Ear To The Ground

Steve Harmas #6

by James Hadley Chase

When a necklace is as beautiful as the Esmaldi necklace with its hundred sparkling diamonds, it is not surprising that it causes powerful emotions. It is an object that people will do anything to obtain – even murder. For Al Barney, general idler and layabout, this comes as no surprise for he knows the peculiar history that the necklace holds – an ancient story of passion, jealousy and hatred. Yet as events unfold, it becomes clear that this violent story is far from over….

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Novels, Mystery, Crime

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

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

[Vikas Singh]

An ear to the ground by James Hadley Chase

Gripping tale of jealousy, greed, lust and violence. Fast paced the novel holds you in apt attention till the end when the chase finally ends. The intense plot thrills you page after page

[Paul Lothane]

Al Barney - master story-teller of sorts, and reprobate to boot(!)
Spins this tale, apparently based on reality. The fabulous Esmaldi
necklace, and other expensive jewelries; apparently the target of a
cunning gang of thieves. But there are sub-plots weaved around an
interesting cast of characters. Attractive Harry Lewis for one never
dreamed he would marry the powerful daughter of one of the richest men
in the world, but it happens. After she ends up in a wheelchair Harry
gets involved with a gorgeous Vietnamese girl, Tania, and his problems
really begin! The murder of Harry's wife, Lisa, is the last straw and
things become entangled and come to a rather sticky end. I am not sure
the admittedly greedy Harry deserved his ultimate fate, but that is
the way the cookie crumbles. Sometimes.

[Paul Cornelius]

Here goes James Hadley Chase changing things up again. For a writer who made his reputation through lurid depictions of violence, this is a change of pace--although around this time JHC had retreated from the sort of graphic scenes of violence his first books contained. But with An Ear to the Ground, there are only two murders and one accidental death. The two murders are, so to speak, off stage, occurring as an ellipsis in the narrative. Otherwise, what you have are two sets of criminals on a collision course, although they never actually encounter one another. Instead, the very late in the book reappearance of Frank Terrell of the Paradise City police and Steve Harmas and Maddox, the insurance investigators, derails once again the best laid schemes and plots of vicious criminals, suave conmen, grouchy masterminds, and greedy bimbos.

[Daniele]

Non il miglior libro di Chase, ma sempre comunque all'altezza della sua capacità di creare suspance e personaggi con sfaccettature diverse. Questo è il quinto e ultimo libro della seria con Steve Harmas e dove appare il famigerato investigatore assicurativo che, prima di pagare un premio per un furto, ti fa vendere cara la pelle. Il libro si svolge nella città inventata da Chase, ovvero Paradise City in Florida, e mostra ancora una volta i lati della malavita tra ricconi e chi insegue la ricchezza in un labirinto di storie tra pericolose peripezie e personaggi loschi. Questo romanzo è narrato da un ubriacone a uno scrittore in un bar locale, cosa che aggiunge un tocco extra al romanzo.

[Ramzi Zaindeen]

Best Chase book ever!

[विकास 'अंजान']

It was an okay read. It's interesting but not as good as other yarns by the maestro.

[Dhiraj Sharma]

A page turner like all other Chase novels, don't expect happy endings here, the guilty can't escape !!!

[Gourang Ambulkar]

Typical James Hadley Chase. A racy thriller with his patent formula of rich woman, hated by her double crossing handsome, money loving husband, a gang of thugs and a twist at the end. Loved reading his novels in college and love them 2 decades since. Albeit this being one of his later novels has ruefully lost the sting in the twist that he backed in his earlier novels. Nonetheless a typical James Hadley Chase goodread.

[Harshvardhan Baxi]

Fantastic read, the plot was engaging and easy to follow. My only grouse was that the climax felt a bit hurried, i would have liked to delved deeper into Gilda's story and known a bit more about the fate of other characters. Other than that, no complaints at all! Can't wait to read by this legendary author.

[Tumaini K]

This was my first read in James Hadley Chase. I must say, Folks were right about James Hadley Chase. The way he narrates fictional-crime stories is brilliant. The plots and twists in the book were awesome that I got so intrigued and didnt want to put the book down.

[Ssandeep B]

Good crime story

[Dmitrii]

It is interesting to read. While reading, you always think whether the thieves can get away with. Until the very last moment, you do not notice the mistakes of thieves.

[V.M.H]

How can you photocopy without electricity?

[Prince Ibe]

Just buy Al Barney a mug of beer and meat pie and he will open a can of worms.

[Ade Sulaiman]

One of JHC’s best. Gripping from start to finish.

[Κώστας]

ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο. 371
ΤΟ ΚΟΛΙΕ ΤΩΝ ΕΣΜΑΛΝΤΙ

Οπισθόφυλλο:

Κυνηγούσαν περισσότερα από 2.000.000$. Αλλά μπλέχτηκαν σε μπελάδες που άξιζαν περισσότερα.

Ήταν ένα team από τους πιό έξυπνους και πιό ικανούς κλέφτες κοσμημάτων σε ολόκληρη την Αμερική. Και ήρθαν στην Καλιφόρνια, στο paradise city, όπου ζούσαν οι πλούσιοι, κυνηγώντας κοσμήματα που άξιζαν περισσότερο από 2 εκ. δολλάρια. Είχαν καταστρώσει ένα θαυμάσιο σχέδιο για να τα αποκτήσουν. Ένα μεγαλοφυές σχέδιο. Μα αυτό το σχέδιο τους είχε ένα μικρό μειονέκτημα: δεν "εκάλυπτε¨τον έρωτα μιας γυναίκας και την υπερηφάνεια μιάς άλλης.

[Kakha]

This time I'll write an annotation right away ;-) An elderly swindler and a talented elderly thief decided to go on big business so that after its successful completion, they would retire. They found a young specialist in safes (strongboxes) and also a charming acrobat to support their "noble" cause of cleaning the safes of Paradise City (a fictional city on the US East Coast invented by JHC). The implementation of the plan went on quite successfully until the theft of Esmaldi's necklace and the brutal murder of its owner…

[Suby]

Another of Chase's best!

[Rajesh]

Okay ! Al barney stories are always amusing. . .

[Ramchandra]

I have read this several times. One of the best from my favorite author.

[Tajwar Shah]

this novel is very very awesome

[Stephen Ambonisye]

Al barney...the guy with an ear to the ground...
a great story from maestro

[Carla]

Mucho rodeo para un solo objetivo, que terminó por aburrirme.

[Srikanth R]

A JHC master piece!!!!!

[Alsam]

This book is not very exciting compare to other novels written by james hadley chase and there is no thriller or much suspense.

[Braslutus Alexander]

The story takes you in a perfect dark environment of jealousy, mascaraed and greed and evil human intention. Chase books has always been a masterpieces in themselves and this is his one of the best works. The story unfolds from a previous tales of emotions that continue with the lives of the present who hold on to that jewelry. Its jaw dropping and twist are awesome to comprehend.

Nothing is left out from betrayal to murder all that is needed to take the sparkling asset. At the end the reader will be left with the suspense of the future and left to think what was it all about. Well that is ironic. The beginning few chapters are a little slow but after that keeping the book away from you is inevitable. The plot or the suspense alone will make the reader want more and go ahead for it.