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Dark #6
Dark Interlude
Shaun Aloysius O'Mara, intelligence agent for the British 'second bureau', has been ordered by his superiors to go to Paris to obtain information that will lead to the capture of the lone survivor of the Nazi espionage system.
So when Shaun arrives in Paris he becomes a crude and shiftless drunkard and entangles himself with a clever and ruthless spy, Tanga de Sarieux, who is as brave as the men that surround her . . .
Fontana Books #626.
So when Shaun arrives in Paris he becomes a crude and shiftless drunkard and entangles himself with a clever and ruthless spy, Tanga de Sarieux, who is as brave as the men that surround her . . .
Fontana Books #626.
- GenresBritish Literature
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Peter Cheyney
122 books30 followersBorn Reginald Evelyn Peter Southouse Cheyney, he trained as a lawyer before getting tired of legal office work and joining the Army. He fought at the second Battle of the Somme in World War I and was wounded but when he returned to England he wrote songs, poems and short stories for various newspapers and magazines and used many pseudonyms.
He also turned his hand to journalism, was a newspaper editor and also owned a detective agency, Cheyney Research Investigations.
His first published novel was This Man Is Dangerous and this began his prolific novel writing career. Thereafter he averaged two mystery novels a year with his best known characters being Slim Callaghan and Lemmy Caution and he became one of the best known and most successful of British crime novelists. His success also brought with it financial rewards and he was recognised as one of the richest authors of the time.
There have been many film versions of his works, which helped spread his popularity, particularly to the United States.
His life-style, one of hard-living, much like his characters, and hard work eventually took their toll and he died at age 55. He was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery.
Michael Harrison published a biography in 1954 entitled Peter Cheyney Prince of Hokum and there have been a number of biographical essays over the years.
Gerry Wolstenholme
December 2010
He also turned his hand to journalism, was a newspaper editor and also owned a detective agency, Cheyney Research Investigations.
His first published novel was This Man Is Dangerous and this began his prolific novel writing career. Thereafter he averaged two mystery novels a year with his best known characters being Slim Callaghan and Lemmy Caution and he became one of the best known and most successful of British crime novelists. His success also brought with it financial rewards and he was recognised as one of the richest authors of the time.
There have been many film versions of his works, which helped spread his popularity, particularly to the United States.
His life-style, one of hard-living, much like his characters, and hard work eventually took their toll and he died at age 55. He was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery.
Michael Harrison published a biography in 1954 entitled Peter Cheyney Prince of Hokum and there have been a number of biographical essays over the years.
Gerry Wolstenholme
December 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2025
A great book, still more to come.
July 11, 2015
Another great yarn from one of Britain's great forgotten mystery writers.
October 2, 2024
Další kniha od Petera Cheyneyho. Vzpomínám si, že v mládí byla má nejoblíbenější, a i když se tenhle názor neudržel, tak chápu, proč mě to tak bavilo. Kniha má dost rychlé tempo a mezi jednotlivými vraždami, únosy, pokusy o vraždu, mučením a shazováním lidí ze skály nejsou velké pauzy. A navíc je tam hrdina, který, aby dosáhl svého cíle, klesne až na úplné dno a stane se z něj vesnický opilec a blázen. Což je automaticky cool.
Celé se to odehrává těsně po druhé světové válce ve Francii, kde poslední němečtí agenti ještě chtějí dodělat svou práci a zlikvidovat své protivníky. Pozdě, ale přece. A hlavní hrdina je tu nastrčený jako neškodná volavka, která má vylákat protivníka z úkrytu.
Je to jeden z těch příběhů, kdy na základně malých detailů dělá hrdina okamžitě bleskové závěry – a na jejich základě likviduje lidi kolem sebe. Je tady to, co se u Cheyneyho objevuje dost často, že lidé, co hrdina potkává (aspoň ze začátku) a kteří mu pomáhají, obvykle kopou za druhou stranu a je nutné je rychle zlikvidovat. Což je využíváno hlavně kvůli tomu šoku, když hrdina zabije někoho, s kým se do té doby přátelsky bavil.
Jsou tam i nějaké nápovědy skryté v literatuře, které jsou dneska už hodně naivní, ale díky tomu jsem si pamatoval citát o růži ze Shakespeara. Takže to k něčemu přece jen bylo.
Celé se to odehrává těsně po druhé světové válce ve Francii, kde poslední němečtí agenti ještě chtějí dodělat svou práci a zlikvidovat své protivníky. Pozdě, ale přece. A hlavní hrdina je tu nastrčený jako neškodná volavka, která má vylákat protivníka z úkrytu.
Je to jeden z těch příběhů, kdy na základně malých detailů dělá hrdina okamžitě bleskové závěry – a na jejich základě likviduje lidi kolem sebe. Je tady to, co se u Cheyneyho objevuje dost často, že lidé, co hrdina potkává (aspoň ze začátku) a kteří mu pomáhají, obvykle kopou za druhou stranu a je nutné je rychle zlikvidovat. Což je využíváno hlavně kvůli tomu šoku, když hrdina zabije někoho, s kým se do té doby přátelsky bavil.
Jsou tam i nějaké nápovědy skryté v literatuře, které jsou dneska už hodně naivní, ale díky tomu jsem si pamatoval citát o růži ze Shakespeara. Takže to k něčemu přece jen bylo.
March 28, 2021
Another classic Cheyney. - good plot - liked the start of the book - well crafted getting the setting and context laid out... refreshing to have picked a continental setting and the central character is nicely worked into the tale... recommended - the ending is well contrived ... always get a hardback copy through Abe Books or World of Books - harder to find but longer lasting and more durable
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews