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Russell Teed #2
Murder Over Dorval
A hard-boiled detective mystery originally published in 1952, this novel follows the adventures and investigations of hard-drinking, seasoned private detective Russell Teed through the streets of Montreal and New York City. When a gorgeous redhead with lovely green eyes offers a wad of cash and a plane ticket to Montreal to help in an investigation, Russell takes the case. It isn’t long, however, before a run in with a razor blade, a slug in his shoulder, and the knowledge that three tough customers gunning for him all make Russell rue his decision. This fast-paced plot from a master of pulp fiction makes for an ideal read for mystery fans.
- GenresMystery
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 29, 2023
A nice little locked room mystery where someone is murdered on a small plane that was in the air.
I might have to read it again, though; the mystery had so many twists and turns and red herrings that I found myself rereading chapters just to keep up. That isnt a negative... I think... but maybe it is, a little.
I really like Russel Teed the protagonist Montreal detective, and look forward to reading more.
What is also nice is getting a kind of tour of Montreal in the 50s. So many streets and buildings named, that are still there now.
Good times
I might have to read it again, though; the mystery had so many twists and turns and red herrings that I found myself rereading chapters just to keep up. That isnt a negative... I think... but maybe it is, a little.
I really like Russel Teed the protagonist Montreal detective, and look forward to reading more.
What is also nice is getting a kind of tour of Montreal in the 50s. So many streets and buildings named, that are still there now.
Good times
June 24, 2019
I could not get into it, it did not seem very realistic and maybe it's not supposed to be.
January 23, 2020
A detective story in the style of Raymond Chandler set in Montreal. Although the attitudes towards women and alcohol are dated, the plot is fast-paced and has enough twists to keep it interesting. What is especially captivating is the setting with its familiar streets and neighbourhoods (for a Montreal native), even though the buildings are gone, invented or have been repurposed.
May 1, 2025
From the JetBlackDragonfly book blog at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
Joining my love of locked-room mysteries is the airline mystery featuring a few strangers contained together and forced to endure and overcome the adventure. The excited passengers, the in-flight romances, and the possibility of murder (or disaster, I don't mind). Who among the passengers is the villain?
Private detective Russell Teed is called to a job in New York, meeting his client at Grand Central Station. He makes contact. She's in a vivid green dress, on the interesting side of twenty-five, "with hair as long and rich and thick and red as a sunset before the storm, red as the facets of a ruby, red as fresh arterial blood. She smiles at him. She has bands on her teeth."
This hard-boiled style is witty, fun to read, and adds to the action.
The job? A one-way plane ticket from New York to Montreal where he should identify, from about ten other passengers, who is the father that abandoned her as a child. Since there are only a few men on board, it might not be so hard. Once departed, a violent storm kicks up, and while they are belted in and generally feeling ill, the most likely gentleman is struck on the head and killed. Of course, everyone on the plane had motive, and it's up to Russell Teed to find both the missing murder weapon and the how and the why.
An unusual mystery based around Montreal, it is 1952, and many of the signs and places are referred to with English names. Soon, he is involved with seedy characters and conniving family members, and he gets a razor slash in his leg and a slug in his shoulder. Briskly written, it has some memorable characters like low-down African gangsters and Lorette Toledo, a blonde singer of smut songs in a Montreal clip joint.
First published in 1952, it was written by David Montrose, the pen name of Charles Ross Graham, a New Brunswick author of four novels, all featuring Russell Teed. His style, like that of James Cain, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler, draws you right in and keeps you entertained well after you have landed.
Murder Over Dorval is recommended!
Joining my love of locked-room mysteries is the airline mystery featuring a few strangers contained together and forced to endure and overcome the adventure. The excited passengers, the in-flight romances, and the possibility of murder (or disaster, I don't mind). Who among the passengers is the villain?
Private detective Russell Teed is called to a job in New York, meeting his client at Grand Central Station. He makes contact. She's in a vivid green dress, on the interesting side of twenty-five, "with hair as long and rich and thick and red as a sunset before the storm, red as the facets of a ruby, red as fresh arterial blood. She smiles at him. She has bands on her teeth."
This hard-boiled style is witty, fun to read, and adds to the action.
The job? A one-way plane ticket from New York to Montreal where he should identify, from about ten other passengers, who is the father that abandoned her as a child. Since there are only a few men on board, it might not be so hard. Once departed, a violent storm kicks up, and while they are belted in and generally feeling ill, the most likely gentleman is struck on the head and killed. Of course, everyone on the plane had motive, and it's up to Russell Teed to find both the missing murder weapon and the how and the why.
An unusual mystery based around Montreal, it is 1952, and many of the signs and places are referred to with English names. Soon, he is involved with seedy characters and conniving family members, and he gets a razor slash in his leg and a slug in his shoulder. Briskly written, it has some memorable characters like low-down African gangsters and Lorette Toledo, a blonde singer of smut songs in a Montreal clip joint.
First published in 1952, it was written by David Montrose, the pen name of Charles Ross Graham, a New Brunswick author of four novels, all featuring Russell Teed. His style, like that of James Cain, Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler, draws you right in and keeps you entertained well after you have landed.
Murder Over Dorval is recommended!
April 8, 2013
A decent mystery, definitely cool for the Montreal setting. 60s sentimentality catches you off guard a few times.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews