Why Pick on Me?

Tom Lepski #14

by James Hadley Chase

Milly Lawes a Piccadilly streetwalker, found a strange ring in her room one day. An hour later she was dead, and the ring gone. Scotland Yard knew all about the ring though; so did the Secret Service, and before very long, did Martin Corridon, ex-Commando, ex-M15, ex-ethics of any kind . . . Corridon didn't really want to know, didn't want to work with the service again, but Milly had been a sort of friend, and the thought of her cut throat and blood soaked bed was enough to send him off on a trail of sabotage and murder. A trail that had him running as a hunter, and hunted . . .

Genres: Thriller, Novels, Crime, Suspense, Detective

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

René Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.

In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.

During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.

Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why Pick On Me,” first published in 1951, was the second novel Hadley wrote starring Martin Corridon, a former wartime OSS5 Agent, famed for chasing down traitors, even deep into German occupied territory. The first Corridon novel was 1950’s Mallory. Here, he is now no longer officially working for the government and now a mercenary for hire who spends his time taking fifty percent upfront and disappearing without completing the job. But now the government has roped him back in with a scheme to operate as a double agent in an unnamed organization determined to bring postwar Britain to its knees. There’s quite a bit of shoot-outs and close calls here, certainly enough to keep things exciting. Strangely enough, Chase abandoned his Corridon character after this novel.

[Paul Lothane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough as teak Martin Corridon is up to his neck in this superb tale of high-profile espionage, intrigue, violence, danger, and adventure. As the story unfolds, we gather that Corridon has an eye for gorgeous, alluring ladies - like Lorene and Marian. But there is a third lady, Kara, who initially desired Corridon too, but he does not hide his contempt for her. Hell and the fury of a scorned woman - Kara comes to dislike our hero too, and vows to destroy and finish him...

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Corridon is one of James Hadley Chase's more unsavory protagonists. After first appearing in Mallory, a novel about betrayal among a group of veterans of the French Resistance, Corridon reappears in Why Pick on Me?, yet another story dealing with aftereffects of World War II. In this case, the motivation for the plot is somewhat weak: a secret organization of disgruntled Englishmen and defeated Nazis working to derail Britain's postwar economic recovery and redirect money and business to the defeated nations of Europe. All very vague and never fully explained. But if the motivation lacks depth, the action does not. JHC manages a well paced turn of events in this book. It may get off to a bit of a slow start, but by a third of the way through, it's off on a gallop. Set in London, Hadley also makes use of the geography of the city and its surroundings. There is a strong sense of place in this book. So much so that it is sometimes exhausting to follow through the streets, roadways, and backwaters where Chase drags you. It all ups the tempo of the action. Otherwise, by this point, Chase seems to have abandoned his attempts at psychological studies of life in postwar Britain. Those more literary efforts do not filter into this story at all.

[Mark Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This magnificent masterpiece from the maestro, features another one of his colourful characters, Mr . Martin Corridon who's good and long time friend, Milly, a golden hearted prostitute, comes across an archer's thumb ring, and is suddenly murdered savagely. The London police and Mi5 know what the ring represents, a secret organization in Britain, determined to damage the economy of the country with ruthless precision, funded by enemy countries, of course. Corridon, ex-British commando, is assigned the task to investigate the organization, and infiltrate it if possible. From there, this thrilling, action packed classic, has you turning the pages from start to finish.....

[Sai Venigalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swift is the word. Thoroughly enjoyable. Weaving a serious crime plot with Corridon/Girland type characters is just awesome.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a book! Favorite book of a favorite author. But to be honest, all of James Headley Chase's books are my favorites...
This book is from a series of detective stories about the cool detective from Paradise City (fictional city) but I believe it is also one of the works (one of two) about the famous character created by the author, about Martin "Brick Top" Corridon. The book is one of the early works of the author. It tells in a very interesting way that an underground organization is terrorizing England. And only "Brick Top" Corridon is able to find and neutralize the villains and their leader. But Martin doesn't want to do this at all, but he has to!

[Vasilii Borovkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Двадцать пятый роман Чейза. Десятый роман под псевдонимом Рэймонд Маршалл.
(Чаще всего роман издавался на русском под адекватным переводом названия «Почему вы выбрали меня?» или похожими. Если не брать в расчет совсем уж безумные варианты переводов, то второй «по популярности» перевод названия звучит так — «Весна в Париже». Что, разумеется, не имеет к оригинальному названию романа — «Why Pick On Me?» — никакого отношения.)
Второй и последний роман о похождениях бывшего коммандос Мартина Корридона. Первый роман об этом персонаже назывался «Мэллори» и вышел он в 1950 году. Но события в «Мэллори» происходили в 1946 году, а в «Почему вы выбрали меня» Чейз «догнал время» и события в романе происходят в 1951 года — в том же году, когда вышел роман. Вообще, романы связаны только несколькими повторяющимися персонажами, но не происходящими событиями. В издании «Эридана» 1992 года романы дилогии вообще были перепутаны местами — и ничего, читали и никакого подвоха не чувствовали.
Мартин Корридон — редкий для Чейза типаж «антигероя». Душа широкая, методы грязные. С одной стороны — заботится о девочке-сироте. С другой — предает, кидает, ворует. Чейз не стал развивать серию с этим героем, но лет через 15 некоторые черты характера Корридона перекочевали к другому персонажу Чейза, Марку Гирланду.
В этом романе Корридона нанимают спецслужбы, чтобы он помог им с разоблачением таинственной террористической организации. (Новая Европа, надо менять границы и власть, Британия должна пасть). Корридон, за существенный гонорар, начинает вяло заниматься внедрением. Но при первом же задании террористы подставляют Корридона под обвинение в убийстве и теперь для него их разоблачение становится единственной возможностью избежать тюрьмы.
Немного триллера. Немного боевика. Почти нет детектива — детективный сюжет в романе примитивен и ни на что не претендует. Без мелодрамы и психологических изгибов. В сумме — почти чистое приключалово. С драками и перестрелками в исполнении лихого коммандос Корридона. Не совсем обычный Чейз — не так много произведений автор написал в подобном «бесшабашном» стиле. С другой стороны — потому этот роман и выходил под псевдонимом, что движуха в романе была «не-Чейзовской». Да и действие романа происходит в Лондоне, а Чейз не так часто писал о своем родном городе. Может быть поэтому в романе большое внимание уделяется адресам — постоянно упоминаются конкретные улицы, парки и дома. Когда Чейз писал об Америке — своей, почти полностью выдуманной — он старательно обходил вниманием географию и сосредотачивался на персонажах.
Лет через 10 после выхода романа псевдоним «Маршалл» был раскрыт и в дальнейшем «Почему вы выбрали меня?» переиздавался только под «вывеской» «Чейз» — вы ведь в курсе, что это тоже псевдоним?
Итого. Обычное. Приключенческое. Чтиво. Занять вечер. Не более. Но уровень у Чейза был выше, чем у многих. Потому «Почему вы выбрали меня?» читается с хорошим таким интересом. А большего от этого романа и не требуется.
7/10
Оригинал отзыва - https://cahier.ru/chase-why-pick-on-m...

[Giri Dv]

Well told.  Not much flaws.  Believable.  Slow in beginning.  Picks up later.  Getting inside the organization somewhat unconvincing. Seems too easy.  Need to forgive that.

[Installshield Wizard · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst JHC story I've read so far. it actually doesnt have that typical Chase vibe. The plot is thin, not interesting, contains no suspense and twists so characteristic to Chase. Feels cheap, uninspired with its blank characters and the lame protagonist who got some f-ed up morals.

It has a couple of logical plotholes. Like the fact that the protagonist who's not far from a casual pimp, blackmails the guy , who supposed to be a main antagonist, to receive a club membership.( The guy later turns out to be the leader of a powerful secret organization) and no one bats an eye and the protagonists continues to infiltrate the organization and do some damage to the group.

At one point he even does some unnecessary snitching which results in a suicide of another guy , about whom we hear in the previous page that he is most likely the lest dangerous out of that secret society members and probably innocent. He forces the poor guy to commit suicide and then he spends a vacation in Paris with the same guy's sister.

On the other hand this is one of the few JHC stories that doesnt end on a pessimistic note. It feels like a happy ending even tho that annoying protagonist did not raise any sympathy in me.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh just a fun little story to read in one sitting. The writing style was pissing me off ( since it was so similar to a script writing, rather than a writing style that people usually use for a fiction novel). Dialogues and a brief describing of what is going on (usually a fighting scene)- that’s all it was. But it was fun. Yay
P.s a man slapping a woman oh my god stay the fuck away from me

[Sen Savithri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not up to the mark

[André Mwansa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of the best writers of all time.

[Κώστας · Rating 3 out of 5]

Σειρά Βίπερ Αστυνομικά 181

[Irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Никогда меня особо не впечатляли детективы со шпионским уклоном у Чейза - ни сейчас, ни в отрочестве, когда практически все его романы заходили просто на ура. Лучше уж старый добрый криминал 😎

[Svet Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo, James Hadley Chase

[AngelCharity · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very interesting book, I would like to share with may friend

[Hammed Olasunakanmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Rajesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now, THIS one is the cheap thriller type that I was expecting from James Hadley Chase. Male chauvinism oozes out so obviously that one can't help but smile. Its a silly thriller, not really worth the read.