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Mr. Moto #3
Think Fast, Mr. Moto
Accidentally caught up in a case of international espionage in Hawaii, Wilson Hitchings and his cousin, Eva, must rely on Mr. Moto, a clever Japanese spy, to rescue them
277 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1937
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96 people want to read
About the author
John P. Marquand
92 books59 followersPulitzer Prize for Novel in 1938 for The Late George Apley
John Phillips Marquand (November 10, 1893 – July 16, 1960) was an American writer. Originally best known for his Mr. Moto spy stories, he achieved popular success and critical respect for his satirical novels, winning a Pulitzer Prize for The Late George Apley in 1938. One of his abiding themes was the confining nature of life in America's upper class and among those who aspired to join it. Marquand treated those whose lives were bound by these unwritten codes with a characteristic mix of respect and satire.
By the mid-1930s he was a prolific and successful writer of fiction for slick magazines like the Saturday Evening Post. Some of these short stories were of an historical nature as had been Marquand's first two novels (The Unspeakable Gentleman and The Black Cargo). These would later be characterized by Marquand as “costume fiction”, of which he stated that an author “can only approximate (his characters) provided he has been steeped in the (relevant) tradition”. Marquand had abandoned “costume fiction” by the mid-1930s.
In the late-1930s, Marquand began producing a series of novels on the dilemmas of class, most centered on New England. The first of these, The Late George Apley (1937), a satire of Boston's upper class, won the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1938. Other Marquand novels exploring New England and class themes include Wickford Point (1939), H.M. Pulham, Esquire (1941), and Point of No Return (1949). The last is especially notable for its satirical portrayal of Harvard anthropologist W. Lloyd Warner, whose Yankee City study attempted (and in Marquand's view, dismally failed) to describe and analyze the manners and mores of Marquand's Newburyport
John Phillips Marquand (November 10, 1893 – July 16, 1960) was an American writer. Originally best known for his Mr. Moto spy stories, he achieved popular success and critical respect for his satirical novels, winning a Pulitzer Prize for The Late George Apley in 1938. One of his abiding themes was the confining nature of life in America's upper class and among those who aspired to join it. Marquand treated those whose lives were bound by these unwritten codes with a characteristic mix of respect and satire.
By the mid-1930s he was a prolific and successful writer of fiction for slick magazines like the Saturday Evening Post. Some of these short stories were of an historical nature as had been Marquand's first two novels (The Unspeakable Gentleman and The Black Cargo). These would later be characterized by Marquand as “costume fiction”, of which he stated that an author “can only approximate (his characters) provided he has been steeped in the (relevant) tradition”. Marquand had abandoned “costume fiction” by the mid-1930s.
In the late-1930s, Marquand began producing a series of novels on the dilemmas of class, most centered on New England. The first of these, The Late George Apley (1937), a satire of Boston's upper class, won the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1938. Other Marquand novels exploring New England and class themes include Wickford Point (1939), H.M. Pulham, Esquire (1941), and Point of No Return (1949). The last is especially notable for its satirical portrayal of Harvard anthropologist W. Lloyd Warner, whose Yankee City study attempted (and in Marquand's view, dismally failed) to describe and analyze the manners and mores of Marquand's Newburyport
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2022
With its opening set in iconic 1930s Shanghai and the majority of its story told in pre-World War II Honolulu, Think Fast, Mr. Moto had me hooked almost immediately. I have come to relish the Mr. Moto series. Its mood and tenor, its feel for the 1930s, of course, is genuine. It is of that era.
But Marquand also carries off something almost unique for the time when the Mr. Moto novels were being written in the mid to late 1930s--he seems to side with the Japanese. He does it in his earlier novels, and he does it again in Think Fast, Mr. Moto, where the book's sympathies rest almost entirely with the Japanese takeover of Manchuria and their installation of a puppet Chinese regime there. For Marquand, it's entirely reasonable. (And perhaps looking back at things from the vantage of the second decade of the 21st century and the growing threat of China to its neighbors, just maybe it can be seen that Marquand was somewhat justified in his sympathies.)
What is for sure is that Japan seems to sparkle in the Mr. Moto series. Even when none of the action takes place in Japan, Mr. Moto himself brings a sense of dazzle and admiration to Japanese culture and ways. While they weren't a nostalgic view of the world of the 1930s when written, the books are today. It's an effect intensified when the reader gets to experience both pre-war China and Hawaii.
As for the plot, Think Fast, Mr. Moto continues some of the same plot devices used in the first two novels. An American hero, this time a young merchant banker whose family controls a formidable old firm in Shanghai, finds himself drawn into spies, intrigue, and romance. And Mr. Moto continues to operate at the edges of things--although he is much more central to Think Fast, Mr. Moto than in the first two Moto books. By this third book, this has become a winning formula.
Next up? Mr. Moto Is So Sorry.
But Marquand also carries off something almost unique for the time when the Mr. Moto novels were being written in the mid to late 1930s--he seems to side with the Japanese. He does it in his earlier novels, and he does it again in Think Fast, Mr. Moto, where the book's sympathies rest almost entirely with the Japanese takeover of Manchuria and their installation of a puppet Chinese regime there. For Marquand, it's entirely reasonable. (And perhaps looking back at things from the vantage of the second decade of the 21st century and the growing threat of China to its neighbors, just maybe it can be seen that Marquand was somewhat justified in his sympathies.)
What is for sure is that Japan seems to sparkle in the Mr. Moto series. Even when none of the action takes place in Japan, Mr. Moto himself brings a sense of dazzle and admiration to Japanese culture and ways. While they weren't a nostalgic view of the world of the 1930s when written, the books are today. It's an effect intensified when the reader gets to experience both pre-war China and Hawaii.
As for the plot, Think Fast, Mr. Moto continues some of the same plot devices used in the first two novels. An American hero, this time a young merchant banker whose family controls a formidable old firm in Shanghai, finds himself drawn into spies, intrigue, and romance. And Mr. Moto continues to operate at the edges of things--although he is much more central to Think Fast, Mr. Moto than in the first two Moto books. By this third book, this has become a winning formula.
Next up? Mr. Moto Is So Sorry.
November 14, 2022
Chose this one to fill a challenge category. Started with the ebook, but switched to the audio edition which worked better for me, although I did end up increasing the playback speed slightly, which is rare for me.
I wouldn't call the plot especially profound or complex. When it was published in the 1930s, it was probably very popular to read on train trips, and would work well for airplane trips now I think. Contains the trope that a pair who dislike each other upon meeting later become a couple (so obvious to me as to not be a spoiler).
Glad I read it as a stand-alone, not interested in the rest of the series. Here, Mr. Moto is introduced early on, reappearing near the end as a Deus ex Machina figure to save the day.
I wouldn't call the plot especially profound or complex. When it was published in the 1930s, it was probably very popular to read on train trips, and would work well for airplane trips now I think. Contains the trope that a pair who dislike each other upon meeting later become a couple (so obvious to me as to not be a spoiler).
Glad I read it as a stand-alone, not interested in the rest of the series. Here, Mr. Moto is introduced early on, reappearing near the end as a Deus ex Machina figure to save the day.
September 12, 2012
I don’t ever remember seeing Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto in one of those movies which seems unavailable due to political correctness in the present day. Yet, the “Mr. Moto” pictured on the cover of the old Little, Brown paperback of Think Fast, Mr. Moto looks like the famous European actor playing the role. This is the second novel featuring Mr. Moto—Imperial agent of mystery—that I’ve read. Mr. Moto is an agent of the Imperial Japanese government in the mid-1930s. Think Fast, Mr. Moto begins in the very international (at the time) city of Shanghai China and weaves together a tapestry of nationalist vs. warlord sensibilities, careless international exploitation, culture clashes, racism, and intrigue. “Shanghai had seemed more than once, as it seemed to him tonight, an impermanent safety square in some enormous game – a city which might disappear overnight.” (p. 35)
This is only the second Mr. Moto novel I’ve read and I think I’m starting to see a pattern. The novel involves Mr. Moto in the delicate circumstances of another protagonist, in this case one Wilson Hitchings, the scion of an international banking firm. Wilson is learning the ropes of international banking in the very cosmopolitan pre-WWII Shanghai when he is sent on a mission to try to buy out the casino ownership of a distant, distant cousin in Hawaii. Mr. Moto slides in and out of the scenario seamlessly. He is constantly surprising and always “very, very sorry” or acclaiming something as “very, very nice.” Nothing ever seems in-between in these novels except for Moto himself. He is the one who figures things out and knows just who to intimidate or bribe in order to get things done.
In this case, it appears that Moto is there to subvert the young banker’s intent and, at several points, Mr. Moto accuses the young man of being part of a conspiracy to either kill or subvert his plans. Instead, we see a potential converging romance and a potential conflict between the young banker and his exceeding attractive relative. At times, Wilson Hitchings seems almost je jeune in his approach to life and responsibility and, at other times, he seems resourceful and creative. It is just the right balance in this character and sometimes leads to interesting twists in the plot.
With regard to its international flavor, I particularly liked this description: “He recalled the jazz orchestras in the Orient, each a conscientious imitation of Broadway; and the Wild West motion pictures in Tokyo, and the baseball in Japan, and the amusement parks of Shanghai. The genius of his own nation was in them all—tawdry, superficial, but somehow strong and appealing.” (pp. 125-126) If that little glimpse doesn’t help you see how adroitly John P. Marquand dances between cultures and a confluence of influences, you won’t enjoy Think Fast, Mr. Moto. It is, by the way, remarkable that I happened to pick up two novels dealing with events in China prior to WWII in the same week. It wasn’t intentional, but it sure was fun.
This is only the second Mr. Moto novel I’ve read and I think I’m starting to see a pattern. The novel involves Mr. Moto in the delicate circumstances of another protagonist, in this case one Wilson Hitchings, the scion of an international banking firm. Wilson is learning the ropes of international banking in the very cosmopolitan pre-WWII Shanghai when he is sent on a mission to try to buy out the casino ownership of a distant, distant cousin in Hawaii. Mr. Moto slides in and out of the scenario seamlessly. He is constantly surprising and always “very, very sorry” or acclaiming something as “very, very nice.” Nothing ever seems in-between in these novels except for Moto himself. He is the one who figures things out and knows just who to intimidate or bribe in order to get things done.
In this case, it appears that Moto is there to subvert the young banker’s intent and, at several points, Mr. Moto accuses the young man of being part of a conspiracy to either kill or subvert his plans. Instead, we see a potential converging romance and a potential conflict between the young banker and his exceeding attractive relative. At times, Wilson Hitchings seems almost je jeune in his approach to life and responsibility and, at other times, he seems resourceful and creative. It is just the right balance in this character and sometimes leads to interesting twists in the plot.
With regard to its international flavor, I particularly liked this description: “He recalled the jazz orchestras in the Orient, each a conscientious imitation of Broadway; and the Wild West motion pictures in Tokyo, and the baseball in Japan, and the amusement parks of Shanghai. The genius of his own nation was in them all—tawdry, superficial, but somehow strong and appealing.” (pp. 125-126) If that little glimpse doesn’t help you see how adroitly John P. Marquand dances between cultures and a confluence of influences, you won’t enjoy Think Fast, Mr. Moto. It is, by the way, remarkable that I happened to pick up two novels dealing with events in China prior to WWII in the same week. It wasn’t intentional, but it sure was fun.
April 27, 2024
Shows American and Japanese agents working together before WWII.
October 4, 2022
Written in 1937, the second Mr Moto novel is more a "who's doin' what" than a "whodunit." Marquand's male leads tend to be pretty clueless, or at least singularly obtuse. The scion of an old East Coast banking house is sent to Hawaii from Shanghai to close down a gambling house run by a distant cousin who hates the family. This Titian-haired, violet-eyed beauty seems cut out to be a gangster's moll, and yet Wilson (our not-quite-hero) sees her as somehow innocent, a girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. Is he projecting his own feelings, or is she really a captive of those who surround her?
I was amused at Wilson's surprise that the croupier speaks French ("Faites vos jeux, messieurs dames, rien ne va plus, les jeux sont faits") as Hawaii was not yet part of the US (not until 1959), and French patter has always been stock in trade for high-end croupiers outside America. (Watch any classic 007 film, if you don't believe me). But then his linguistic abilities are null, and his uncle advises him: "Don't try to speak the language (Chinese). You can't learn it and it will only make you queer to try." Queer in the 1930s sense of "strange, not like us" of course--and Uncle bemoans the fate of several promising young men who "went queer" from learning Asian languages. I suppose he means they "went native"--started wearing silk ethnic clothing and eating the local food--maybe even shudder hooking up with a local girl! LOL Wilson cares more about the bank's reputation than anything else. You want to launder money, do it, but don't drag the family name through the mud! It's the bank I am thinking about--the family. I don't give a tinker's damn about their money. Let the bandits have it in Manchuria as long as no one hears about it."
Which being interpreted means: You want to start a war, go ahead, but smoothe it all over so it's socially acceptable!
In this episode Moto is no longer the stereotyped Yellow Peril, but the true hero of the piece. Without him Wilson would blunder on to the end of his own life, in spite of those "skills" and "instincts" that he boasts to himself about. Inconsequent to the end, one moment he says he doesn't trust Moto, and in the very next breath says he "likes" him. Hm. I can never like people I don't trust, but then I'm not a banker.
Marquand isn't the best of writers, but if you're interested in fluff for a sleepless night, he's certainly harmless. No sex, no violence beyond a few punches--no real content. To be honest, the question that haunted me was why Moto "drawing in his breath between his teeth" was considered "polite." (ETA: I have since learned that in Asia, drawing your breath between your teeth is not "polite," it's an expression of annoyance.)
I was amused at Wilson's surprise that the croupier speaks French ("Faites vos jeux, messieurs dames, rien ne va plus, les jeux sont faits") as Hawaii was not yet part of the US (not until 1959), and French patter has always been stock in trade for high-end croupiers outside America. (Watch any classic 007 film, if you don't believe me). But then his linguistic abilities are null, and his uncle advises him: "Don't try to speak the language (Chinese). You can't learn it and it will only make you queer to try." Queer in the 1930s sense of "strange, not like us" of course--and Uncle bemoans the fate of several promising young men who "went queer" from learning Asian languages. I suppose he means they "went native"--started wearing silk ethnic clothing and eating the local food--maybe even shudder hooking up with a local girl! LOL Wilson cares more about the bank's reputation than anything else. You want to launder money, do it, but don't drag the family name through the mud! It's the bank I am thinking about--the family. I don't give a tinker's damn about their money. Let the bandits have it in Manchuria as long as no one hears about it."
Which being interpreted means: You want to start a war, go ahead, but smoothe it all over so it's socially acceptable!
In this episode Moto is no longer the stereotyped Yellow Peril, but the true hero of the piece. Without him Wilson would blunder on to the end of his own life, in spite of those "skills" and "instincts" that he boasts to himself about. Inconsequent to the end, one moment he says he doesn't trust Moto, and in the very next breath says he "likes" him. Hm. I can never like people I don't trust, but then I'm not a banker.
Marquand isn't the best of writers, but if you're interested in fluff for a sleepless night, he's certainly harmless. No sex, no violence beyond a few punches--no real content. To be honest, the question that haunted me was why Moto "drawing in his breath between his teeth" was considered "polite." (ETA: I have since learned that in Asia, drawing your breath between your teeth is not "polite," it's an expression of annoyance.)
June 23, 2018
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 Hitchins 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)
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)
October 5, 2008
The weakness of this book: The protagonist is a bland Boston brahmin named Wilson Hitchings who uses his "intuition" to figure things out when the plot requires him too, but is rather boring and obtuse otherwise. The book spends too much time following him around as he figures out The Way Thing Work in the Orient, enjoys the beauty of 1930's Hawaii, and romances his third cousin--I suppose third cousins are far enough apart for it not to seem weird, but the fact that they share the same last name did kind of exacerbate the weirdness for me.
The strengths: The bad guys--particularly Mr. Maddock, on the surface a typical American gangster who uses the typical hoods' argot and mannerisms, and Chang, the main baddie who is terrifyingly cool and calm especially when discussing killing people. He provides a great counterbalance to the hapless Mr. Hitchings. However, the biggest strength of the book and the reason it earns four stars from me, is the title character Mr. Moto, who in the first two-thirds of the book appears in only two brief scenes. On the surface he is somewhat of a Japanese stereotype, deferential and overly polite. Nevertheless, beneath he is an unflappable operator, using his manners to hide his true motives. In the end he manipulates the plot with cool efficiency. He is a chess master up against checkers players. It would have been nice to see more of him, but I suppose that would have undercut the story somewhat. Hitchings is the black velvet that makes the diamonds--Moto and Chang--stand out.
There's always the other Moto books.
The strengths: The bad guys--particularly Mr. Maddock, on the surface a typical American gangster who uses the typical hoods' argot and mannerisms, and Chang, the main baddie who is terrifyingly cool and calm especially when discussing killing people. He provides a great counterbalance to the hapless Mr. Hitchings. However, the biggest strength of the book and the reason it earns four stars from me, is the title character Mr. Moto, who in the first two-thirds of the book appears in only two brief scenes. On the surface he is somewhat of a Japanese stereotype, deferential and overly polite. Nevertheless, beneath he is an unflappable operator, using his manners to hide his true motives. In the end he manipulates the plot with cool efficiency. He is a chess master up against checkers players. It would have been nice to see more of him, but I suppose that would have undercut the story somewhat. Hitchings is the black velvet that makes the diamonds--Moto and Chang--stand out.
There's always the other Moto books.
March 19, 2012
Unrelated to the first book’s plot, this novel concerns Wilson Hitchings, the heir to Asian firm Hitchings Bank. Wilson is sent by his uncle to close down a Hawaii casino with the same name, run by a distant relation who hates the main branch of the family. Falling for Eva, Wilson discovers a dangerous political game using the casino as a front. Mr. Moto is there as well, trying to close the casino for much different reasons.
This is another terrific, taut thriller, with the same elements as its predecessor: the unlikely American hero in Asia, the beautiful woman who falls for him instantly despite herself, and Mr. Moto’s cool manipulations of all the other characters. Although it’s Wilson’s tale and he does most of the heroics, Moto’s presence is felt behind the scenes. It’s exciting and very well executed.
This is another terrific, taut thriller, with the same elements as its predecessor: the unlikely American hero in Asia, the beautiful woman who falls for him instantly despite herself, and Mr. Moto’s cool manipulations of all the other characters. Although it’s Wilson’s tale and he does most of the heroics, Moto’s presence is felt behind the scenes. It’s exciting and very well executed.
January 7, 2021
From 1936 and, in the light of what we know now, a rather unfortunate Mr Moto spy thriller where he is investigating money being routed from Hawaii to Chinese “bandits” in Manchukuo. Wilson Hitchings is a young man sent from Shanghai to Hawaii by his uncle who co-owns Hitchings Brothers a leading trading firm. The atmosphere in Shanghai and the initial arrival in Honolulu is interesting and exotic although the fairly mundane action, the spying and the “enemy” using an illegal casino is very dated now. Readable but insipid
Want to read
November 10, 2019Synopsis: more than a crooked roulette wheel is at stake at the gambling house in Honolulu. There's a Japanese spy loose. Mr. Moto please help.
October 26, 2020
Ostensibly I was reading this book to prepare for a class I was planning to teach, but the class was canceled, and my interest in the book dwindled significantly as a result. I was really bummed when I lost my class--I really loved teaching it in the past, and this was going to be my last chance.
Ah well, that is neither here nor there concerning the book. I have watched the movie version of this story several times (again for the aforementioned class), and the movie version is WILDLY different from the book. Whereas the book version starts in Shanghai and most of the action takes place in South America, the movie flips things with the action starting in the West, much of the action taking place on a cruise ship, and the climax taking place in Shanghai! All of the stuff about the scandal surrounding the Hitchings name is also removed from the movie, and of course the movie features Mr. Moto a lot more. I believe it was the first of the Moto movies, come to think of it.
At any rate, the book did not do a lot for me. The story plugs along at a decent clip, but the central mystery is not that interesting (concerning money being smuggled and who is trying to cover up what) and a kind of icky romance building between the protagonist Wilson Hitchings (not Moto) and... his cousin, who end up engaged by the end. It's certainly entertaining still, with various twists and turns and action sequences and some minor surprises, but given that the characters are not really THAT interesting, and Moto plays such a small role, the book is a bit mediocre.
Ah well, that is neither here nor there concerning the book. I have watched the movie version of this story several times (again for the aforementioned class), and the movie version is WILDLY different from the book. Whereas the book version starts in Shanghai and most of the action takes place in South America, the movie flips things with the action starting in the West, much of the action taking place on a cruise ship, and the climax taking place in Shanghai! All of the stuff about the scandal surrounding the Hitchings name is also removed from the movie, and of course the movie features Mr. Moto a lot more. I believe it was the first of the Moto movies, come to think of it.
At any rate, the book did not do a lot for me. The story plugs along at a decent clip, but the central mystery is not that interesting (concerning money being smuggled and who is trying to cover up what) and a kind of icky romance building between the protagonist Wilson Hitchings (not Moto) and... his cousin, who end up engaged by the end. It's certainly entertaining still, with various twists and turns and action sequences and some minor surprises, but given that the characters are not really THAT interesting, and Moto plays such a small role, the book is a bit mediocre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
Young Wilson Hutchings of Salem, Mass. Has been sent to Shanghai to learn the family business of Hitchings Brothers, a financial institution that had been in business for 100 years.
For his first major assignment, Wilson is sent to Honolulu to deal with a branch of the family and the business that has gone off on another direction, and is giving the family and business a bad image.
Going from Shanghai to Honolulu, Wilson finds a difference in lifestyle. Shanghai may have more structure than Honolulu. Honolulu is more alluring and laid back, but both have an undercurrent that can be dangerous and deadly.
Wilson had met Mr. Moto when he visited the Hitching Brothers office in Shanghai. It was suggested Moto was an agent for the Japanese government. When Wilson meets him again in Honolulu, it turns out to be true, and Moto is also interesting in the Hitchings Brothers Honolulu office activities.
Espionage, double dealing, Moto’s changing character and plotting make for a very adventurous read. It is also interesting to note the view of the characters in this story written prior to WWII.
Another in the short series of Mr. Moto adventure/mysteries. This particular edition of the book was printed in 1941, the copyright is 1936. The cover art and overall appearance added to my enjoyment of the reading.
For his first major assignment, Wilson is sent to Honolulu to deal with a branch of the family and the business that has gone off on another direction, and is giving the family and business a bad image.
Going from Shanghai to Honolulu, Wilson finds a difference in lifestyle. Shanghai may have more structure than Honolulu. Honolulu is more alluring and laid back, but both have an undercurrent that can be dangerous and deadly.
Wilson had met Mr. Moto when he visited the Hitching Brothers office in Shanghai. It was suggested Moto was an agent for the Japanese government. When Wilson meets him again in Honolulu, it turns out to be true, and Moto is also interesting in the Hitchings Brothers Honolulu office activities.
Espionage, double dealing, Moto’s changing character and plotting make for a very adventurous read. It is also interesting to note the view of the characters in this story written prior to WWII.
Another in the short series of Mr. Moto adventure/mysteries. This particular edition of the book was printed in 1941, the copyright is 1936. The cover art and overall appearance added to my enjoyment of the reading.
February 4, 2025
Another Moto that i picked up in Boston that one time, cheap. The Hitchings family: well known banking family of the far east, the book begins in Shanghai with a young american member of the family coming over to join the business. he is sent out to Honolulu to look into a black sheep of the family who has been caught up with a gambling house and is maybe going to bring the reputation of the family down. When he gets there, she gives him the very cold shoulder as she has bad blood with the family, but it turns out she is beset by gangsters using her house / gambling house as a front for money laundering to get money to japanese Manchuoko for the Chinese to fight the japanese rule. The diabolical Mr. Chang is behind this operation, but fear not- Mr. Moto is on the case. He is frequently shot at or otherwise tried to be killed by the evil Chinese, but he scraps by- always with equanimity- it is the profession he has joined after all- nothing personal! He is suspicious but won over by Hitchings and the way ward gal and finally it all works out. Nice work, Mr. Moto!
November 23, 2025
The plot is a bit disjointed and the main character's (Wilson Hitchings) actions are sometimes hard to explain, including romancing his third cousin, a side story that could have been avoided altogether. Of course romance had to be thrown into the mix, but I do want to forgive this book a little bit since it was written in the 30s, way ahead of many other novels that got us a bit too used to the usual tropes. As the first book I read from this series, it's a 4/5 for now. Curious to see if other instalments will raise or sink the bar. I might adjust this book accordingly to a 3/5 - no lower because the writing was decent, the initial setup was really intriguing, some characters were good, like Mr. Maddock, Mr. Moto of course and also Chang.
January 4, 2025
Set in Hawaii, I thought it would be fun to read while in Hawaii. Big mistake. The basic premise makes zero sense. A banker gives money to gamblers who then lose it at a local crooked casino. The casino then gives the money to the banker who then exports it to China. There is no reason to have the casino in the loop.
Mr. Moto knows about the shipments before the book starts. He puts himself in all kinds of dangerous situations. Then, to end the book, his never-mentioned buddies go down to the dock and seize the boat and the money. OK, then why have the "adventure"?
Just a terrible plot start to finish. Avoid it.
Mr. Moto knows about the shipments before the book starts. He puts himself in all kinds of dangerous situations. Then, to end the book, his never-mentioned buddies go down to the dock and seize the boat and the money. OK, then why have the "adventure"?
Just a terrible plot start to finish. Avoid it.
July 14, 2022
Lovely writing. I'm certain many would be upset by the stereotypes throughout this book. However, I enjoyed the entire book, especially the quality of the writing. One must remember it was originally written in 1936. I doubt Mr. Moto, the hero, would be cast as a Japanese hero leading up to WWII, and there were already hints of Japanese imperialism even in 1936. This was the third book in the series and I will go back, find and read the first two, preceding this one.
February 15, 2020
Vintage noir mystery.
Japanese government agent Mr. Moto appears in the most unlikely places at the most unlikely times, and is full of surprises. His ingratiating overly polite manner is disarming as well as deceptive. Useful qualities for working undercover.
John P Marquand's writing, plots, and characters are quality, making this vintage noir mystery series about Mr. Moto very entertaining.
Japanese government agent Mr. Moto appears in the most unlikely places at the most unlikely times, and is full of surprises. His ingratiating overly polite manner is disarming as well as deceptive. Useful qualities for working undercover.
John P Marquand's writing, plots, and characters are quality, making this vintage noir mystery series about Mr. Moto very entertaining.
August 13, 2022
Apparently not my type of book. I found the characters to be one-dimensional, insipid, either over-pondering or deliberately stupid. I can see its appeal to the generation of the thirties longing for adventure, romance, and intrigue. It's a very simple book and a quick read, though, IMO, not the least bit entertaining.
August 6, 2018
Mr. Moto novels are always entertaining. This novel is from a time when Imperial Japan was still our friend and the occupation of Manchuria was seen as a good thing, so it's a bit of a curious experience.
February 25, 2021
Classic
This book is a time machine to the late 30s...Hong Kong...Shanghai...Hawaii...gangsters...gambling...spies...a pretty woman and a stand up guy...they don’t write them like this anymore.
This book is a time machine to the late 30s...Hong Kong...Shanghai...Hawaii...gangsters...gambling...spies...a pretty woman and a stand up guy...they don’t write them like this anymore.
November 10, 2024
Surprisingly, smart, very enjoyable action story set in Honolulu. Published in 1937. The plot features Manchukuo, which the Japanese were occupying at the time. Oddly, Mr. Moto, who is Japanese, is the good guy, helping the Americans against the criminal Chinese.
September 13, 2018
Fast moving, cleanly written story. Exciting enough for anyone.
December 13, 2018
I've read better spy books. This is good if you want some mindless reading to relax your brain with.
March 28, 2022
Another mystery set in the 1930s in the Orient. This time money is being diverted to Manchuria by Chinese. A new banker is faced with saving the name of his family bank. Good read.
December 30, 2024
#3 in the Mr. Moto series.
February 11, 2025
Good, interesting setup, some entertaining character interactions, but other than that very underwhelming read.
July 20, 2024
If your introduction to Mr. Moto was the film series starring Peter Lorre, with martial arts scenes involving an obvious stuntman, the novels are far removed from plot and with different action suitable for a government agent, for adults. They are entertaining and good. This novel(la) is nothing like the motion picture with which the title Think Fast, Mr. Moto is shared.
March 15, 2016
As in the previous two Mr. Moto books, the main characters are a callow young man and an independent, beautiful young woman. Pretty much inadvertently, the callow young man and the independent young woman find themselves enmeshed in some form of international intrigue. The callow young man feels a need to protect the young woman and she feels a need to maintain her independence. In the background, Mr. Moto, a Japanese spy master working for his Emperor, is pulling strings to further the aims of his country, which also happen to be in the best interests of the in-over-their-heads young people.
In this particular book, the young man is from a banking family that is prominent in Asia. He is sent to Shanghai to learn the business, but is fairly soon packed off to Hawaii where there are some problems involving the family bank and also involving a gambling institution run by the independent, lovely young woman, who also happens to be a sort of black-sheep cousin. Or at least her father was. Well, the gambling institution has been taken over by gangsters who are in the money laundering business. Their particular laundering is to find a way to transfer funds from Chinese businesses to Manchuria/Manchukuo to support the rebels trying to take it back from the Japanese. Mr. Moto, of course, wants to keep Manchuria/Manchukuo under Japanese control.
It's a pretty good story all in all and well worth snagging from our friends running the Canadian Gutenberg site. Were I a competent writer and were I into FanFic, I think it would be rather fun to rework this tale in some way so as to involve Hawaii's favorite detective, Charlie Chan. An intellectual duel between Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto would be quite fun. There would be very very interesting problems, which would be very very nice to engage, as Mr. Moto might say. Charlie is ethnic Chinese, and has little use for Japanese, whereas Mr. Moto is Japanese and has little use for Chinese. But they are both decent people, and would likely find a way for things to work out for the best of all involved.
Whatever, like the Charlie Chan books, the Mr. Moto books are well written and interesting to read. Please help yourself to Charlie Chan (via Gutenberg.Australia) and Mr. Moto (via Gutenberg.Canada).
In this particular book, the young man is from a banking family that is prominent in Asia. He is sent to Shanghai to learn the business, but is fairly soon packed off to Hawaii where there are some problems involving the family bank and also involving a gambling institution run by the independent, lovely young woman, who also happens to be a sort of black-sheep cousin. Or at least her father was. Well, the gambling institution has been taken over by gangsters who are in the money laundering business. Their particular laundering is to find a way to transfer funds from Chinese businesses to Manchuria/Manchukuo to support the rebels trying to take it back from the Japanese. Mr. Moto, of course, wants to keep Manchuria/Manchukuo under Japanese control.
It's a pretty good story all in all and well worth snagging from our friends running the Canadian Gutenberg site. Were I a competent writer and were I into FanFic, I think it would be rather fun to rework this tale in some way so as to involve Hawaii's favorite detective, Charlie Chan. An intellectual duel between Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto would be quite fun. There would be very very interesting problems, which would be very very nice to engage, as Mr. Moto might say. Charlie is ethnic Chinese, and has little use for Japanese, whereas Mr. Moto is Japanese and has little use for Chinese. But they are both decent people, and would likely find a way for things to work out for the best of all involved.
Whatever, like the Charlie Chan books, the Mr. Moto books are well written and interesting to read. Please help yourself to Charlie Chan (via Gutenberg.Australia) and Mr. Moto (via Gutenberg.Canada).
August 6, 2015
I am a huge fan of the Mr. Moto books. I'm sure that this developed from watching the delightful films starring Peter Lorre...and despite the writer's description, Mr. Moto will always resemble Peter Lorre in my mind. But, it also has much to do with the quality of writing that transcends the usual stereotypes created by writers of this period.
John P. Marquand creates vivid characters, and is very careful to avoid the image of the "exotic oriental." Fu Manchu has no place here. (However, there is a large part of this story that occurs in Honolulu, and I played a wonderful mental game that assumed Charlie Chan was just around the corner, busy working another case.)
The pace is incredibly brisk. There are no wasted passages providing details that the reader would find dull or distracting. For instance, if a character makes the decision to visit a certain shop in the city, the character has arrived in the next paragraph.
Many of the clues are contained within the dialogue. The exchanges not only tell us about the personalities of the characters, but also the motives if we are willing to look beyond the surface of what is being said.
If there is a flaw, it is that the writer consistently provides the mutual attraction blossoming into romance between the central male and female characters. (Mr. Moto is never the central character, operating on the periphery.) Now, having said that, it is a much better presentation of the situation than I've read in other adventure thrillers of the period. The conversations are refreshingly free of trite, overblown expressions of passion.
This book was so much fun to read that I just zipped right through it...and wished that there was more. Of course, there are further adventures featuring Mr. Moto, and I will be enjoying them soon. I highly recommend this one.
John P. Marquand creates vivid characters, and is very careful to avoid the image of the "exotic oriental." Fu Manchu has no place here. (However, there is a large part of this story that occurs in Honolulu, and I played a wonderful mental game that assumed Charlie Chan was just around the corner, busy working another case.)
The pace is incredibly brisk. There are no wasted passages providing details that the reader would find dull or distracting. For instance, if a character makes the decision to visit a certain shop in the city, the character has arrived in the next paragraph.
Many of the clues are contained within the dialogue. The exchanges not only tell us about the personalities of the characters, but also the motives if we are willing to look beyond the surface of what is being said.
If there is a flaw, it is that the writer consistently provides the mutual attraction blossoming into romance between the central male and female characters. (Mr. Moto is never the central character, operating on the periphery.) Now, having said that, it is a much better presentation of the situation than I've read in other adventure thrillers of the period. The conversations are refreshingly free of trite, overblown expressions of passion.
This book was so much fun to read that I just zipped right through it...and wished that there was more. Of course, there are further adventures featuring Mr. Moto, and I will be enjoying them soon. I highly recommend this one.
Read
July 24, 2008This is the second of the Mr. Moto series of mystery novels that I have read (see my review of the other here.
The author abviously relied on a certain formula for these novels but his milieu is quite unique and the writing skillful.
In Think Fast, Mr. Moto the protagonist is a young man named Wilson Hitchings who is the scion of a large banking concern, Hitching Brothers. As his first assignment, his uncle sends him out from Shanghai to Honolulu to deal with a stain on the family name. The daughter of the family's black sheep has opened a gambling house there and called it the Hitchings Plantation. Wilson is to take stock of this woman and offer (nay, force) her a buyout and then close the place.
Of course, all is not as it seems and who pops up in Hawaii but Mr. Moto. The plot then whirls into an international financial intrigue involving mobsters, Manchurian crime lords and corrupt officials.
Throughout it all Mr. Moto handles things with adroit efficiency while at all times being portrayed as the quintessentially subservient Oriental. Take this quote which encompasses the dichotomy:
"Thank you so much for being so polite", Mr. Moto said, "Yes, I can do many, many things.I can mix drinks and wait on table, and I am a very good valet.I can navigate and manage small boats. I have studied at two foreign universities. I also know carpentry and survying and five Chinese dialects. So very many things come in useful. Ah, there are the lights in line. You steer so very nicely, Mr. Hitchings."
Definitely worthwhile novels to pick up for a light entertaining read.
The author abviously relied on a certain formula for these novels but his milieu is quite unique and the writing skillful.
In Think Fast, Mr. Moto the protagonist is a young man named Wilson Hitchings who is the scion of a large banking concern, Hitching Brothers. As his first assignment, his uncle sends him out from Shanghai to Honolulu to deal with a stain on the family name. The daughter of the family's black sheep has opened a gambling house there and called it the Hitchings Plantation. Wilson is to take stock of this woman and offer (nay, force) her a buyout and then close the place.
Of course, all is not as it seems and who pops up in Hawaii but Mr. Moto. The plot then whirls into an international financial intrigue involving mobsters, Manchurian crime lords and corrupt officials.
Throughout it all Mr. Moto handles things with adroit efficiency while at all times being portrayed as the quintessentially subservient Oriental. Take this quote which encompasses the dichotomy:
"Thank you so much for being so polite", Mr. Moto said, "Yes, I can do many, many things.I can mix drinks and wait on table, and I am a very good valet.I can navigate and manage small boats. I have studied at two foreign universities. I also know carpentry and survying and five Chinese dialects. So very many things come in useful. Ah, there are the lights in line. You steer so very nicely, Mr. Hitchings."
Definitely worthwhile novels to pick up for a light entertaining read.
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