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Gideon #2
Gideon's Week
Gideon’s week…was long, and getting longer! It had all started when battered wife Ruby Benson set up her wanted-killer husband Sid for capture by the cops, hoping he’d be spending the rest of his worthless life in jail. But Benson had other plans. The brutal madman had escaped. And now he was back on the streets with only one thought in mind…revenge! And it looked like it was up to Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard to save Ruby from her sadistic spouse’s blood vendetta…or die trying!
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
6 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Marric
42 books19 followersA pseudonym used by John Creasey.
The Gideon series was continued after Creasey's death by William Vivian Butler.
The Gideon series was continued after Creasey's death by William Vivian Butler.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2017
Ensemble of small groups all around the chief. Several good stories. Old-fashioned but nice. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking as to reading versus hearing versus hearing and watching on tv or s screen, all considered in terms of mental activity.
May 4, 2015
The conceit is that this story examines a week in the life of Commander Gideon of Scotland Yard as he supervises the closing of several cases and one big case that lasts exactly one week from crime to capture. Characterizations in Creasey's series books grow slowly. They are thin in any single title, but broaden and deepen cumulatively. This is the second of the Gideon series, and for this reason alone is more satisfying than the first. This is where I began to see the potential for these books to be more than a series of well crafted tales. It has been worth the commitment to read more.
September 14, 2019
Gideon's Week is the 2nd book in the Commander Gideon series by prolific author, J.J. Marric. In many ways it reminds me of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series. Both are excellent police procedurals. They are concise, well-crafted and grab your attention.
In Gideon's Week, Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard is dealing with many situations. The main crisis is a prison break in Manchester. Of the 9 men who have escaped was one Syd Benson, gangster, murderer. He was put in prison by Gideon on the testimony of Benson's wife. Benson wants to get down to London to get vengeance on his wife. As they wait to see if Benson and the other escapees are captured or make it to London, Gideon prepares the force, protecting Mrs Benson and her children.
As well, the daily caseload never stops. Bad weather helped the escape in Manchester and kept the day-to-day criminal activities in London down. But the weather is improving and while Gideon's force is stretched thin, robberies are on the uptake as well as other crimes. These must be dealt with as well. There are other cases that take up Gideon's time, including the suspected murder of a young woman by her boyfriend. This case incites the interest of one of Gideon's daughters.
The story is fascinating, moves along nicely and holds your attention throughout. The various cases are all detailed and investigated individually, with Gideon tying them all together. There is intimidation, tension and excellent character development. All in all, an excellent mystery, well worth attempting. (4.5 stars)
In Gideon's Week, Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard is dealing with many situations. The main crisis is a prison break in Manchester. Of the 9 men who have escaped was one Syd Benson, gangster, murderer. He was put in prison by Gideon on the testimony of Benson's wife. Benson wants to get down to London to get vengeance on his wife. As they wait to see if Benson and the other escapees are captured or make it to London, Gideon prepares the force, protecting Mrs Benson and her children.
As well, the daily caseload never stops. Bad weather helped the escape in Manchester and kept the day-to-day criminal activities in London down. But the weather is improving and while Gideon's force is stretched thin, robberies are on the uptake as well as other crimes. These must be dealt with as well. There are other cases that take up Gideon's time, including the suspected murder of a young woman by her boyfriend. This case incites the interest of one of Gideon's daughters.
The story is fascinating, moves along nicely and holds your attention throughout. The various cases are all detailed and investigated individually, with Gideon tying them all together. There is intimidation, tension and excellent character development. All in all, an excellent mystery, well worth attempting. (4.5 stars)
September 27, 2018
This is an OK police procedural, a bit above typical pulp, maybe worth half a Star above two. Although short, it seemed a bit too long even as most of it wrapped up (too) tidily. This reminds me of an Inspector West novel I read not long ago, which should be no surprise: JJ Marric is one of many pen names for John Creasy, who wrote 600 books (or so) in his career, an average of more than one a month.
November 24, 2025
Great Police Procedural Mystery
The central issue in this Book is the escape of prisoners, one of which is a dangerous killer. It's embedded in the every day robberies and other crimes that Gideon must managed. The book is well written and enjoyable to read. I recommend this book and even other Gideon books.
The central issue in this Book is the escape of prisoners, one of which is a dangerous killer. It's embedded in the every day robberies and other crimes that Gideon must managed. The book is well written and enjoyable to read. I recommend this book and even other Gideon books.
November 18, 2022
Brilliant book, visions of a bygone age of 1950s English police and Scotland Yard. Would definitely recommend
September 24, 2021
The focus of this book is a week in Commander Gideon's career at Scotland Yard. There are two major cases for this period. The first is a murder of a young lady. Her boyfriend has been arrested and there is evidence pointing at him However he may have an alibi and over the course of the book Gideon makes sure that the alibi is checked out to make sure they have the right person. The second case is a mass escape from Millways Prison. Two of the convicts are headed towards London and one of them is of particular concern to Gideon. Add to this the other assorted crimes that occur during the week and Commander Gideon has his plate full, so to speak. We also get further developments in the lives of some of the series characters. One just has to remember that these books are police procedurals and not mysteries. We know the culprits, even if the police don't.
June 4, 2017
A mass jail break frees the vicious Syd Benson for a dash to London, to revenge himself on his wife who testified against him. A teenaged boy whose history is against him is arrested for the violent death of his girlfriend. An alleged embezzler commits suicide, and one policeman with a specialized talent smells cover-up. One of those don't-stop-now reads.
June 16, 2014
Decent police procedures type book featuring the Scotland Yard. The author overdid the hero bit a little, but the general setting of 1950s England was interesting. The police had more powers then to search, question and detain. The criminal class was almost a sect of underground England with families, houses, etc. Things have changed a fair amount as have the people of central London.
February 14, 2013
Better than Gideon's Day. If Scotland Yard is this busy and this adept, I am impressed. But not so impressed much as to continue to read J. J. Marric books.
March 7, 2013
Nice one.
just a nice book, but the final is a little bit boring
just a nice book, but the final is a little bit boring
July 1, 2014
creasey's gideon
October 28, 2015
Classic pulp, short, gritty, engaging yet removed.
June 30, 2019
Sturdy.
Want to read
March 19, 2019Synopsis: it had all started when battered wife Ruby Benson set up her wanted-killer husband for capture by the cops. But he had other plans.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews