Green Hazard by Manning Coles, 1945

 

Image only - no review.

The Man in the Green Hat by Manning Coles, 1955

 

ClassicCrimeFiction.com

About the authors: (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

Leonard Montagu Adair - a diplomat, the man in the green hat
Giorgio Mandoli, imprisoned forger
Agostino Grisoni, a.k.a. Rodrigo Algani
Gian Grisoni, a.k.a. Carlo Rezia
Ettore Stefano, the Grisoni's servant
Rosario Rossini, old man with the notebooks
Antonio Morra, "Il Cieco", the blind man
Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
William Forgan and Alexander Campbell, Hambledon's friends, the "model makers"

Locale: Italy

Synopsis:

Review:

May 6 2024: reading now, please check back again. RM

Nothing to Declare by Manning Coles, 1960

 

mysteryfile.com

About the author: Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office. (wikipedia)

This is billed as "12 short stories" but they are not all independent stories. 1 through 4 comprise one continuing story.

1. The Blue Envelope - Tommy Hambledon and Chief Superintendent Bagshott of Scotland Yard team up to recover a fabulous jewel, The Luck of Kenilworth.
2. It Pays to be Honest - the story continues
3. Set a Thief- the story continues
4. Out of Luck- the story continues
5. An Angel on my Foot - Tommy Hambledon tries to find what is behind a rash of gravestone thefts.
6. Nothing to Declare - A man is found dead in his home, and the only thing missing is his empty suitcase. Meanwhile, police receive reports of other missing empty suitcases around the city.
7. Handcuffs Don't Hold Ghosts - Tommy is listening to a B.B.C. feature of an exploration into a supposedly haunted mansion, when suddenly the radio commentators disappear; leaving the listeners with empty air.
8. The Case of the Six Indignant Footmen - Six footmen are hired to serve a lavish party which turns into a lavish jewel theft.
9. The Dip - Tommy is after a notorious pickpocket, and drops into a Belgian bar he may frequent. Tommy's drink gets drugged, he gets abducted, and his only way out is riding a untamed horse.
10. Here Lies --- The constable is new on the job, and discovers a murdered body in the road one night. The man is dead. The constable is all alone - what to do now? Despite his better judgement, he leaves the body alone to call it in. But when he returns, it is gone!
11. Holiday Romantic - A traveling photographer inadvertently snaps a photo of a wanted thief.
12. Buyer Collects - Diamond smugglers have a bright idea: transport their diamonds in a garish, beat up old suitcase which is held closed with a rope. Not their brightest idea. 

Review: Tommy Hambledon short stories are bite-sized for one sitting, and usually involve stolen documents or diamonds; rather than a murder (which takes more pages to resolve). These are best read in order, as many refer back to previous ones. Stories 1-4 are really one long story. This may be the first Coles book I have read which does not have Tommy uttering his famous sentence: "Some scheme will doubtless present itself".

Dangerous by Nature by Manning Coles, 1950

 

About the author: Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
• Mateo Delmonte, Tommy's local guide
• Ernst Busch, a German café owner
• Don Angelo Argo, a collector of antiquities
• John Bartholomew Grant, the British envoy to Esmeralda
• Rodrigo De Silva y Garacia, Esmeraldan army officer
• Wilbur K. Hobkirk, US Intelligence

Locale: (fictional) Republic of Esmeralda, Central America

Synopsis: On a river tributary deep in the jungle of Esmeralda, eight men are observed disembarking from a freighter with much freight, and disappearing up a jungle trail. The observer reports this to the authorities, and Tommy Hambledon of British Secret Service soon arrives on the scene. He reports to British envoy John Bartholomew Grant, and is to await the arrival of US intelligence agent Wilbur K. Hobkirk before proceeding.

Tommy enlists a local guide, Mateo Delmonte. Mateo urges he buy a lottery ticket, which he does. Tommy suspects the lottery is rigged, but somehow wins. In the night, a man breaks into Tommy's room seeking the lottery money, but Mateo dumps him off the veranda, killing him.

The men with the freight are identified as Russians, and they are building something large in the hills. Meanwhile, the Esmeralda military, led by Rodrigo De Silva, is training to oust their president. Tommy and Mateo spy on the Russian project, and Tommy is captured and taken prisoner.

Review: It doesn't matter where Tommy Hambledon is, the adventures always delight. This adventure doesn't disappoint. Mateo is a fun character and a good match. Another good character is the poet Mentov, who shares Tommy's prison cell. The action winds up with a really big bang, which no contemporary book would dare use - but this is 1950 and such things were contemplated back then. The Hambledon stories could use a woman now and then - maybe a femme fatale - but they never seem to get included.

Duty Free by Manning Coles (1959)

 

About the author: Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

Robert Brown, British attendant to Prince André

Prince André

*Marcel Avril, poet, author, newspaper editor

*Gilles d'Ecosse, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Instructor of the Children

*Father Denys, The reverend curé

*Henri Tonnerre, winegrower and innkeeper

*Louis Durand, postmaster

*Jean Latour, farmer and stockbreeder

Fishy Pike, a jewel thief; a.k.a. Pasquet the photographer

Adam K. Hopkins, hotel magnate

Betty Hopkins, his daughter

Locale: Principality of Sainte-Roche, bordering France

Synopsis: Englishman Robert Brown is travelling to the tiny Principality of Sainte-Roche to take a position as attendant to Prince André. He finds the only bridge into it has fallen. He gets across with aid from a local. He meets with the prince and the leaders of the small country, known as The Six (marked * above). They hold a staff meeting to deal with a crisis: the cash reserves have fallen to almost nothing, and knowing Brown as a man of the world, ask for his ideas.

Brown relates how the US typically will provide foreign aid (cash) to those countries under threat of turning to communism. The communists are not interested in this tiny country, but an idea is hatched: publicize the idea that they are in danger of  turning communist, in hopes of attracting the US foreign aid. 

The plan is to stage a fake battle between the local militia and the "communists" (portrayed by other locals). The battle is set up and reporters from various European newspapers arrive to cover the story. The locals put on a big, noisy, smoky show of battle as the reporters clamor to use the only telephone to call in their stories.

The ruse works only too well. A big pile of foreign aid will be theirs as soon as the Price and Brown (now his Foreign Minister) travel to Paris to sign the contract. Meanwhile, a frenzy of work begins to bring Sainte-Roche into the 20th century. While in Paris, the prince falls for Betty Hopkins, daughter of hotel magnate Adam K. Hopkins. Everything looks rosy until a disreputable man from Brown's past, Fishy Pike, appears and threatens to reveal the truth about Brown.

Review: A charming and always amusing tale of the challenges of bringing an isolated, simple community up to world expectations. Robert Brown has to play both sides of his character to make it succeed. Several crazy story lines run in parallel with the usual mixture of Manning Coles chaos erupting at every turn. A laugh-out-louder filled with colorful locals. 

Alias Uncle Hugo by Manning Coles (1952)

 

About the author: Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office. (wikipedia)

Major characters:

• Kaspar Groenwald, a 13-year old prince
• Edward Granger, his tutor
• Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
• Charles Denton, British Secret Service

Locale: Germany and Russia

Synopsis: Tommy Hambledon of the British Secret Service has an assignment: Go to Russia, find and rescue a 13-year old boy who is to be the future king of a mid-European country. Tommy and associate Charles Denton enter Russia with Tommy impersonating Comrade Commisar Peskoff, with Denton as his driver. They go to the boy's town of Bereghark under the guise of inspecting a farm implement factory, but find the boy, Kaspar Groenwald gone. His tutor, Edward Granger, reports he has been taken with a group of others to a special leadership school in Poltava - with the Russians unaware of his royal status.

Tommy (as Peskoff) and Denton head to Berlin to provide a ride to Comrade Orzinov. On the way Orzinov determines Peskoff is an imposter, and Denton shoots him. They are stopped en route, and are able to dispose of the body. They arrive in Berlin, and upon entering, find themselves in the middle of a labor uprising. Tommy, lacking identity papers, takes some from a body and assumes his identity of Hugo Britz, unaware Britz was a wanted murderer. 

Tommy, as Britz, manages to get appointed to a job in another farm implement factory in Poltava, close to Kaspar's school. Despite knowing nothing about agriculture, he manages to implement various efficiencies in the factory. As far as Kaspar goes, Tommy poses as his Uncle Hugo, and plans to spirit him out of Russia, but how? He is 1000 miles away from the border. Meanwhile, his impersonation as Britz is beginning to unravel.

Review: Tommy Hambledon stories are always a delight. He manages to get himself into scrapes and extract himself with little or no planning. One aspect that was not clear to me was who/why wanted Kaspar in England? It was mentioned late in the book that Kaspar's unnamed European country had a government-in-exile in England, and it was they who wanted to get Kaspar to a safe, friendly country. 

Kaspar was an interesting and enjoyable character. Mature beyond his 13 years, he assumes quite a different persona when with Tommy (who knows he is royalty) than he does with everyone else - and when he is with his school buddies he is just like any 13 year old.

Search for a Sultan by Manning Coles (1961)

 

About the authors: (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

Good guys:

• Prince Achmed, in line for the throne
• Sayed, Achmed's son
• Hassan, Achmed's valet
• Lady Ross-Crockdale, the "Lost Crocodile"

Bad guys:

• Emil Abdul, next in line after Prince Achmed
• Sulman bin Boukhba, leader of the extremists
• Sampiero, a Corsican
• La Cigale, an assassin
• La Rose Bleue, "The Blue Rose"
• The Gravedigger / La Fossoyeur

And of course:

• Tommy Hambledon, British Intelligence
• William Forgan & Alexander Campbell, the model makers
• Inspector Antione Letord

Locale: France and Qathusn, a middle eastern kingdom

Synopsis: The Sultan of Qathusn is getting on in years, and people are antsy to know who will succeed him. His son, Prince Achmed, has the post all but wrapped up. His nephew, Emil Abdul, is next in line; and knows if he can eliminate Achmed he can be Sultan quite soon. British and Western interests hope for Achmed, who is friendly toward their oil interests. Emil Abdul, however, is tight with the extremists who wish to cut the British and the West off.

Achmed is poisoned at a reception and dies, alarming British intelligence as Emil Abdul is now much closer to the throne. There are rumors Achmed had a son in France, and if true, this son would be next in succession. Tommy Hambledon is assigned to find the son, if he exists.

The extremists, led by Sulman bin Boukhba, do all they can to thwart Hambledon. The climax comes at a conference in Quathusn, in which Hambledon's model maker friends, William Forgan and Alexander Campbell, impersonate two of the delegates in order to discredit Emil Abdul. They are joined by a larger-than-life journalist,  Lady Ross-Crockdale, the "Lost Crocodile", in creating a chaos to their advantage.

Review: This is the penultimate (#24 of 25) Tommy Hambledon book, the series ceasing upon the passing of one of the authors (Adelaide Manning). 

The setting may be the Middle East but the shenanigans are all Tommy Hambledon. Everything goes by the book until Tommy gets to France, and takes shelter with a farmer who will assist him if - quid pro quo - Tommy helps him out with over some quarantine restrictions on his circus elephant. Tommy, farmer, and elephant get stuck on a toll bridge in search of Achmed's son.

Tommy enlists the aid of his model maker hobbyists, Forgan and Campbell, and their presence always leads to more sub-rosa activities than Tommy is willing to instigate. Their method of disposing of the body of one of the bad guys will have the reader laughing.

The action moves to Qathusn where the Sultan is holding a conference. Forgan and Campbell are on their own, and strike up an alliance with Lady Ross-Crockdale; even though it is not really clear whose side -if any - she is on. 

The characters are great. Forgan and Campbell are enough to steal the show from Tommy, even without Lady Ross-Crockdale. 

The next book (#25), The House at Pluck's Gutter, will, sadly, close out the Tommy Hambledon series.

The Basle Express by Manning Coles (1956)

 

Sorry, no review (read while away on vacation), but be sure to read this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

Without Lawful Authority by Manning Coles (1943)

 

AbeBooks

About the authors: (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Jim Warnford, retired and seeking excitement .. and Rawson
• Ashling, Warnford's butler
• Captain Rawson, Warnford's old army associate
• John Marden, a burglar
• Percy and Stanley Johnson, brother spies
• Mrs. Ferne, the lady with the cats
• Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
• Charles Denton, Tommy's superior

Locale: England

Synopsis: It is the runup to England's entry into World War II. Jim Warnford is retired and getting bored, staying home and working on his model railroad engines. He has a grudge against Captain Rawson, former military mate, who stole some plans and set up Warnford to take the fall. 

Ashling, Warnford's butler, catches a burglar, John Marden, in the act. Rather than turn Marden in the police, Warnford strikes up a friendship with him, and has Marden teach him the arts of burglary and safecracking. Together, they seek to find Captain Rawson to even the score. They come across a couple of brothers, Percy and Stanley Johnson, who have tapped the phone line of the Foreign Service. They tip off the authorities who pick up the Johnsons, who turn out to be a couple of Nazis.  

Warnford and Marden are quite successful in tracing out the Nazi spy ring, always one step ahead of Tommy Hambledon. Warnford keeps Hambledon informed of progress, and Hambledon keeps trying to catch up to find out who these two really are.

The climax comes as all parties converge on Morley Park, an insane asylum. Warnford and Marden infiltrate it, with chaos resulting as all the inmates get loose and it is difficult to tell who are the inmates, who are the good guys, and who are the bad guys.

Review: This is the longest Tommy Hambledon book, and the length is required to document all the adventures of Warnford and Marden; who take center stage away from Tommy again and again. They run into various humorous scrapes as can be expected in a Manning Coles adventure. 

The highlights of the book are the events in the hotel as Warnford and Marden attempt to capture Rawson, while unknown to everyone, Tommy is locked in the closet. The adventure only becomes crazier and more chaotic as everyone winds up at Morley Park Asylum.

It is an excellent read to settle in and go back to the time of 1938-1939 as events in the story are told against the backdrop of the building Nazi occupation of Europe.

A Knife for the Juggler by Manning Coles (1964)

 

goodreads

About the author: (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Lernhard Werner
• Don Pedro, the juggler
• The Grieving Widow
• Pavel Dinnik, a kidnapped communist
• Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
• Inspector Antoine Letord, of the Sureté
• Alexander Campbell, British model maker
• William Forgan, his partner

Locale: France

Synopsis: Someone has been kidnapping communists around Paris, and they have disappeared without a trace. The latest was Pavel Dinnik. The British want him rescued - he was a most reasonable representative of Russia. Tommy Hambledon is sent to Paris to find him.

As soon as Tommy arrives, he witnesses a murder (of Lernhard Werner). While following the killer, he learns that he and another German (Goertz and Ernst Werner) are to attempt something during a juggling show by Don Pedro. Tommy attends, Don Pedro is killed by a thrown knife. 

In order to flush out the kidnappers, Tommy calls on his associates Alexander Campbell and William Forgan to speak at a fake communist meeting; hoping a kidnap attempt will be made. Being modelmakers, Campbell and Forgan know nothing about communism, and their inappropriate speeches start a riot.

Tommy finds the kidnapped communists are being held in a wing of a hotel, awaiting transport to a desert island. He assumes the identity of Karl Ardweg and procures a job as a warden. A mysterious grieving widow is a guest also a guest of the hotel and lurks about. Tommy confirms Pavel Dinnik is there, but how to get him out?

Review: An excellent Manning Coles adventure with all the necessary elements: explosions, fires, riots, kidnappings, and general mayhem; all improved by the modelmakers Campbell and Forgan who excel in jumping into trouble and stirring all the pots, never thinking of the consequences. A particularly amusing episode is when the modelmakers are in a cafe, attempting to converse in Spanish, while eavesdropping on a conversation in German; requiring simultaneous double translations.

Not Negotiable by Manning Coles (1949)

 

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Yanni the Nephew
• Louis Burenne
• Alexandre Maurice, a counterfeiter; a.k.a. Pierre Guyon
• Hilde, a.k.a. Leonie Vermaas, Maurice's wife
• Colette Masurel, Maurice's fiancée
• Jules Parisot, a naive young man
• Tommy Hambledon, British Intelligence
• Antoine Letord, of the Sureté

Locale: Brussels, Belgium; and Paris, France

Synopsis: During WWII the Germans made an effort to destablize other nation's economies by producing large quantities of counterfeit money. Tommy Hambledon of British Intelligence is in Brussels to look into counterfeit currency emanating from there. In a cafe, Tommy notices a man (Yanni the Nephew) looking at something written on the bottom of a beer coaster, and slipping it in his pocket. Yanni leaves the cafe, and is followed by a man (Louis Burenne) under a bridge, where Yanni is shot. Tommy was following Burenne, who runs away. Tommy retrieves the beer coaster, which has the message "Parcel at 208 Rue Olive. Ask for Raoul". Meanwhile, Tommy was followed by another man who accosts him for the coaster. This man turns out to be Antoine Letord of the French Sureté. Now that Tommy has encountered another good guy, they team up to see if the mysterious parcel is full of counterfeit money.

Tommy goes to 208 Rue Olive to find it inhabited by an old man (Papa) and two young girls, Giselle and Brigitte. The girls depart, and Tommy is unable to find the parcel. The girls had taken it away. Tommy and Letord locate the girls, and retrieve the parcel which is full of counterfeit. A man (Alexandre Maurice) is watching them, so Tommy replaces the money with some clothing and allows the man to steal it.

Tommy follows Maurice to his hideaway cottage in Belgium, where he encounters Maurice's wife (Leonie Vermaas) in residence, along with a large safe. After several adventures, including setting up a confrontation between wife Leonia and fiancée Colette Masurel, Tommy winds up imprisoned in an underground room beneath the cottage.

Review: An excellent Manning Coles adventure complete with the usual uproars. The fight in the cafe over the mysterious parcel is excellent, especially when it is found to contain only clothing. Tommy discovers the astounding fact that Maurice has not only a wife in Belgium, but a fiancée in Paris - and sets up a meet between them with a predictable cat fight among a pile of counterfeit money resulting. 

Now or Never by Manning Coles (1951)

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Karl Torgius, found hanging as story opens
• George Yeoman, British subject visiting Cologne
• Magda Von Bergen, his one-time girlfriend
• Monsieur Albert Baptiste, a French con man
• Heinrich Spelmann, private investigator
• Tommy Hambledon, British Secret Service
• Alexander Campbell, British model maker
• William Forgan, his partner
• Alfonso d'Almeida, Spaniard #1
• Miguel Piccione, Spaniard #2

Locale: Cologne, Germany

Synopsis: Tommy Hambledon is in postwar Cologne, a city much in ruins. He is posing as a tourist while looking for an underground Fascist group, the Silver Ghosts. He finds one desolated street, the Unter Goldschmied, which locals avoid - there is nothing there but rubble piles, anyway. One morning Karl Torgius is found hanging from a beam in a rubble pile. His family hires P.I. Heinrich Spelmann to find out what happened to him. 

There are two young women who are always seen in that street, sometimes guiding men through the rubble piles to a point unknown. No one asks questions. One woman in Magda Von Bergen, once a girlfriend of British soldier George Yeoman, who has returned to Cologne after the war to look for her, but she rebuffs him.

Tommy teams up with Spelmann. He finds the Silver Ghosts are expecting a visit from two Spaniards Alfonso d'Almedia and Miguel Piccione. Tommy's associates, Alexander Campbell and William Forgan, who run a model railroad shop in England as a cover, arrive and manage to get the two Spaniards arrested and deported. Campbell and Forgan then assume the Spaniards' identities in order to infiltrate the Silver Ghosts. It is found the two woman act as guides/guards for their meetings. 

Review: This may be a Tommy Hambledon story but the stars are the modelmakers Alexander Campbell and William Forgan. They run a model railroad shop in London, and it may be assumed that is a cover for their real work in British intelligence. They are fearless and jump right into any adventure that comes their way. The climax of the story comes when they are fooled into taking a fake autobus tour and wind up help captive in an inn along with the others.

The story gives the reader a feel for what the ruins of postwar Germany must have been like. Another of Manning Coles at his best.

They Tell No Tales by Manning Coles (1942)

dustjackets.com

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone  Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Donald Macgregor, shipyard worker, his information got him killed
• Mrs. Elsie Roberts, a.k.a. "The Wax Doll", sister of Macgregor
• Rodney Siddall, a hairdresser
• Doris Baker, Siddall's girlfriend
• Bettine Gascon, a governess
• Stafford Wilkins, her boyfriend
• Molly & Eileen Trotter, twins
• Tommy Hambledon, British Intelligence
• James Bellair, British Intelligence
• Franz von Krug, Tommy's former manservant
• Reck, Tommy's current manservant

Locale: England

Synopsis: Tommy Hambledon and James Bellair are assigned to find out how and why certain outbound ships from a certain naval yard are exploding as soon as they depart. Shipyard worker Donald Macgregor has some information for them. When Macgregor enters a local pub (Cafe d'Albertini) to meet Hambledon and Bellair, he is shot in the back from outside.

The other patrons of the pub become the focus of the investigation, as well as several people associated with the local theatre. An incident at the theatre wounds Bellair, and puts Hambledon on the trail of the unknown bomber.

Review: Manning Coles books are always good for spectacular explosions, and we have three right away, beginning on page five: a "swill lorry" (ewwww), a house holding poor Macgregor's coffin for services, and a ship exiting the shipyard.

Amusing incidents always creep in causing this reader to laugh out loud. Hambledon and Bellair are trying to enter Siddall's apartment which is above a high-ceilinged garage. There is a trap door in the floor of the apartment by which they can sneak in. They attempt to push the trap door open from below by use of a broom handle - unfortunately, unknown to them, the trap door is covered above by 1). a carpet, upon which is 2). a table, upon which is 3). a large vase full of water and cut flowers.

This is the 3rd Hambledon novel, and he is getting his stride now as the series continues.

Note: One occurrence of racist term for persons of Chinese ancestry.

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

A Toast to Tomorrow by Manning Coles (1941)

dustjackets.com

also published as Pray Silence.

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Tommy Hambledon, British intelligence, a.k.a. Klaud Lehmann
• Franz, his servant
• Charles Denton, British intelligence, a.k.a. Herr Dedler
• Reck, former British wireless operator
• Joseph Goebbels

Synopsis: In the previous book, Tommy Hambledon was lost at sea in 1918 and presumed dead. Now 1933. He had been found washed up on the beach in 1918, and had amnesia. He then accepted an identity as Klaus Lehmann, believes he is a German, and is working his way up in the Nazi party.

Certain events trigger his memory gradually, and he remembers he is actually a British agent. He gets word back to Britain that he is alive via his old wireless operator Reck, concealing the message within a radio play.

Hambledon realizes he is in a good position to sabotage the Reich, and sets about to do as much damage as he can without revealing himself; while getting his associates and friends out of harm's way.

Review: This is the second Hambledon book, the continuation/sequel to Drink to Yesterday. I highly recommend reading these two as one novel, especially as many characters and references are carried over from Drink to Yesterday.

About halfway through the book we begin to get hints of the humorous side of Manning Coles, which will follow through to the remainder of the series. It is rather dark up until the episode of smuggling documents through customs inside a gramophone; when the story take an amusing turn.

Any readers of Manning Coles would do well to begin with these two, as they are foundation for all that follows.

Note: Two occurences of the n-word, in colloquial expressions.

Drink to Yesterday by Manning Coles (1941)

dustjackets.com

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

• Michael Kingston, a.k.a. Bill Saunders, a.k.a Dirk Brandt
• Diane, his wife
• Tommy Hambledon, a.k.a. Hendrik Brandt
• Dixon Ogilvie, Michael's school chum
• Professor Amtenbrink, retired German scientist
• Max von Bodenheim, German Intelligence
• Charles Denton, a.k.a. Ludwig Wolff
• Kaspar Bluehm, a German
• Marie Bluehm, his sister

Locale: France and Germany

Synopsis: Michael Kingston, underage, assumes the fake identity of Bill Saunders in order to join the British military. He is seen as a good prospect for intelligence work, and comes under the wing of Tommy Hambledon. 

They team up, assuming the identities of Hendrik Brandt and his nephew Dirk. As Dirk Brandt, he infiltrates German intelligence, cultivating a friendship with Max von Bodenheim.

First they investigate whether retired professor Amtenbrink is involved in a German plot to drop cholera germs into England's water supplies.

Dirk manages to be sent to Ahlhorn (by the Germans) as a civilian security agent, where Zeppelins are being constructed. Dirk sabotages the Zeppelins with a fire, and is discovered to be a British agent.

When suspicions fall on them, they arrange to be picked up at sea at night - Kingston makes it but Hambledon appears lost at sea.

Kingston (as Dirk) returns to Germany, this time with agent Denton, who assumes the identity Ludwig Wolff.

Kingston matures through his adventures, and begins to regret marrying Diane; waiting at home for him.

Review:

This is the first Tommy Hambledon novel, however, the focus is not on him - but his protegé Michael Kingston. This is a not a slick sexy James Bond spy novel, it is more like a police procedural showing the not-always-exciting steps in intelligence work. It is somber at times, especially as it nears the end. They make mistakes and feel regret for them.

The first chapter is really the end of the story - chapters two forward are told in flashback. 

Although I really enjoy the later Hambledons which are much lighter and funnier, it is good to see the genesis of the Hambledon story. 

The sequel to this book is A Toast to Tomorrow, a.p.a. Pray Silence. 

See also this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.

This Fortress by Manning Coles (1942)

About the author (wikipedia): Manning Coles is the pseudonym of two British writers, Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891–1959) and Cyril Henry Coles (1899–1965), who wrote many spy thrillers from the early 40s through the early 60s. The fictional protagonist in 26 of their books was Thomas Elphinstone Hambledon, who works for the Foreign Office.

Major characters:

Tom Languish, soldier and owner of garage

Griggs, his first mechanic

George Mathews, his second mechanic

Dimmock, his cook/housekeeper

Baron Alberich von Rensburg

Hildegarde von Rensburg

Otto von Rensburg, their son

Jessica Casey, local resident

Locale: England and Germany

Synopsis: While Tom Languish is serving in occupied Germany, he is billeted at Schloss Rensburg; home of Baron Alberich von Rensburg and his young wife Hildegarde. Tom becomes close friends with Hildegarde. He is demobilized and returns to England, and opens a small garage with his mechanic Griggs and housekeeper/cook Dimmock. He keeps in touch with Hildegarde by letter, learning that she and the Baron now have a son Otto.

The Baron eventually dies. Tom visits Hildegarde. They discuss marriage, but cannot agree on where to live - Germany or England - and have an uneasy parting due to that disagreement.

The borders close, and Tom loses touch with Hildegarde. He is occupied with his garage, and strikes up a friendship with Jessica Casey while England is enduring air raids from Germany. Mechanic Griggs is called up, and he hires George Mathews as a replacement. Mathews renovates a room above the garage and moves in. During an air raid, Mathews rescues two twin girls from a collapsed house and becomes a local hero.

Review:

This is one of Manning Coles' non-Tommy Hambledon books. Not quite a mystery, nor a thriller, but a captivating tale of life in England during the war; and all the privations that came with it. Suspense comes in when there is suspicion of a German spy in the village. The events take a number of surprising turns at the end, with the final ending quite poignant and satisfying. It is easy to imagine reading this book with airplanes droning overhead as searchlights look for them.

Let the Tiger Die by Manning Coles (1947)

goodreads.com

Major characters:

• Tommy Hambledon, of British Intelligence
• James Hyde, of British Intelligence
• Johannis, Hambledon's friend in Rotterdam
• William Forgan, modelmaker
• Archibald Henry Campbell, modelmaker

The "Middle Europeans":

• Isidore Skutnas, temporarily called "Brown"
• Lukas Olgar, temporarily called "Jones"
• Moritz Wenezky, temporarily called"Robinson"

The Germans:

• Horaz Kenrade, of the SS (56) aka Kalvag
• Col. Leonhard Torgius of the Afrika Korps, manager of the Hotel Bienvwnida, aka W. Martin

Captain Dirk Gielink of the Melicent Myrdal

Locale: Sweden > the Netherlands

Synopsis:

Tommy Hambledon is in Stockholm, Sweden. He observes a German abducted by three "Middle Europeans" whom he calls Brown, Jones, and Robinson (BJ&R) - not knowing their real names. He follows in a taxi. The German attempts to escape. In the fracas, Brown, Jones, and Robinson shoot the taxi driver, and the German - who hands Tommy a mysterious packet before he dies, whispering the words "Santa Brigida".

BJ&R tell the police it was Tommy who shot the others, and now Tommy is wanted. He boards the boat rented by the trio, which sets out. The ship's engineer attempts to throw Tommy overboard but falls out  himself. The boat becomes disabled, Tommy gets a tow from the Melicent Myrdal to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

There is great confusion upon arrival. Skutnas gets arrested. 

Hambledon, travels to Paris. He is followed by Olgar and Wenezky, who are after the packet. Hambledon crosses into Spain and winds up in a prison. His old friends William Forgan and Archibald Henry Campbell, track him down and contrive to wind up in the prison as well. The local communists attack the prison and the three of them escape. Finally they arrive at Santa Brigida to find various Nazis taking over a hotel and planning the comeback of the Third Reich. 

Review:

Any Manning Coles novel is a delight. Tommy Hambledon is an adventurous agent, always jumping into conflicts with little planning, hoping that, as his favorite saying goes, "some scheme will doubtless present itself." These schemes always involve impersonations, sketchy border crossings, chases, escapes, making general fools of the enemy, chaos, and explosions.

His friends Forgan and Campbell can always be counted on to jump to his side and assist. The chase across Europe occupies most of the book, with the Nazi encounter not occurring until the end. The Nazi meeting is disrupted in a most satisfying manner with the help of a friendly dog and a not-so-friendly fish.