Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Robert Budd Mystery #14

The Last Warning

Rate this book
Detective-Superintendent Budd is a busy man. In Thatchford on a minor investigation, calling on his old friend Superintendent Hawkins, he's asked to help with a murder mystery. One man has been stabbed, two of his business associates have been threatened.

Then another murder takes place in a locked room with police guards outside...

The case bristles with difficulties, but Budd sifts all the clues with his usual thoroughness, and exposes a dastardly plot.

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

8 people are currently reading
27 people want to read

About the author

Gerald Verner

118 books22 followers
Gerald Verner is one of the pseudonyms used by John Robert Stuart Pringle, who was born in Streatham, London, on 31 January 1897.

In his early writing days he used the name Donald Stuart, under which name he wrote 44 stories for the Sexton Blake Library as well as six stories for Union Jack and three for the Thriller magazine. In addition he wrote two stage plays, 'Sexton Blake' and 'The Shadow', two films, 'The Man Outside' (1933) and 'The Shadow' (1933) under the Stuart name. Later a number of his books were adapted for radio serials, stage plays and films.

He became a hugely successful thriller writer, producing more than 120 novels that were translated in 35 languages. The Duke of Windsor was a big Verner fan and at one time he was presented with 15 volumes specially bound.

Heavily influenced by Edgar Wallace, he wrote extensively for magazines such as Detective Weekly, the Sexton Blake Library, Union Jack and The Thriller. He also adapted Peter Cheyney's 'Meet Mr Callaghan' and Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero' for the stage.

He also used the pseudonyms Thane Leslie, Derwent Steele and Nigel Vane.

He died at Broadstairs, Kent, of natural causes on 16 September 1980.

Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2013



Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
14 (32%)
4 stars
15 (34%)
3 stars
10 (23%)
2 stars
3 (6%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for P..
1,486 reviews10 followers
March 3, 2019
The books with Budd front and center are a better read than the ones with some reporter and his wife doing the sleuthing, with Budd basically a walk on. Budd is an investigator and it shows, a humble one at that, willing to admit he ain't got a clue - until he finally does, and it's a wrap. A good read.
Profile Image for Eric.
1,497 reviews51 followers
January 29, 2019
Very short with a couple of murders, one in a locked locked room.

The perpetrator was not difficult to fathom as the red herring were not very well-trailed.

Not one of the better entries in the Superintendent Budd series. Sergeant Leek barely figures and the detection is minimal.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,437 reviews70 followers
February 1, 2019
While in Thatchford, Budd calls on his old friend Superintendent Hawkins. While there Hawkins gets a call about a murder. Both head off to investigate. But why was the man killed and will he be the first and last.
An enjoyable enough murder mystery story
727 reviews10 followers
February 22, 2019
Good book!

This was an interesting mystery, which was full of surprises. I look forward to reading more Robert Budd mysteries, and I highly recommend this English mystery to other mystery readers.
Profile Image for John.
799 reviews41 followers
October 25, 2024
Quite a short book. I read it in one go in just over two hours..
An interesting plot but I felt that the author didn't quite play fair with the reader as it was difficult to work out whodunit.
However, an enjoyable if lightweight read.
Profile Image for Alan Carlson.
289 reviews4 followers
August 23, 2022
Classic old-fashioned murder mystery in the English countryside, when & where nobody has a phone. Superintendent Budd of Scotland Yard is OK, but he's no Poirot.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews