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Brass Keys to Murder (Stories from the Golden Age)
US Navy Lieutenant Steve Craig is in one hell of a mess. Being accused of murder is bad enough, but the local police are convinced he’s killed his own father. And now, for Steve Craig, the plot is about to get down and dirty.
Steve’s safe from the cops as long as he stays aboard his Navy ship - but the word safe isn’t in his vocabulary. He slips off the vessel and vanishes into the seamy underside of the city, determined to find out who took his father's life...even if it means risking his own.
He follows a trail of smoke and mirrors and sudden violence to the Brass Keys to Murder. With them, Steve will seek to unlock the terrible truth behind his father’s death...and an astonishing secret that will change his life - and that of the woman he loves - forever.
The foghorn sounds, gunfire erupts, and screams pierce the night as the audio version of Brass Keys to Murder opens up a Pandora’s Box of mystery, danger and suspense.
“Great character acting and narration.” —(Yahoo Voices)
Steve’s safe from the cops as long as he stays aboard his Navy ship - but the word safe isn’t in his vocabulary. He slips off the vessel and vanishes into the seamy underside of the city, determined to find out who took his father's life...even if it means risking his own.
He follows a trail of smoke and mirrors and sudden violence to the Brass Keys to Murder. With them, Steve will seek to unlock the terrible truth behind his father’s death...and an astonishing secret that will change his life - and that of the woman he loves - forever.
The foghorn sounds, gunfire erupts, and screams pierce the night as the audio version of Brass Keys to Murder opens up a Pandora’s Box of mystery, danger and suspense.
“Great character acting and narration.” —(Yahoo Voices)
107 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
145 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
L. Ron Hubbard
2,004 books651 followersL. Ron Hubbard is universally acclaimed as the single most influential author and humanitarian of this modern age. His definitive works on the mind and spirit—comprising over 350 million copies in circulation and more than 40 international bestsellers—have resulted in a legacy benefiting millions and a movement spanning all cultures.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 25, 2018
It is a really well done murder mystery that takes you all the way until the end to piece together everything that's going on, and makes you suspect everyone along the way. I only wish that it was a little longer, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's an excellent mystery.
January 10, 2021
This book is one of a series of republished short stories from pulp fiction author L Ron Hubbard, who later found fame as the founder of The Church of Scientology. I got the book as a free promotion in 2018, but only now got around to reading it. Although this edition is dated 2009, the original story was probably written some time in the 1930s.
This is another book which pads out a relatively short story with extra material. In this case, the story is not part of a series, so there is no reason to include a trailer for the next one, but the publisher has included a 1500-word chunk of another book in the collection anyway. We also get a thousand words or so with a kind of biography of Hubbard and an effusive potted history of pulp publishing. Given the astonishing volume of work produced and published during the pulp era, I have a sneaking suspicion that this section of the book somewhat overstates the contribution of Mr Hubbard, but presumably the editor of the series is a fan, so I will forgive that.
As for the story itself, it consists of around 18000 words of mystery thriller set in and around the dank and foggy docks and warehouses of an unnamed seaport. We are launched straight into a rough and tumble mystery when the protagonist is accused of killing his own father and decides to solve the mystery himself, whatever it takes. Aided by his plucky fiancee he questions, punches, climbs and shoots his way to the solution, eventually revealing all to the same policeman who has been hot on his heels the whole time.
The story has a satisfying structure and payoff, but you can see the effects of the frantic pace of pulp writing and publishing. Descriptions are often repeated, such as protagonist Steve’s cap badge “tarnished by many seas'' and the whole story has the feel of a draft which received little or no editing. Presumably the original story was also written to a particular length to fit the requirements of the magazine in which it was published, as it frequently feels rushed.
Characters in the story are interesting, if at times somewhat stereotypical, but very shallowly drawn. We get names for most of them (although one character is just “the boatman”) and a quick physical description, but it seems that they are largely there as hooks on which to hang the mystery. In fact, we know so little about them that solving the mystery as a reader falls to looking for who doesn't seem to have a motive. It does all mostly make sense at the end, though, and does not rely on “off screen” secrets for the resolution.
It’s difficult to compare this story against more modern writing, as the context in which it was published was so different. On the whole, though, I think it serves its purpose as a non-stop ride of a tale which can easily be imagined as an exciting movie.
This is another book which pads out a relatively short story with extra material. In this case, the story is not part of a series, so there is no reason to include a trailer for the next one, but the publisher has included a 1500-word chunk of another book in the collection anyway. We also get a thousand words or so with a kind of biography of Hubbard and an effusive potted history of pulp publishing. Given the astonishing volume of work produced and published during the pulp era, I have a sneaking suspicion that this section of the book somewhat overstates the contribution of Mr Hubbard, but presumably the editor of the series is a fan, so I will forgive that.
As for the story itself, it consists of around 18000 words of mystery thriller set in and around the dank and foggy docks and warehouses of an unnamed seaport. We are launched straight into a rough and tumble mystery when the protagonist is accused of killing his own father and decides to solve the mystery himself, whatever it takes. Aided by his plucky fiancee he questions, punches, climbs and shoots his way to the solution, eventually revealing all to the same policeman who has been hot on his heels the whole time.
The story has a satisfying structure and payoff, but you can see the effects of the frantic pace of pulp writing and publishing. Descriptions are often repeated, such as protagonist Steve’s cap badge “tarnished by many seas'' and the whole story has the feel of a draft which received little or no editing. Presumably the original story was also written to a particular length to fit the requirements of the magazine in which it was published, as it frequently feels rushed.
Characters in the story are interesting, if at times somewhat stereotypical, but very shallowly drawn. We get names for most of them (although one character is just “the boatman”) and a quick physical description, but it seems that they are largely there as hooks on which to hang the mystery. In fact, we know so little about them that solving the mystery as a reader falls to looking for who doesn't seem to have a motive. It does all mostly make sense at the end, though, and does not rely on “off screen” secrets for the resolution.
It’s difficult to compare this story against more modern writing, as the context in which it was published was so different. On the whole, though, I think it serves its purpose as a non-stop ride of a tale which can easily be imagined as an exciting movie.
November 23, 2018
I found this short story by L. Ron Hubbard on Kindle Unlimited, so I thought I'd give it a try.
I really enjoyed it. It is a pretty straightforward murder mystery. No real surprises. But, it is well written. Plenty of clues, but vague enough that you have to pay attention.
It is an enjoyable story that you can read in one sitting.
A "bonus feature" is a short "biography" of L. Ron Hubbard that shows how his life and his writing were related - he wrote from many adventures in his own life. To say the man was a prolific writer is an understatement! He wrote under about 15 pen names throughout the era of pulp fiction. Amazing!
I really enjoyed it. It is a pretty straightforward murder mystery. No real surprises. But, it is well written. Plenty of clues, but vague enough that you have to pay attention.
It is an enjoyable story that you can read in one sitting.
A "bonus feature" is a short "biography" of L. Ron Hubbard that shows how his life and his writing were related - he wrote from many adventures in his own life. To say the man was a prolific writer is an understatement! He wrote under about 15 pen names throughout the era of pulp fiction. Amazing!
December 2, 2018
2.5
I found this alright but very short and easily solved. Recommend for anyone who likes this style, though, when I consider that it's pulp fiction, the way it's written makes more sense honestly. Not bad but for me not great either, yet still better than The Way to Happiness in my opinion.
I found this alright but very short and easily solved. Recommend for anyone who likes this style, though, when I consider that it's pulp fiction, the way it's written makes more sense honestly. Not bad but for me not great either, yet still better than The Way to Happiness in my opinion.
March 29, 2016
First published in Five Novels Monthly magazine under the pseudonym of Michael Keith, in this story Hubbard coupled his nautical interest with a murder mystery. The setting isn't as important or as well developed as most of his stories, other than the shipboard sequences. The characters are unremarkable, but the plot moves along nicely and engages the reader to try to figure out who-done-it. There didn't seem to be much reason to suspect the protagonist (who's charged with murdering his father) in the first place, but with a little help from his girlfriend it all ties together in a satisfying conclusion.
November 21, 2012
Good to the last drop. The last drop of a clue that is in unraveling this murder mystery.
Good with rough realism and great characters that are classic examples of this era of writing. Let the story take you to the last page of suspense!
Good with rough realism and great characters that are classic examples of this era of writing. Let the story take you to the last page of suspense!
November 19, 2015
Fun maritime mystery from prolific pulp novelist L. Ron Hubbard.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews