''The Timothy Files'' is a 1987 best selling work of fiction by

Lawrence Sanders Lawrence Sanders (March 15, 1920 – February 7, 1998) was an American novelist and short story writer.Author Bibliography Archive.org/ref> Life Lawrence Sanders was born in Brooklyn in New York City. After public school he attended Wabash ...

. It consists of linked stories featuring Timothy Cone, who works as a hard-boiled type

investigator Investigator may refer to: Occupations Government and law *Detective, a person who investigates crimes, can be a rank and job in a police department, state or federal employee, or a civilian called a private detective * Inspector, a police rank i ...

. He is a scruffy character, rough of mouth and demeanor but pure of heart. Cone has trouble with relationships, surviving on a rough-edged on-going affair with his supervisor, and an only slightly softer relationship with his cat Cleo. The stories in the book deal with his successful attempts to find out the truth and put

villain A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...

s behind bars.

References

1987 books {{1980s-novel-stub