty salon, in the Gold Coast section of Chicago). Ozaki and his wife Dolores B. Ozaki lived at 6314 Fifth Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the 1970s, he operated phony mail-order colleges, including the Colorado State Christian College and Hamilton State University, and he was also involved in a company marketing a device fraudulently claimed to increase gas mileage. He died in Reno, Nevada.

Writing Career

Ozaki was the author of approximately two dozen popular mid-20th century detective novels under both his given name and the pseudonym Robert O. Saber, and was one of the first American mystery writers of Japanese descent. His novels are set in the fictional, mid-sized southeastern-Wisconsin city of Stillwell, Wisconsin, which is actually a barely disguised Kenosha.

He started at the bottom of the publisher ladder at the time with Phantom and Handi-Books, moved to Graphic, then to Ace, and finally to Gold Medal.

Novels

Title	Year	Published as	Notes
The Cuckoo Clock	1946	Milton K. Ozaki	Ziff-Davis, hc, Handi-Books #100, pb 1950, as Too Many Women. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops.
A Fiend in Need	1947	Milton K. Ozaki	Ziff-Davis, hc, Handi-Books #116, pb, 1950. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops.
The Ram of Aries	1947	???
The Black Dark Murders	1949	Robert O. Saber	Handi-Books #96, pbo, 1949.  (PI’s Phil Keene and Hal Cooper) Ramble House, trade pb, 2004. Also published under the title "Out Of The Dark" (1954)
The Affair of the Frigid Blonde	1950	Robert O. Saber	Handi-Books #108, 1950.  (PI Bob Stille) Also published under the title "The Deadly Blonde" (1953)
The Dove	1951	Robert O. Saber	Phantom #502, pbo, 1951.  (PI Carl Guard; Handi-Books #130, pbo, 1951. Pyramid #90, pb, 1953, as Chicago Woman.
The Deadly Lover	1951	Robert O. Saber	Phantom #502, pbo, 1951.  (PI Carl Guard)
The Scented Flesh	1951	Robert O. Saber	Handi-Books #124, 1951. (PI Carl Guard)
The Dummy Murder Case	1951	Milton K. Ozaki	Graphic #33, pbo, 1951. Featuring Professor Androcles Caldwell and Bendy Brinks, amateur sleuths, along with Lt. Phelan of the cops.
The Dove	1951	Robert O. Saber	Also published under the title "Chicago Woman" (1953)
No Way Out	1952	Robert O. Saber	Phantom Books 512, 1952. Also published under the title "Borrowed Time" (1955)
Murder Doll	1952	Robert O. Saber	Phantom Books 510, pbo, 1952.  (PI Carl Good) Berkley D2016, pb, November 1959, as by Milton K. Ozaki.
The Deadly Pickup	1953	Milton K. Ozaki	Graphic #57, pbo, 1952. Graphic #92, 2nd pr., 1954. Berkley D2038, pb, 1960.
Murder Honeymoon	1953	???
Chicago Woman	1953	Robert O. Saber	Pyramid #90, 1953.  Reprint of The Dove.
City of Sin	1952	Robert O. Saber	Lancer Double 72-628, pb, 1962.  Original Novels #722, pbo, 1952.  (PI Pete Mallary) Carnival Books #922, pb, 1953. Lancer Double 72-628, pb, 1962, as by Milton K. Ozaki. Previously appeared as by Robert O. Saber. [Paired with DAY KEENE Joy House.]
Dressed to Kill	1954	Milton K. Ozaki	Graphic #79, pbo, 1954. (PI Rusty Forbes) Graphic #141, 2nd pr., 1956. Berkley D2007, pb, 1959.
Too Young to Die	1954	Robert O. Saber	Graphic #90, 1954.  (PI Carl Good) Graphic #150, 2nd pr., 1957.
Shake Hands With The Devil	1954	???
Maid For Murder	1955	Milton K. Ozaki	Ace Double D-135, pbo, 1955.   (PI Carl Guard) [Paired with JAMES HADLEY CHASE Dead Ringer.]
A Dame Called Murder	1955	Robert O. Saber	Graphic#111, pbo, 1955.  (PI Max Keene)
Marked For Murder	1955	???
Model for Murder	1955	???
Sucker Bait	1955	Robert O. Saber	Graphic #99, 1955.  (PI Carl Good) Graphic #156, 2nd pr., 1957.
Never Say Die	1956	Milton K. Ozaki	Ace Double D-167, pbo, 1956.   (PI Bob Wherry) [Paired with JOHN CREIGHTON Destroying Angel.]
A Time For Murder	1956	Robert O. Saber	Graphic #123, 1956.  (PI Max Keene)
Case of the Deadly Kiss	1957	Milton K. Ozaki	Gold Medal #715, pbo, November 1957. Unibooks, pb, no date.
The Case of the Cop's Wife	1958	Milton K. Ozaki	Gold Medal #795, pbo, August 1958.
Wake Up and Scream	1959	Milton K. Ozaki	Gold Medal #879, pbo, May 1959.
Inquest	1960	Milton K. Ozaki	Gold Medal #981, pbo, May 1960.
Too Cute To Kill	Unknown

Games

Milton K. Ozaki also designed a dice game, Murder Dice, which was similar to Yahtzee and was based on the events in a murder trial.