Red Aces by Edgar Wallace, 1929

 

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This book consists of three short stories featuring detective J.G. Reeder:

The Red Aces

Kennedy, the Con Man

The Case of Joe Attymar

This review is only of the first, The Red Aces.

Major characters:

• George McKay
• Kenneth McKay, his son
• Margot Lynn, Kenneth's girlfriend, niece/secretary to Walter "Benny" Wentford
• Walter "Benny" Wentford, Margot's uncle
• Rufus Machfield, Kenneth's friend
• Walter Enward, lawyer
• Henry Green, Enward's clerk
• Eric Kingfether, bank manager
• Ena Burslem, a Woman of the World
• J.G. Reeder, private detective
• Constanble James Verity

Locale: England

Synopsis: Kenneth McKay is out in the countryside and spots his girlfriend, Margot Lynn, out with another man. She refuses to  introduce them, and soon McKay gets a 'Dear John' letter breaking off their relationship. McKay tells this to his friend Rufus Machfield, who reveals that he is deep in gambling debt, and his bank is missing some funds.

Lawyer Walter Enward and his clerk Henry Green are called out on a snowy night to the cottage of Walter "Benny" Wentford. On the way, they are stopped by Constable James Verity, standing in the road alongside a dead body. Enward identifies the body as Wentford. Private Detective J.G. Reeder comes on the scene, and goes to Wentford's nearby cottage to find Margot inside, awaiting her uncle's return. He also finds two red ace cards pinned to the door. Contable Verity cannot be located, and is later found dead alongside the road.

Review: This was my first J.G, Reeder story and it was enjoyable. It is jam-packed to fit a full length novel's share of plot and characters into 100 pages, so it is quite condensed. There are a lot of characters and inter-relationships to keep track of. For example, Margot is not only Wentford's secretary, she is also his niece. J.G. just seems to be everywhere at once. I was a bit confused as to his position, he is called a private detective at first, then a member of the Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Once the action stops, there is one final chapter, which is quite different from what came before. J.G. himself writes the last chapter, calmly providing a detailed synopsis of the action and tying up all the loose ends. I found this valuable, since I had lost track of a lot of the details along the way. 

Overall, the story reminded me of the Rex Stout triple-volumes, consisting of three short Nero Wolfe adventures. The length is just right for a one-evening read. 

The Green Ribbon by Edgar Wallace, 1930

 

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About the author: Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals (Goodreads). In terms of production, by cranking out one novel per month, he was the British equivalent of Erle Stanley Gardner. See this Wikipedia article.

Major characters:

• Donald Gray, deceased
• Edna Gray, Donald's niece and heiress
• Alberto Garcia, Edna's friend
• Inspector Matthew Mark Luke

The staff of The Green Ribbon agency:

• Joe Trigger, operator of Trigger's Transactions
• Dr. Blanter, the brain  
• Elijah Goodie, horse trainer, tenant of Gillywood Cottage
• Arthur Rustem, a disbarred attorney
• Mr. Pilcher, Rustem's clerk

Locale: England

Synopsis: Recently-disbarred attorney Arthur Rustem handles the estate of the late Donald Gray, Venezuelan cattle farmer; consisting of two properties: Gillywood Cottage/Farm and adjacent Longhall. Upon Gray's death, they have passed to his niece, Edna Gray. Edna arrives from Venezuela, intending to live at Longhall, and instructs Rustem to oust the tenant, horse trainer Elijah Goodie. She travels there to find Gillywood Cottage and horse stables well kept, but nearby Longwood neglected. Goodie tries to discourage her from moving in.

Edna has made the acquaintance of Inspector Matthew Mark Luke of Scotland Yard. He is investigating possible crimes associated with horse racing, and in particular the operation of the Green Ribbon Agency, owned by Joe Trigger. Trigger has developed a profitable - and marginally legal - method of making money from the races. He invites subscribers to place funds on deposit with him, and his agents place last-minute bets - so close to the race time that the bets cannot affect the odds.* His associates are trainer Elijah Goodie, Dr. Blanter, and Arthur Rustem.

*at least that's how I understand it.

Review: For a long time I was puzzled as to where this book was going. There is a murder, but it takes until page 261 (of 311) to occur. There are not even any crimes up to that point - it is emphasized again and again that the Green Ribbon operation is quite legal. Inspector Luke is always watching and waiting for them to do something illegal.

I enjoyed the description of how Trigger's Transactions were organized and operated, in order to keep the investors (bettors) anonymous.

Despite this odd construction, the story moves right along and kept my attention all the way. I don't understand how horse racing odds work, but that was not a barrier to enjoying the story. I think Wallace just enjoyed writing about horse racing, since a number of his novels are on that topic. 

There are some of surprises along the way - when Goodie's pets are revealed, what's really going on in the Perrywig Caves, and the last paragraph of the book manages to bring in a love interest!

The Gold Skull Murders by Frank L. Packard, 1931

 

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About the author: Frank L. Packard (1877 - 1942) was born in Montreal, Quebec. As a young man he worked as a civil engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway. His experiences working on the railroad led to his writing many railroad stories, then to a series of mystery novels, the most famous of which featured a character called Jimmie Dale. Several of his novels were made into films. (Wikipedia)

Major characters:

Dr. Ronald Ward, alias Bob Curle

Michael Ward, Ronald's father

Gourlay, plantation manager

Sarlow, the Ward's agent in Singapore

Li Yuan, Japanese millionaire

Whitey Jahal, Singapore gangster

Joan Robb, Andrew Robb's daughter

Explorers on The Hawk:

Michael Ward, Ronald's father

Henry Maclin-Clyne

Andrew Robb

Tom Gresham

Bob Rankin

Locale: Taletee Island, Malaysia; and Singapore

Synopsis: Ship's surgeon Dr. Ronald Ward is on his father's plantation on Taletee Island in Malaysia. He has come to handle the estate of his father, Michael Ward, who has recently died. The plantation is being run by the manager, Gourlay.

One night a stranger enters the house and leaves a package addressed to Michael Ward, apparently unaware he is dead. Ronald opens the package to find a small gold skull and a mysterious note. Goulay says Michael had some dealings with that person before. Ronald wraps up the estate business and heads home on the steamer Watabi. Two murders occur on board, accompanied by gold skulls and a maniacal laugh. Ronald figures out the murders are connected to those who sailed on the Hawk with his father on an expedition.

The steamer catches fire and sinks, and Ronald escapes on a raft. He is picked up by the Japanese yacht Sen-Chu and finds the owner, Li Yuan, gravely ill with appendicitis. Ronald operates using kitchen utensils, and Li Yuan, in gratitude, tells him how to find the people behind the gold skulls in Singapore. Once in Singapore, Ronald assumes the alias of Bob Curle and immerses himself in the waterfront underworld of gangster Whitey Jahal. Ronald and Joan Robb are kidnapped and taken on a boat to the island of Batai, home of a tribe of headhunters.

Review: This is a good read for a cold winter night as we deal with the hot, steamy tropics and rusty old steamships. Packard brings his usual wealth! of exclamation points! in every sentence! to this story! as Ronald encounters amazing adventures! Murder, shipwrecks, adrift on a raft, waterfront gambling hells and bars, and even headhunters! Suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!

 

The White Dress by Mignon G. Eberhart, 1945

 

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About the author: Mignon Good (1899-1996) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1929 her first crime novel was published featuring 'Sarah Keate', a nurse and 'Lance O'Leary', a police detective. This couple appeared in another four novels. Over the next forty years she wrote a novel nearly every year. In 1971 she won the Grand Master award from the Mystery Writers of America. (from Goodreads)

Major characters:

• Tim Wales, president of Wales Airlines
• Judith Wales, his second wife
• Winnie Wales, his daughter by his first marriage
• Marny Sanderson, his secretary/advisor, our protagonist
• André Durant, friend of Judith
• Cecily Durant, his estranged wife
• Laideau, André's hulking friend
• Charlie Ingram, a British neighbor
• Commander Bill Cameron, USN

Locale: Shadow Island in Biscayne Bay, near Miami

Synopsis: No sooner had Marny Sanderson  arrived from New York to Florida with her employer, Tim Wales, president of Wales Airlines, then she had a premonition of disaster. She had traveled with Tim and André Durant, a job seeker and house guest of Tim's elegant wife, Judith Wales. Judith and Tim's daughter, Winnie Wales, have been living in the Wales' Florida island home. 

Once settled in to the home on Shadow Island, Marny swims in the pool and meets Commander Bill Cameron, who is desperate to meet with Tim om war-related issues. Then André appears, and to Marny's delight, they have a brief romantic encounter in the garden. Marny returns to her room, and finds a young stranger, who identifies herself as Cecily Durant, André's wife. Marny is shocked to learn he is married. Cecily brandishes a gun at Marny and threatens her for taking André from her. Cecily then gets scared off and runs out into the night. Marny follows, to find her shot dead, and Marny is now the prime suspect.

Review: I really enjoy Eberhart's middle-career mysteries, even if they follow a formula:

1. Girl meets Guy #1 who seems right for her but is really a cad
2. Girl meets Guy #2 is seems wrong for her but is really right
3. Someone gets murdered, and Girl is the suspect
4. Girl is saved by Guy #2
5. Happy ending

Even the setting is formula, Girl's upstairs bedroom has both an interior door and an exterior door to a balcony with a spiral staircase to the ground, where much slinking around occurs.

At first I thought millionaire Tim might be Guy #2, but when he is described as being short, fat, and sweaty I knew he was scratched off the list.

I had a bit of trouble getting a picture of Winnie. She must only be about 19 years old yet she has a prime "adult" set of responsibilities, despite having no visible means of support. 

The surprise witness who shows up is a bit of a stretch, given the circumstances in which he observed a murder. He returns near the end in a re-enactment but that falls through. I thought the approaching hurricane would be a good plot element but ho-hum, not much there except a lot of wind. 

Overall, an enjoyable page-turner, and the killer was a surprise; and the one I thought would be the killer turned out to be the Red Herring, so Mignon got one over on me again. The killer got their punishment in an unexpected way at the end which closed up the story cleanly.

Also see this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

The Silent Speaker by Rex Stout, 1946

 

Nero Wolfe #11

Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace, 1925

 

About the author: Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals (Goodreads). In terms of production, by cranking out one novel per month, he was the British equivalent of Erle Stanley Gardner. See this Wikipedia article.

Major characters:

• Septimus Salter, solicitor
• Jim Steele, his secretary
• Eunice Weldon, Jim's girlfriend
• Lady Mary Danton, the missing heiress, widow of...
• Jonathan Danton,  deceased
• Dorothy Danton, their daughter
• Mrs. Jane Groat, Jonathan's sister
• Digby Groat, Jane's son
• Madge Benson, a nurse

Locale: London

Synopsis: Jim Steele, secretary to solicitor Septimus Salter, sees himself as an amateur detective and is fascinated with one of Salter's cases. The case involves the Danton fortune of Jonathan and Lady Mary Danton, held in trust for their daughter Dorothy. Twenty years ago, the Dantons had gone to America, Lady Mary dropped out of sight, and daughter Dorothy may have been lost in a boating accident but no one is really sure. Under the Danton will, if Lady Mary and Dorothy do not show up after twenty years, the fortune reverts to Jonathan's sister, Mrs. Jane Groat. The clock is running down on that, and Jane's pompous son, sinister doctor Digby Groat, wants to be sure he gets his hands on the fortune.

Jim's girlfriend, Eunice Weldon, takes a position as secretary to Mrs. Groat. Eunice is unnerved by Digby's medical experiments on animals, and she receives anonymous notes, signed by "Blue Hand", warning her to leave the position; along with a blue handprint smeared on the wall each time. Meanwhile, Jim tracks down Dorothy Danton, but before her can get her, she is kidnapped by Groat who attempts to get her to France via car, train, boat, and airplane; none of which work.

Review: Jim Steele takes the James Bond role in this thriller, which has everything thrown in: mysterious mansions, people being tied up, several secret identities, wills being burned, poisons, a missing heiress, an evil doctor, drugs, car chases, train chases, boat chases, and airplane chases. With all these transport options, one would think they could get across the English Channel. The only thing missing is a secret passage. The action is nonstop, and is surprising it is pulled off with such a small cast of characters. Three amusing henchmen (Villa, Fuentes, and Bronson) appear late in the book and are all dealt with quickly. Pro tip: If you are a passenger in an open-cockpit airplane, be sure your seat belt is fastened.

I was a bit confused for a time on the status of Jonathan Denton, but well into the book it is stated that he is long-ago dead and that Lady Mary is his widow.

Animal lovers will note there are several references to Groat's vivisection experiments, but nothing graphic.