Yay A Book Arrived From England! A Reading Update And The Spy Novel

I did my weekly trip out to get some groceries and bread and also decided to fill up the car; first time since the beginning of April I think. It was the first time in over ten years that we've paid less than a $1.00 per liter. I paid $.979 per liter today. It definitely felt a bit strange. 

I was interested to note at the Cob's bakery stand that they had put up stanchions in front of the counter. Previously they had relied on a taped red line about a foot from the counter. But there were so many people who just ignored it and still leaned on the counter or put their hand bags on the counter. I was glad for myself and the people who work there to see this. Why can't people just exercise a bit of common sense? Oh well.

It's a beautiful sunny fresh day today. I should have done a bit more yard work but maybe tomorrow. I plan to go for my weekly walk tomorrow morning, weather permitting.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of the books I'd ordered from the UK arrived yesterday. It was tentatively scheduled to arrive early March but this Covid-19 virus has affected so many things. I'll update that book and also provide my review of the book I finished this morning and also the synopsis of the book I will start next. Then I'll finish with my ongoing look at the Spy / Thriller genre.

New Books

1. The Murder of Miranda by Margaret Millar (1979).

"Where is Miranda Shaw? She had just been widowed and her lawyer needs her signature for probate, but her mansion is empty and two addled teenagers, Cordelia and Juliet, are wearing her jewellery. Has she eloped? With Grady, the lifeguard at her club, who is also missing? Is she dodging her lawyer? Or has she been murdered ... ?"

Just Finished

1. A New Lease of Death by Ruth Rendell (Inspector Wexford #2 / 1967).








"A New Lease of Death by Ruth Rendell is the second book in her Inspector Wexford mystery series. I enjoyed the story but I have to say that the Inspector plays a relatively peripheral role in the story.

Clergyman Henry Archery is coming to town to re-investigate Wexford's first ever murder case. Archery's son, Charles, is engaged to be married to one Tessa Kershaw, nee Painter. Tessa's father was found guilty, after Wexford's investigation, of the murder of Mrs Primero, who he worked for. Painter was executed for this murder. Archery hopes to investigate and discover evidence that Painter didn't do the murder but that someone else did. He has this feeling that if Painter was guilty, then maybe his daughter might not be such an acceptable candidate for marriage. (Probably much more nuanced than I've described)

Thus begins Archery's investigation. He will interview the family of Mrs. Primero, Tessa's mother and other witnesses to the crime. At the same time he will find himself head-over-heels attracted to a woman he meets at his hotel one evening. Archery's son will eventually arrive to help in the investigation and will be somewhat of a bull in a china shop.

Wexford hovers on the periphery. He is convinced his earlier investigation is sound. He is like a large bear prowling around and trying to do his day-to-day business with his right hand man, Inspector Burden.
It's a meandering sort of story. I guess in some ways it could be called a cozy mystery because there isn't any grim acts of violence, except for the original murder. But it's also more than that. The personalities involved, from Archery to every other character introduced. Well-written and with a fascinating build-up to the satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading the next story (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Daughter of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer (Fu Manchu #4 / 1931)

"Here is another astonishing adventure of Sir Denis Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard--in which he matches wits with the she-devil daughter of his old antagonist, the infamous Dr. Fu Manchu. Now the signal has gone out from the Tomb of the Black Ape, and chiefs of the murderous cults of the East will meet at a hidden oasis to carry out the evil scheme of Fah Lo Suee. And Smith will discover an incredible himself - Fu Manchu himself"




The Spy / Thriller Novel - Japanese Super Secret Agent Mr. Moto

John Phillips Marquand

1. John P. Marquand / Mr. Moto. American writer John P. Marquand was born in Wilmington Delaware in 1893 and died in Newburyport Massachusetts in 1960. While he wrote a number of crime novels and other fiction, winning the Pulitzer Prize for The Late George Apley, he is best known for his Mr. Moto spy series, featuring the intrepid Japanese spy. He wrote six books in this series and I've read them all.

a. No Hero (1935), AKA Mr. Moto Takes a Hand (1940), AKA Your Turn, Mr. Moto (1963).










"This is the second Mr. Moto spy novel I've read and I enjoyed it very much. John Marquand wrote the series in the late '30s, pre-WWII. This story once again features the enigmatic, pragmatic Mr. Moto, a  Japanese spy trying to find a document that will help the Japanese navy gain an advantage over the US and Russian navies in the Pacific. 

Also along for the ride is a drunken, US ex-aviator (the center of the story) and a beautiful Russian spy. Casey, down on his luck and out of money in Japan, is attracted to an offer by Mr. Moto, to fly a Japanese aircraft to the US. On a ship to Shanghai, he is caught up in intrigue, there is a dead Chinese courier, and he finds himself at risk from Moto and his men and, in Shanghai, by the Chinese Mafia. 

Mr. Moto works for the Japanese, but for what part of the Japanese structure is unclear. He is more than willing to kill (or have killed) to achieve his aims, but also, pragmatic enough not to hold grudges. I enjoyed the story, it was well-paced and interesting enough to catch my attention and to hold it until the very end. A different sort of spy story, worth trying. (3 stars)"

b. Thank You, Mr. Moto (1936).

"Tom Nelson, cynical American expatriate "gone native" in China, stumbles into the path of the expansionist Japanese government's incursion into Northern China and is catapulted out of his world-weary apathy. Also, if not quite so innocently, caught in the gossamer but deadly web of Japanese plans is Eleanor Joyce, a woman on a mission, full of secrets, pure, bright, and lovely. Enter Mr. Moto, the suave and courageous Japanese agent - committed to serving his emperor yet "so very very sorry" that innocent lives must hang in the balance. It is he who brought Eleanor and Tom together - and now it is he who must try to save them." (3 stars)

c. Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937).









"I've enjoyed the Mr. Moto spy series by John P. Marquand very much. There are 6 books in the series, although some have been published under more than one title. Think Fast, Mr. Moto is the 3rd book in the series and was originally published in 1937. Young Wilson Hitchings has recently moved to Shanghai to learn the running and management of Hitchings Bank, from his uncle. While there his Uncle Will sends him on a mission to Hawaii. It seems that the daughter of the black sheep of the family is running a casino in Hawaii using the Hitchings' Brothers name and Will wants Wilson to buy her out.

Before he departs, Wilson briefly meets the enigmatic Japanese spy, Mr. Moto, who is trying to discover more about Chinese dealings in Manchuko, the new state in northern China and if Hitchings Brothers are involved in financing Chinese rebels there.

This will all come to a head in Hawaii. Something is a bit off with the casino in Hawaii. Things don't seem quite legal. Eva Hitchings hates Hitchings Brothers as they treated her father quite poorly. She doesn't trust Wilson. He's not sure if he should trust her. Should they trust Mr. Moto? An attempt is made to assassinate the Japanese spy. Does he trust them?

It's an all around fast-paced story and very entertaining. Mr. Moto is a great character, smart and interesting. The series is worth trying. I have one left to read and it's on my book shelf. (3.5 stars)"

d. Mr. Moto Is So Sorry (1938).


"This is the third Mr. Moto book I've read and I've enjoyed them all. Mr. Moto is spy for the Japanese but often finds himself in conflict with more conservative elements of the Japanese military. He also manipulates those main characters on whom the story is based. In this he works with Calvin Gates to ensure a cigarette case is delivered to Mongolia. What is the clue for the case? Time will tell. Also along for the ride are an American woman, an artist and an Australian soldier of fortune. Entertaining and mysterious. (3 stars)"

e. Last Laugh, Mr. Moto (1943).

"Last Laugh, Mr. Moto is the fifth book in John P. Marquand's Mr. Moto spy / war series that I've enjoyed. This adventure finds Mr. Moto, some other spies and American, Bob Bolles in the Caribbean, searching for a US fighter with new technology on it. Bob, an ex-US Navy officer who had quit the Navy after being passed over for promotion, sails the Caribbean with Tom, a faithful hand, always out of money and sort of shiftless.

Bob has spent time in Jamaica and is asked to leave by the Jamaican police. He is hired by Mr. and Mrs. Kingman to sail them to the Winderly Isles, specifically Mercator, purportedly to just get away from things. Accompanying them is their assistant, Oscar, another suspicious character. Mr. Moto plays a minor role at this point, managing a clothing shop in Kingston.

Bob gets more suspicious when his old Navy boss asks him to help them search for the missing aircraft, but due to his anger at the promotion board, he refuses. The adventure moves along nicely with suspicions growing about the Kingman's and their motives.

Very much of the story is left unstated and for you to figure out. Mr. Moto makes another more important appearance as the tension builds. He is a very pragmatic spy, at one moment working with Kingman, then not. Who are the Kingmans? Who is Mrs. Kingman? What are they looking for from the plane? Can Bob interfere? Will Mr. Moto succeed in his mission? All excellent questions and they are played out nicely as the story progresses? An entertaining read as always and a good adventure. (3.5 stars)"

f. Stopover: Tokyo (1957), AKA The Last of Mr. Moto (1963), AKA Right You Are, Mr. Moto (1977).










"Stopover: Tokyo is the 6th and final book in John P. Marquand's Mr. Moto spy series. I have enjoyed all of the previous books, some more than others of course. This might have been my least favorite of the bunch. Basically because it seemed to take so long to actually get going. It was still an interesting story, maybe a bit more thoughtful than the others.

The story focuses on 2 American spies, Jack Rhyce and Ruth Bogart, heading to Japan to help an agent in Tokyo discover a Russian agent working there with the assistance of possible American traitors. Jack's boss has information that the Russians might attempt an assassination in Tokyo to make the Americans look bad. There search is to find Big Ben, the link to the Russian agent.

On their journey the two meet a Japanese student who gives them the card for Mr. Moto. They also meet an American in Wake who they suspect might be Big Ben. A lot of time is the development of their relationship, whether they will quit the Agency when this operation is finished.

Things begin to move quicker when they arrive in Tokyo. They are met by Mr. Moto, who they think might be a spy. They take a trip to the mountains to meet their contact, Bob Gibson and things begin to move even quicker. The last half of the book has more action; with the two beginning to work with Mr. Moto. I definitely found the 2nd half of the story much more interesting.

I'm glad that I read this series. It's interesting to see the spy world and to see both sides of the picture. This story is set just after WWII when Japan is an ally of the US. The spy work was also interesting enough and the descriptions of Japanese culture just after the war was well described. All in all it was a satisfying story and I'm glad that I explored Marquand's Moto books. (3.5 stars)"

There you go. I hope you're enjoying this look at the Spy novel.

♫Monday Monday♫ Afternoon & The Spy Novel - Non Fiction

I did finally mow the lawn yesterday. My neighbors took down the effigy of me they were planning to burn. Thank goodness it's been raining the past week. 😁

I haven't finished any more books since my first of May but I did make some progress on two of them today. I think I'll finish at least one by tomorrow morning. Here's something. I wonder if any of you have experienced this. I noticed it especially yesterday morning. I was lying in bed reading. Every now and then I'd doze off. I still felt like I was reading the book but it changed quite drastically, like my book had become my dream. When I'd open my eyes I'd have to get back into the flow of the book. It's happened a few times. Quite a strange feeling.

So my look at the Spy / Thriller novel will be some non-fiction books I've read the past few years.

The Spy / Thriller Novel - Non Fiction

Over the past few years Jo has bought me a variety of Non-Fiction spy novels. I've enjoyed them all. I will also include in this section a biography of one of the great spy novelists. I hope you like this list.

1. Family of Spies by Pete Earley (1988).

"The definitive behind-the-headlines story of naval officer John Walker, Jr., and the most damaging espionage operation in America's history, this book is based on exclusive taped interviews with Walker and friends, essential documents, telephone transcripts and FBI files." (3 stars) I remember hearing about this when I was working with the US Air Force. It affected security clearances of many foreign nationals who worked in the US military. As I recall anyway.

2. John le Carre, the Biography by Adam Sisman (2015).

"Over the course of John le Carré's 86 years he's written 24 novels. He's maybe most well-known for his aging spy, George Smiley, who appeared in many of his early novels. I've read nine of ten of his books and have in the past few years, started to read his earlier works, as I missed them when I started to explore his writing.

This biography, John Le Carré: the Biography by Adam Sisman piqued my interest when I first saw it on the bookshelves in one of my local book shops (It was originally published in 2015). I finally purchased a copy and was glad to settle down to it this past month. The book was well-organized and flowed nicely. Sisman has an excellent way in presenting his story. It progresses logically, from le Carré's early childhood until his 80th birthday, finishing with his 2nd most recent novel, A Delicate Truth (2013).

I found le Carré's early life very interesting. Much detail is provided about his father and how poorly he treated his wives and children. Ronnie Cornwell (le Carré's real name is David Cornwell) was a ducker and diver, a grifter and philanderer and never changed over the course of his life. He used his children to achieve his own ends, got involved in many financial schemes, spent time in prison for his shady dealings and many times left his boys on the spot.

Much of what David accomplished was almost almost in contrast to his father. Not too say his father wasn't loved, as he had loyal friends, but he just wasn't a very good man / father. Cornwell's story moves through his childhood, time spent at boarding schools and gradually to university and a career with MI5 and MI6. Cornwell had marriage difficulties, was somewhat of a philanderer as well but ultimately found the wife who supported and for whom he cared dearly. As we get to David's writing career, we move chronologically through all of his novels, what influenced him in writing them, reviews of the books, problems with publishers, movie and TV tie-ins, etc. It's a very interesting story and we do find inklings of Cornwell's attitudes and how they develop and change over the course of his long life. Work was an addiction to him and his methods of formulating and developing his stories make for some interesting reading for budding authors. 

If you've enjoyed le Carré's books you might find this biography interesting. It was nice reliving the stories and also remembering the history of the time in which Cornwell grew up and also meeting the people who became his friends.  (3.5 stars)"

3. Spymistress, the Life of Vera Atkins by William Stevenson (2006).











"A rousing tale of espionage and unsung valor, this is the captivating true story of Vera Atkins, Great Britain's spymistress from the age of 25. With her fierce intelligence, blunt manner, personal courage, and exceptional informants, Vera ran countless missions throughout the 1930s. After rising to the leadership echelon in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a covert intelligence agency formed by Winston Churchill, she became head of a clandestine army in World War II. Her team went deep behind enemy lines, linked up with resistance fighters, destroyed vital targets, helped Allied pilots escape capture, assassinated German soldiers, and radioed information back to London. As the biographer of her mentor in the SOE, William Stevenson was the only person Vera Atkins trusted to record her story."

4. The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman (1958). 

"I enjoyed this story very much. It tells the story of German attempts to keep the US out of WWI by trying to goad Mexico and Japan into keeping the US too busy to make them enter the war against Germany. Wilson, President at that time, wanted to get the warring factions to sit down and discuss peace. The British discovered the German activities and plans by breaking down the telegrams sent from Berlin to Washington. The book deals with British plans to break the news of the German plots against Washington and how to do so without alerting the Germans to their code-breaking activities. A very worthwhile read, maybe not with quite the breadth of Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August, but still an excellent piece of historical research that has been presented in a very interesting fashion. (3 stars)"

There you go. Have a great week!

A Sunny Sunday (Yes I Will Mow The Lawn) And The Spy Novel - The Swinging 60s

Ida Lupino, not just an actress

A lovely fresh sunny day, it was nice taking the dogs out at lunch time. At a couple of locations the sidewalk was covered with pink cherry blossoms. Just lovely. I'm currently watching an episode of The Fugitive as I write this. Guest star is Jack Weston and it was directed by Ida Lupino.

Now on to my ongoing look at the Spy / Thriller genre

The Spy / Thriller Genre - Frederic Adam Diment (the '60s)

Adam Diment

I discovered Adam Diment by accident a couple of years back. He is somewhat of a mystery. Between 1967 and 1971 he wrote 4 spy novels, all featuring spy Philip McAlpine. (I think of McAlpine as a serious version of Austin Powers) After that he disappeared from public life and reports say he moved to Zurich and had no plans to write anymore novels. There were plans to turn The Dolly Dolly Spy into a movie starring David Hemmings but it never came to anything. I've managed to find 3 of the books and have enjoyed 2 so far. I've seen two copies of the fourth book but I don't think I want to spend $60.00 on it. We'll see. 😏

1. The Dolly Dolly Spy (1967).









"The Dolly Dolly Spy is the first of four books by Adam Diment featuring British spy, Philip McAlpine. It was first published in 1967 and it definitely has that '60s vibe about it. McAlpine is a security officer for a big firm and is blackmailed into working for a subset of MI6.

He is sent for pilot and armed combat training in the US and assigned to a job with a company, International Charters that works out of a small island in Greece. He does legal and illegal flying missions and periodically reports back to his boss in England with information on his missions. Ultimately he gets assigned a specific mission, to acquire a target that MI6 wants to interrogate.

On its own it's a relatively simple spy story but there is more to it than that. The feel for the time is excellent. It's maybe a James Bond light but the characters are interesting. McAlpine is a neat guy, kind of a coward but still a guy whose quick off the mark and a problem solver. There is enough action, a bit of sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, and an entertaining spy story. Diment disappeared after his fourth book and has retained a cult following (from what I read anyway). If the other books are as entertaining, I'm looking forward to them. (4 stars)"

2. The Great Spy Race (1968).

"The Great Spy Race by Adam Diment is the 2nd of four books that feature Philip McAlpine, reluctant spy for the English. Set in the psychedelic '60s, the book is a bit sexy and filled with action, especially the last chapters.

The book reminds me of the 1967 Casino Royale, which starred David Niven, and was filled with spies in a spyish rolic, and also Mike Myers, Austin Powers. Not that the book is a comedy, but it has a similar tone, providing a picture of the time; drugs, sex, fancy clothes.

The premise of the story is that a rich, ex-spy offers intelligence that all countries might want and they have to provide spies to take part in a race, using the old-fashioned spy techniques. McAlpine is black-mailed by his boss to take part and begins a journey from London to St Tropez to Geneva and ending at an island resort in the Indian Ocean called Mali. McAlpine must use tried and true techniques like blackmail, forgery and sex to get information to continue his journey and to beat the other spies to the end. Accompanied for part of the journey with the sexy Josephine, it's a fast paced adventure. Don't expect a classic of the spy genre, rather more of a cult spy story which is entertaining and action-packed. (3.5 stars)"

3. The Bang Bang Birds (1968).









"Philip McAlpine's escapes from death and encounters with girls begin in New York and move to Stockholm...espionage and the sale of secrets...glittering palaces of vice...golden girls with sub machine guns..."

4. Think, Inc. (1971).

"Philip McAlpine, Switched-on, turned-on, pot smoking, pop spy comes in from the cold for a hot number - Chastity, the coal-black sex-kitten."

There you go. Not your average, every day spy, eh?

Enjoy your upcoming week. 

 

A Rainy, Gloomy Saturday. Perfect For My Continuing Look At the Spy Novel

I guess I should have mowed the lawn yesterday because today it's pretty steady rain. Not much happening around here today. I read a bit this morning, watched Ghostbusters for awhile with Jo. Then I went out to the grocery store and drug store to pick up a couple of things. Now explain this to me, please. In the grocery store.. in fact in most store now that I've been in, at each end of an aisle there is an arrow pointing which direction to walk in. Simple process to avoid face to face contact when someone comes in the opposite direction. Well at the grocery store, there was this one guy who it seemed that every time I turned down an aisle (in the proscribed direction) ⇑ this other guy would be coming up the wrong way. Does he do that on One Way streets too? He just seemed oblivious to it. I shake my head. Of course I backed up and went down the next aisle and mentioned it to the clerk. But they shouldn't have to get involved either. Okay, well enough of that. My Saturday gripe. Now on to the Spy novel

The Spy / Thriller Novel - Alexander Wilson

Alexander Wilson

Alexander (Alec) Joseph Patrick Wilson was born in Dover in 1893 and died in Ealing, London in 1963. I first heard of him when Jo and I watched a TV mini-series on PBS starring one Ruth Wilson. The series was entitled Mrs. Wilson and was based on a book by Tim Crook.

Ruth Wilson

Ruth Wilson played her grandmother Alison Wilson. The movie is about the disappearance of her father, Alex, and Alison's discovery of his philandering and other wives. It was a fascinating series. It made me look Wilson up and I discovered that he had been a spy and MI6 officer and also an author. I became interested in his spy series featuring spymaster Sir Leonard Wallace and his spies. He wrote nine novels in the series. I've managed to find two so far. Unfortunately not the first one yet but once things settle down a bit I'll check some more. I'm hesitant to order any more books from the UK until some others start arriving.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting the series and may read the 2nd without having read the 1st. The books I have are below -

a. The Devil's Cocktail (Wallace #2 / 1928).

"An intrigue against Britain by Bolshevik agents is strongly suspected at MI6. Sir Leonard Wallace sends Captain Hugh Shannon, disguised as a professor of English Literature, to India to get to the bottom of it."

b. Get Wallace! (Wallace #4 / 1934)

"Sir Leonard Wallace, the famous chief of the Secret Service, finds that the peace of Europe is threatened by a gang engaged in the theft and sale of national secrets. Wallace gets busy, and is assisted by the gang leader's own fear of him and his anxiety to get the Englishman into his power. Wallace's investigations, his startling discoveries and his escapes from death make this one of the most exciting books ever written by Alexander Wilson."

The complete listing of Wilson's books is available at this link.

Well, that's all for today. Enjoy your weekend. I hope it's drier where you are. 

Hey It's May 1st! A Reading Update & The Spy Novel

Well, a new month is now upon us and guess what, it seems just like the last month. No, that's not fair because things are actually pretty calm and good here at the old homestead. Yesterday Jo and I went out to a local plant nursery to get our plants for the summer. They are trying to control flow of customers but it still felt strange. We both found ourselves holding our breath a lot. But basically I got into the one lineup from the entrance to the cash and Jo wandered around the plant portion, avoiding people and picking up plants. Interesting experience all told.

I've introduced Jo to The New Abnormal podcast. She listened to today's episode with me and we're now listening to last Tuesday's episode. I'm glad she's enjoying it too.

So I finished my first book of May, one that I started early April but it was a biggie. I'll provide my review and let you know the next book. I'll also update a book that arrived in the mail. I've got a few on order but for the past while the only books I've received are ones I've ordered from within Canada or the US. I'm still waiting for some to arrive from the UK. So no room on airplanes for my books, I ask! (Just kidding of course. Donald J. Trump would call it sarcasm I guess).

Finally, I'll continue with my look at the Spy / Thriller genre.

New Books

1. The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Dept Q #5).

"A teen-aged boy on the run propels Detective Carl Mørck into Department Q’s most sinister case yet

Fifteen-year-old Marco Jameson longs to become a Danish citizen and go to school like a normal teenager. Unfortunately, his Uncle Zola forces the children of their former gypsy clan to beg and steal for his personal gain. When Marco discovers a dead body that proves the true extent of Zola’s criminal activities, he goes on the run. But it turns out his family members aren’t the only ones who want to keep Marco silent … forever.

Detective Carl Mørck wants to save the boy, but Marco’s trail leads him to a case that extends from Denmark to Africa, from embezzlers to child soldiers, from seemingly petty crime rings to the very darkest of cover-ups."

Just Finished

1. Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid.











"I've read a few of Val McDermid's mysteries and for the most part have enjoyed them. She is responsible for the Wire in the Blood thriller series which is excellent. McDermid also has written a number of standalone thrillers, Killing The Shadows is one of them. And yes, it's quite a thriller

Fiona Cameron is an academic psychologist who uses a computer program to geologically track murders and help the police find serial killers. In this story, there are three different cases on the go. In the first, we come in at the middle of the case, the rape and murder of Susan Blanchard. The police have rejected Fiona's advice and followed the advice of another analyst, coming up with egg on their face, when the purported killer is released. Fiona refuses to help the Met anymore because of the case.

She is asked to assist the Spanish police with another possible serial murderer and agrees to assist. Finally someone is murdering thriller authors. Fiona isn't directly involved in the case, but because she is in a relationship with another thriller writer, Kit, she has a peripheral interest and is concerned for Kit's safety.

The story progresses nicely, jumping from one case to another, from different characters to others, including the main murderer. It's a long story but it doesn't really matter as everything is interesting and grabs your attention. Fiona is a fascinating character, not perfect by any means, but that just fleshes her out. There are many other interesting people as well, including her boyfriend, Kit. But also there is Police Chief Inspector Steve Preston, an old friend of Fiona's, still investigating the murder of Susan Blanchard, trying to develop a life and maintain his at times frustrating friendship. Also later in the story, DCI Karen Duvall is introduced, as the third investigation begins to gather steam, that being the murders of the thriller writers. She is a competent, hard-nosed cop and investigator.

So with these varied characters, different murders, neat forensic techniques and continuing and rising tension, the story is fascinating and relatively fast-paced. The last third builds and builds with Fiona and Kit in increasing danger. Great story and thriller. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Laura by Vera Caspary (1942).

"Laura Hunt was the ideal modern woman: beautiful, elegant, highly ambitious, and utterly mysterious. No man could resist her charms—not even the hard boiled NYPD detective sent to find out who turned her into a faceless corpse. As this tough cop probes the mystery of Laura’s death, he becomes obsessed with her strange power. Soon he realizes he’s been seduced by a dead woman—or has he?"

The Spy Novel - John Buchan

John Buchan

1.  John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir. John Buchan was born in Perth Scotland in 1875 and died in Montreal Canada in 1940. I think I've highlighted Mr. Buchan previously but I'm too lazy to look back through all of my previous Blog posts. Buchan was a prolific author, writing non-fiction and fiction. I have read one of his non-fiction books, that being The King's Grace, focusing on British history from 1910 - 1935 especially the impact of the King. Buchan is especially noted in Canada as its 15th Governor - General. He was one of our most popular G-Gs.

My focus in this Blog entry is Buchan's Richard Hannay spy / thriller series. I first became aware of this series from Hitchcock's movie based on The Thirty - Nine Steps, Buchan's first book in the series. I've enjoyed this movie so many times and finally read the book, one that I've read a few times. Since then I've read all of the five books in the series. I have two more of Buchan's books awaiting my attention. I think they might fall into the spy / thriller genre, but time will tell when I finally read them. I'll highlight all seven books for you.

a. The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915).











"This is a classic, an interesting, exciting story. It's similar but at the same time a fair bit different from Alfred Hitchcock's movie. Interesting story of a man caught up in extraordinary events which have the potential to dramatically change the outcome of the impending war, who uses his ingenuity and basic smarts to avoid his enemies. I'll leave it there as I don't want to spoil for anyone who hasn't read before. Excellent story.

Reread - I enjoyed this reread even more than the other times I've read. As it was for a book group I took a bit more time. Hitchcock's movie was basically quite similar except for the addition of the young lady. It's a fast-paced adventure and Buchan wastes no time getting to the crux.

Hannay, bored with London, has decided to return to South Africa where he has worked as an engineer. He decides on a night out on the town and when he returns home, his upstairs neighbour, Scudder asks for his help. Scudder is aware of a plot to destroy the British fleet but fears he is being followed and he hides out in Hannay's flat. After a few days, Hannay finds Scudder stabbed to death  and this begins Hannay's journey to Scotland to avoid the Black Stone and bide his time until he can advise the British government of the plot. To do so precipitously will cause the enemy to change their plans.

The black book of Scudder is in code but Hannay figures out the gist of it, including a reference to 39 Steps. Hannay must evade both the police (as he is a suspect for Scudder's murder) and also the Black Stone (German spies) as he races through the Scottish highlands. He meets many interesting helpful people who help him on his way. Eventually Hannay will get with the government and there will be another race to try and capture the enemy.

Action-packed story. Hannay is a common-sense individual who relies on his instincts, a strong, enjoyable character and an exciting story. Hannay appeared in at least 4 other Buchan adventures. Worth reading them all. (4 stars)"

b. Greenmantle (1916).

"A perfectly admirable sequel to The Thirty-Nine Steps. Richard Hannay appears again, now a Major in the British Army during WWI. He and three companions are asked to go behind German lines and to follow a route to Turkey to find out what the Germans are plotting there. It's a well-paced, well-written adventure thriller. Most enjoyable, entertaining story. I look forward to reading the other stories in the series. (4 stars)"

c. Mr. Standfast (1919). 











"Mr Standfast is the third book in the John Hannay thriller/ spy series written by John Buchan. The first two, The 39 Steps and Greenmantle, were both excellent and this third story follows easily with another excellent, well-paced, thriller. In this story, John Hannay, now a General in the British Army is called back from the front (WWI) to help find an old adversary. The Germans are infiltrating pacifist factions and using these people to help their ends, as a conduit for passing information, and other activities. Hannay follows a trail to northern Scotland and back to the front in this wartime adventure. There are excellent characters in this story, Buchan writes thoughtfully and the story, especially the ending is all excellent. An excellent follow-up to the first two books. Next in this series will be The Three Hostages. (4 stars)"

d. The Three Hostages (1924).

"The Three Hostages is the 4th book in the Richard Hannay adventure / thriller series by John Buchan. It was originally published in 1924. I've read the complete series now and, maybe because it's the freshest in my mind, I think it was the best book in the series.

Hannay is living on his estate in the country in western Britain with his wife Mary and his young son Peter John. He is now trying to move on from his WWI experiences, to enjoy a retirement, but he is brought back to reality when he is advised of three kidnappings. He doesn't think he is appropriate to be involved in finding them but when he finds out that one is a young boy of similar age to Peter John, he changes his mind with encouragement from Mary.

Hannay agrees to assist. He returns to London and gets info; there are two related aspects. The three kidnaps; a young man, a young lady and the young boy. As well the intelligence services with his old friend, MacGillivary in charge, are trying to break up a criminal enterprise of major proportions. The timing of trying to rescue the kidnapped and breaking up the organization is critical as if they are too quick with one the other will be lost.

Hannay begins to investigate and along the way meets old friends from other books, especially Sandy Arbuthnot, who will play a major role in the resolution of the story. Hannay meets Medina, an English politician and attends a dinner along with Arbuthnot. Medina is popular with all except Arbuthnot who is suspicious. After the dinner, Hannay is drugged and an attempt by Medina is made to hypnotize and gain control of Hannay. This fails but Hannay now uses this action to continue investigating further into Medina and his organization.

The story moves along at a nice pace and finds Hannay moving throughout London and even to Norway as he searches for the kidnapped. He keeps MacGillivary somewhat out of the picture but with help from Arbuthnot (who even though keeping himself out of the picture as much as possible, plays a quite important role), Mary, and other old friends, he begins to gather more and more info.

It's a fascinating story, with hypnotism, black arts (somewhat) and a good old adventure. There is considerable tension and sufficient action, especially in the closing chapters, which are excellent. I'm almost glad that I saved this middle book until the end as it was excellent. There is another story, The Courts of the Morning, which features Hannay in a minor role, which I will also read. (4.5 stars)"

e. The Island of Sheep (1936).











"The Island of Sheep is the fifth of five books by John Buchan featuring intrepid Richard Hannay. The most well-known book is the first, The 39 Steps, which was also made into at least two movies. I've read the first three and jumped book 4, The Three Hostages, for one of my reading challenges. I will get back to the 4th book in the near future.

With all that preamble, The Island of Sheep brings a retired Hannay and some friends back into adventure to follow up on a promise they made to an old friend many years ago. That promise was to help this man's son should he ever be endangered by the friend's enemies. Hannay is enjoying retirement, living at Fosse with wife and son but still feels that he's getting rusty. Brief meetings with other old friends, Lombard, and Sandy, lord of Clanroyden, bring back the events in Africa that lead to the promise to help their old friend, Haraldsen, a Norlander and adventurer. A group of old and new enemies are threatening the son of Haraldsen to get his wealth. Hannay and his friends decide to help him against them.

The adventure moves to Scotland, home of Sandy and then to the Island of Sheep, somewhere near Denmark / Norway, the home of Haraldsen and his clan, for the final confrontation. The story moves along nicely, with sufficient action to keep you involved and also develops the characters in a manner where you can see them shaking off the rust of their retirements and inactivity to become more resolute in their efforts to help their friend. Buchan has an excellent descriptive writing style and you can see and feel the land he describes and his characters. In many ways it's probably a man's story, the women, wives of Hannay and his friends, are strong and resolute and supportive of the men but also play minor roles. I also liked Hannay's son, Peter John, who plays a nicely major role in the events.

All in all, an excellent ending to the Hannay adventures, enjoyable to read and a satisfying ending. (3.5 stars)"

f. The Huntingtower (1922).

"Huntingtower is a novel written by John Buchan in 1922. The first of his three Dickson McCunn books, it is set near Carrick in south-west Scotland around 1920. The hero is a 55-year-old grocer Dickson McCunn, who has sold his business and taken early retirement. As soon as he ventures out to explore the world, he is swept out of his bourgeois rut into bizarre and outlandish adventures, and forced to become a reluctant hero. The story revolves around the imprisonment under false pretenses by Bolshevik agents of an exiled Russian noblewoman. The Scottish local community mobilizes to uncover and thwart the conspiracy against her, and to defend the neutrality of Scotland against the Russian revolutionary struggle

g. The Courts of the Morning (1929).









"Begins in the pleasant atmosphere of a country house in the Scottish borders, where Richard Hannay is the guest of his old friend, Sandy Arbuthnot. The drama shifts to a small South American republic in the grip of a dictator."

Have a great weekend!