The Hidden Hand

Race Williams #2

by Carroll John Daly, Drew Bishop (Cover Artist)

Very good condition

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

With a single screen writing credit to his name, Carroll John Daly is an unlikely mention as being the originator of the private eye... but he just might be. And he was, by contemporary accounts, a strange guy; born in Yonkers, New York in 1889, he most certainly was neurotic, agoraphobic and had a severe fear of dentists. These considerable obstacles to a conventional career were fortuitously offset by the genetic good fortune of having a sympathetic wealthy uncle who encouraged his writing efforts. Daly began to make a name for himself in the nickel and dime pulps in the early 1920s. He was 33 when he managed to get published in the fledgling Black Mask. His character Terry Mack is significant as the first tough-talking private eye (debuting in May, 1923) ever to appear in the pulp genre. Daly's characterization was pretty crudely drawn and he quickly created another character in the same vein, the twin-toting .45 gumshoe Race Williams. Black Mask hired a visionary editor, Joe "Cap" Shaw in 1926, who almost immediately took an intense dislike to Daly's one-dimensional writing style. Shaw conceded to his popularity for the time being, while methodically building up a stable of far greater writing talent. Criticism aside, Daly's 'The Snarl of the Beast' (1927) has the distinction as being acknowledged as the first private eye novel ever published. As Joe Shaw groomed other writers, contemporary critics began to condemn Daly, accusing him of subverting the morals of society and bemoaning the quality of his writing. The mind-numbing void the Race Williams character filled in Black Mask became less important in the early 1930s as the magazine featured vastly superior stories written by the likes of Raoul Fauconnier Whitfield and John K. Butler. Daly and Shaw argued continually over the quality of Daly's writing, and to a lesser extent money and to the delight of Joe Shaw, Daly walked off the magazine in late 1934. Daly would sporadically reappear in Black Mask after Shaw left the publication in 1936, but would fade into obscurity, ending his writing career ignobly by writing comic book dialog. He died in 1958, unappreciated and virtually forgotten by those working in the genre he largely helped create.

* Complete list of his short stories.

Reviews

[L J Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book thoroughly with one caveat, I figured this out early in the novel, but Race Williams discovered the truth at almost the last page. It added a certain dimension to the story as I watched Race being puzzled by events that made total sense to me. The book was non-stop excitement, as is usually the case in these Williams stories.

[Ronald Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judging by this book, a Race Williams tale is better at a shorter length. Interesting in the first half, even though the villain is easily guessed much too early, but drags in the latter half. By the way, Ole Race is definitely slow on the uptake in this one! Surprisingly, The Hidden Hand would have been more interesting if the Tina character, and her background, had been developed a bit more. The title of the novel wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't mentioned in excess: 166 times! It looks like Race's ego has met its match in detective Gregory Ford; and I believe he will appear in future outings. Well, 19 stories down and many more to go.... Actually, I have higher hopes for the next one: The Tag Murders.

[Linda Moorcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardboiled by the writer who began it all.

Written in 1927 This is by the author who invented hardboiled detective fiction. Moves fast on a slightly rickety plot frame. Much of the language is vivid and sets the tone for everyone who followed -- Hammett, Chandler et al. The most popular Black Mask writer of his day. Fairly typically this runs at breakneck speed and ends suddenly with all revelations coming in a tumble in the last few pages. No real surprises -- probably because Daly was so widely imitated. But this is the motherboards and it vibrates with authenticity.

[Carles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un bon començament. Bones reflexions ( primera persona ) i ritme viu.
Es llegeix molt bé. M’agrada que estigui dividit en molts capítols curts i que cada capítol tingui el seu propi títol, –una frase que sintetitza el que ha de passar en el capítol-. Normalment aquesta frase t’enganxa.

La història i la construcció dels personatges no m’han agradat tant com en “El bram de la bèstia”, del mateix autor.