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The Singapore Wink
A stuntman searches for a colleague whom he thought he killed long ago
Two pirates do battle on an old junk ship in Singapore Harbor. They leap nimbly from deck to rigging, crossing swords like fencing masters. And then one surprises the other, slicing a rope and sending the unfortunate pirate tumbling into the bay. This is how stuntman Angelo Sacchetti dies. Edward Cauthorne was his opponent, a fellow stuntman whose career died along with Sacchetti. He’s selling used cars when two thugs approach him. They’re emissaries from Sacchetti’s godfather, a Mafia don. Sacchetti is alive after all—alive enough to be blackmailing the don—and they firmly request that Cauthorne find him. The search takes Cauthorne back to Singapore, to risk his own life for the sake of the man he thought he’d killed.
Two pirates do battle on an old junk ship in Singapore Harbor. They leap nimbly from deck to rigging, crossing swords like fencing masters. And then one surprises the other, slicing a rope and sending the unfortunate pirate tumbling into the bay. This is how stuntman Angelo Sacchetti dies. Edward Cauthorne was his opponent, a fellow stuntman whose career died along with Sacchetti. He’s selling used cars when two thugs approach him. They’re emissaries from Sacchetti’s godfather, a Mafia don. Sacchetti is alive after all—alive enough to be blackmailing the don—and they firmly request that Cauthorne find him. The search takes Cauthorne back to Singapore, to risk his own life for the sake of the man he thought he’d killed.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1969
41 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Ross Thomas
58 books171 followersRoss Thomas was an American writer of crime fiction. He is best known for his witty thrillers that expose the mechanisms of professional politics. He also wrote several novels under the pseudonym Oliver Bleeck about professional go-between Philip St. Ives.
Thomas served in the Philippines during World War II. He worked as a public relations specialist, reporter, union spokesman, and political strategist in the USA, Bonn (Germany), and Nigeria before becoming a writer.
His debut novel, The Cold War Swap, was written in only six weeks and won a 1967 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Briarpatch earned the 1985 Edgar for Best Novel. In 2002 he was honored with the inaugural Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award, one of only two authors to earn the award after their death (the other was 87th Precinct author Evan Hunter in 2006).
He died of lung cancer two months before his 70th birthday.
Thomas served in the Philippines during World War II. He worked as a public relations specialist, reporter, union spokesman, and political strategist in the USA, Bonn (Germany), and Nigeria before becoming a writer.
His debut novel, The Cold War Swap, was written in only six weeks and won a 1967 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Briarpatch earned the 1985 Edgar for Best Novel. In 2002 he was honored with the inaugural Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award, one of only two authors to earn the award after their death (the other was 87th Precinct author Evan Hunter in 2006).
He died of lung cancer two months before his 70th birthday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 16, 2022
Edward Cauthorne was once a successful Hollywood stuntman who specialized in swordplay. But one afternoon while filming a scene on a ship in the Singapore Harbor, his opponent in the scene, another stuntman named Angelo Sacchetti, zigged when he was supposed to zag, and as a result, Cauthorne accidentally cut the rope that Sacchetti was clinging to. Sacchetti fell backward into the harbor and disappeared into a tricky current that runs through it. Two years later, Cauthorne is still haunted by the memory of Sacchetti's death and by the fact that Sacchetti seemed to be winking at him as he fell backward into the water.
In the wake of the incident, Cauthorne left the movie business. With a partner, Richard Trippet, he now owns a business in Los Angeles selling vintage automobiles. Then, one afternoon, a couple of errand boys who work for an east coast mobster, walk into Cauthorne's office with the news that, in fact, Angelo Sacchetti is still very much alive and well and is up to his neck in illegal activities in Singapore. The mob boss has a complicated relationship with Sacchetti and is demanding that Cauthorne return to Singapore and retrieve some sensitive material from Sacchetti. Oh, and he's supposed to take Sacchetti's fiancé along with him.
Cauthorne is naturally stunned to hear that Sacchetti might still be alive, but the news does nothing to cure the shakes he gets daily when he remembers the way Sacchetti apparently died. He has no interest in going to Singapore to see for himself if Sacchetti is still among the living, but when the mobsters make him an offer he can't refuse, Cauthorne is soon on his way to the Orient.
This story takes place in the mid-1960s when Singapore was still something of the Wild West. There's a great deal of corruption and double dealing in the city, and even with a scorecard Cauthorne couldn't separate the good guys from the bad. There are plenty of both and watching Cauthorne weave his way through the city and its tangled relationships is a lot of fun. There are some great characters here, and the description of Singapore is very interesting. This story requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, but for a reader who's willing to go along for the ride, The Singapore Wink is a lot of fun.
In the wake of the incident, Cauthorne left the movie business. With a partner, Richard Trippet, he now owns a business in Los Angeles selling vintage automobiles. Then, one afternoon, a couple of errand boys who work for an east coast mobster, walk into Cauthorne's office with the news that, in fact, Angelo Sacchetti is still very much alive and well and is up to his neck in illegal activities in Singapore. The mob boss has a complicated relationship with Sacchetti and is demanding that Cauthorne return to Singapore and retrieve some sensitive material from Sacchetti. Oh, and he's supposed to take Sacchetti's fiancé along with him.
Cauthorne is naturally stunned to hear that Sacchetti might still be alive, but the news does nothing to cure the shakes he gets daily when he remembers the way Sacchetti apparently died. He has no interest in going to Singapore to see for himself if Sacchetti is still among the living, but when the mobsters make him an offer he can't refuse, Cauthorne is soon on his way to the Orient.
This story takes place in the mid-1960s when Singapore was still something of the Wild West. There's a great deal of corruption and double dealing in the city, and even with a scorecard Cauthorne couldn't separate the good guys from the bad. There are plenty of both and watching Cauthorne weave his way through the city and its tangled relationships is a lot of fun. There are some great characters here, and the description of Singapore is very interesting. This story requires a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, but for a reader who's willing to go along for the ride, The Singapore Wink is a lot of fun.
March 26, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up for its pure entertainment value.
I've come to like Ross Thomas a lot. His stories are fun, the characters are interesting, and the dialog is smart with a bit of humor. And who else could write such a great story about two used-car salesman helping a young woman find her former fiance that jilted her by dying and coming back to life. Almost as exciting as a sports agent in NJ with former wrestling women working for him.
This one reads like an old noir detective novel, and perhaps it is except the main protagonist isn't really a detective. But I think he would make a good one, except when he's zoning out about accidentally killing a coworker years back in a Hollywood stunt gone bad. Hey, it happens.
My only complaint is it was too short, and ended before I was ready. Now I need to find something to follow it up. Maybe another one about the NJ sports agent - Myron Bolitar.
I've come to like Ross Thomas a lot. His stories are fun, the characters are interesting, and the dialog is smart with a bit of humor. And who else could write such a great story about two used-car salesman helping a young woman find her former fiance that jilted her by dying and coming back to life. Almost as exciting as a sports agent in NJ with former wrestling women working for him.
This one reads like an old noir detective novel, and perhaps it is except the main protagonist isn't really a detective. But I think he would make a good one, except when he's zoning out about accidentally killing a coworker years back in a Hollywood stunt gone bad. Hey, it happens.
My only complaint is it was too short, and ended before I was ready. Now I need to find something to follow it up. Maybe another one about the NJ sports agent - Myron Bolitar.
May 10, 2021
This was the first Ross Thomas novel I ever read, and it completely threw me. I was expecting it to be an international thriller like Alistair Maclean cranked out on the regular, and it was anything but. Thomas created oddball characters, let them spout off in long monologues, spent a lot of time setting up his few action scenes and draped it all in a snarky, world-weary cynicism. I hated it and vowed to never read another one of his books. Of course, I was just a teenager then.
Now that I am much older, I have a greater appreciation for Thomas' art and his narrative abilities. I've now read nearly all of his novels, starting with his deubt, "The Cold War Swap," and so I figured I would give "The Singapore Wink" another try. I'm glad I did.
I'm not going to call it my favorite Thomas novel -- that honor is reserved for "The Fools in Town Are on Our Side" -- but it's much, much better than I recall. The protagonist/narrator is a former movie stuntman who feels guilty for causing the death of a colleague and is now selling classic cars from the 1920s and 1930s. Other characters include a spats-wearing gangster, a guy known around Washington as "Charlie the Fixer," a Mafia princess, a woman the protagonist refers to as "the Dragon Lady," a brothel-fan boat captain turned smuggler, the head of the Singapore secret servcie and a corpulent and perpetually thirsty FBI agent.
The set-up: The spats-wearing gangster and a colleague walk into the protagonist's LA car sales place and lean on him to go see Charlie the Fixer in DC. Why? Because Charlie wants to send him on an errand. He has proof that the guy the protagonist thinks he killed in Singapore -- and who is Charlie's godson -- is actually alive. And he's blackmailing Charlie.
This sets in motion a whirlwind of stories laying out everyone's background (even one explaining why the guy in the spats wears spats all the time) and eventually propelling the hero to fly to Washington and then to Singapore.
There is one single scene of casual sex but it's over pretty quickly. There's a lot of cynicism, but it seems pretty justified. The plot consists mostly of the hero being told stories that he eventually figures out are not quite true or completely false. By the end, he's battling one of the bad guys in a machete-vs-boat hook duel on board a ship, and I'm thinking my teenage self was nuts for not enjoying this book, which took me only a couple of days to read.
I've got two more Thomas novels to go before I've read them all. I am only sorry I didn't discover how much fun his work is back when I was younger.
Now that I am much older, I have a greater appreciation for Thomas' art and his narrative abilities. I've now read nearly all of his novels, starting with his deubt, "The Cold War Swap," and so I figured I would give "The Singapore Wink" another try. I'm glad I did.
I'm not going to call it my favorite Thomas novel -- that honor is reserved for "The Fools in Town Are on Our Side" -- but it's much, much better than I recall. The protagonist/narrator is a former movie stuntman who feels guilty for causing the death of a colleague and is now selling classic cars from the 1920s and 1930s. Other characters include a spats-wearing gangster, a guy known around Washington as "Charlie the Fixer," a Mafia princess, a woman the protagonist refers to as "the Dragon Lady," a brothel-fan boat captain turned smuggler, the head of the Singapore secret servcie and a corpulent and perpetually thirsty FBI agent.
The set-up: The spats-wearing gangster and a colleague walk into the protagonist's LA car sales place and lean on him to go see Charlie the Fixer in DC. Why? Because Charlie wants to send him on an errand. He has proof that the guy the protagonist thinks he killed in Singapore -- and who is Charlie's godson -- is actually alive. And he's blackmailing Charlie.
This sets in motion a whirlwind of stories laying out everyone's background (even one explaining why the guy in the spats wears spats all the time) and eventually propelling the hero to fly to Washington and then to Singapore.
There is one single scene of casual sex but it's over pretty quickly. There's a lot of cynicism, but it seems pretty justified. The plot consists mostly of the hero being told stories that he eventually figures out are not quite true or completely false. By the end, he's battling one of the bad guys in a machete-vs-boat hook duel on board a ship, and I'm thinking my teenage self was nuts for not enjoying this book, which took me only a couple of days to read.
I've got two more Thomas novels to go before I've read them all. I am only sorry I didn't discover how much fun his work is back when I was younger.
November 18, 2018
A delightful literary pleasure
Ross is unique and very special. Intricate plot, endearingly clever dialogue make all of Thomas’s novels a joy to read. Harkens back to the days when words were used subtly
Ross is unique and very special. Intricate plot, endearingly clever dialogue make all of Thomas’s novels a joy to read. Harkens back to the days when words were used subtly
April 6, 2017
What do you hope for when you pick up a mystery or thriller? A clever story built around believable conflict? Twists and turns in the plot, and surprises galore? Interesting but credible characters? A refreshing style of writing? Perhaps a dash of humor? You’ll find all that in The Singapore Wink by the late Ross Thomas, whose novels about espionage, politics, and corruption seem to display all that and more.
Not your run-of-the-mill used-car salesman
Enter Edward Cauthorne, known as Eddie. It’s late in the 1960s, and the U.S. is at war in Vietnam. Eddie, now 33 and a successful Hollywood stuntman, has left the industry and gone into partnership with a wealthy Englishman living in Los Angeles. Using the Englishman’s money, the two have opened a business to recondition and sell classic cars (“any car built prior to 1942”). Eddie is holding down the front office when a couple of thugs come in with no clear interest in cars. Instead, they want Eddie to find his long-time friend and fellow stuntman, Angelo Sacchetti. The catch is, Eddie is convinced that two years earlier he had killed Angelo when a stunt they were both involved in went horribly wrong. In Singapore. Thus opens The Singapore Wink. Shortly, the scene shifts from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, and then to Singapore, where the bulk of the action takes place.
An abundance of fascinating characters
Though he may be the most interesting of the lot, Eddie’s business partner stands out in The Singapore Wink, which is full of unique characters. Now fifty-five, Richard K. E. Trippet was not only “an Anarcho-Syndicalist in theory and a registered Democrat in practice, but he was also a naturalized U.S. citizen, a top-grade fencer, a saxophone player of merit, a specialist in medieval French, and had been, at one time or another, a captain in what he described as ‘a decent regiment,’ a racing-driver mechanic, a skiing instructor and ski lodge owner (in Aspen), and finally he was still — now — a person of ‘independent means. Grandfather made it all in Malaya, you know. . . Tin mostly.'”
However, Trippet is not alone. The novel also features two retired Hollywood stuntmen, a disheveled veteran FBI agent, the head of Singapore’s part-time security service, a greedy left-wing Singapore politician and his “Dragon Lady” daughter, plus several assorted mobsters. Together, they make for a very fine mess.
Singapore shines
The city-state of Singapore today is a beautiful and prosperous center of global trade that is characterized by world-class architecture, high-tech research facilities, and one of the world’s best-educated people. The World Bank terms the country the world’s “Easiest place to do business.” However, late in the 1960s, when the action in The Singapore Wink took place, the country had been independent of Malaysia for only two or three years, and Lee Kwan Yew, the man credited turning Singapore into an advanced nation in one generation, had yet to become Prime Minister. (That happened in 1970.) Singapore then was culturally and politically much more like other Asian nations at the time. In other words, corruption and crime flourished despite the British colonial history that had left behind a functioning legal system.
About the author
Ross Thomas died twenty years ago at the age of 69, leaving behind a body of work that included twenty-five novels and two nonfiction books. Twice he won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Not your run-of-the-mill used-car salesman
Enter Edward Cauthorne, known as Eddie. It’s late in the 1960s, and the U.S. is at war in Vietnam. Eddie, now 33 and a successful Hollywood stuntman, has left the industry and gone into partnership with a wealthy Englishman living in Los Angeles. Using the Englishman’s money, the two have opened a business to recondition and sell classic cars (“any car built prior to 1942”). Eddie is holding down the front office when a couple of thugs come in with no clear interest in cars. Instead, they want Eddie to find his long-time friend and fellow stuntman, Angelo Sacchetti. The catch is, Eddie is convinced that two years earlier he had killed Angelo when a stunt they were both involved in went horribly wrong. In Singapore. Thus opens The Singapore Wink. Shortly, the scene shifts from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, and then to Singapore, where the bulk of the action takes place.
An abundance of fascinating characters
Though he may be the most interesting of the lot, Eddie’s business partner stands out in The Singapore Wink, which is full of unique characters. Now fifty-five, Richard K. E. Trippet was not only “an Anarcho-Syndicalist in theory and a registered Democrat in practice, but he was also a naturalized U.S. citizen, a top-grade fencer, a saxophone player of merit, a specialist in medieval French, and had been, at one time or another, a captain in what he described as ‘a decent regiment,’ a racing-driver mechanic, a skiing instructor and ski lodge owner (in Aspen), and finally he was still — now — a person of ‘independent means. Grandfather made it all in Malaya, you know. . . Tin mostly.'”
However, Trippet is not alone. The novel also features two retired Hollywood stuntmen, a disheveled veteran FBI agent, the head of Singapore’s part-time security service, a greedy left-wing Singapore politician and his “Dragon Lady” daughter, plus several assorted mobsters. Together, they make for a very fine mess.
Singapore shines
The city-state of Singapore today is a beautiful and prosperous center of global trade that is characterized by world-class architecture, high-tech research facilities, and one of the world’s best-educated people. The World Bank terms the country the world’s “Easiest place to do business.” However, late in the 1960s, when the action in The Singapore Wink took place, the country had been independent of Malaysia for only two or three years, and Lee Kwan Yew, the man credited turning Singapore into an advanced nation in one generation, had yet to become Prime Minister. (That happened in 1970.) Singapore then was culturally and politically much more like other Asian nations at the time. In other words, corruption and crime flourished despite the British colonial history that had left behind a functioning legal system.
About the author
Ross Thomas died twenty years ago at the age of 69, leaving behind a body of work that included twenty-five novels and two nonfiction books. Twice he won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
January 17, 2022
I picked this author, new to me, because of the audiobook's narrator, R.C. Bray. Greatly enjoyed both the book and the narration, and will probably read more from Mr. Thomas in the near future.
Written in 1969 but not that dated, deals with crime families and extortion and murder, with a dash of used cars and thirsty FBI agents thrown in. Said that way, it sounds like Clive Cussler, but the difference is the protagonist here is no superman - he's a mostly ordinary guy (okay, he was previously a Hollywood stuntman). His job is to stagger through the various stories (and fights) provided by the other characters, eventually piecing together the real story. There are good aspects of thriller and mystery here, with a bit of cynicism and wit also.
The author served in the Philippines during WWII, and I wonder how much of his description of Nash is connected to real life. Narrator Bray had to contend with Italians and Los Angelenos, Chinese and Malay, male and female - and pulled it off well. I first heard him narrate The Martian and was hooked. It turns out he has narrated two more Ross Thomas books - The Seersucker Whipsaw and The Mordida Man. Both have goodreads ratings over 4, and both are now on my to-read list.
Back to The Singapore Wink. The female characters are fairly strong, the story is largely set in Singapore, and the characters are interesting. There are a fair amount of monologues delivered to our main character, who soaks them up to eventually distill into the true plot. The ending felt very quick to me, and it wasn't because I was turning the pages faster - Bray's pace remained constant. Recommended.
Written in 1969 but not that dated, deals with crime families and extortion and murder, with a dash of used cars and thirsty FBI agents thrown in. Said that way, it sounds like Clive Cussler, but the difference is the protagonist here is no superman - he's a mostly ordinary guy (okay, he was previously a Hollywood stuntman). His job is to stagger through the various stories (and fights) provided by the other characters, eventually piecing together the real story. There are good aspects of thriller and mystery here, with a bit of cynicism and wit also.
The author served in the Philippines during WWII, and I wonder how much of his description of Nash is connected to real life. Narrator Bray had to contend with Italians and Los Angelenos, Chinese and Malay, male and female - and pulled it off well. I first heard him narrate The Martian and was hooked. It turns out he has narrated two more Ross Thomas books - The Seersucker Whipsaw and The Mordida Man. Both have goodreads ratings over 4, and both are now on my to-read list.
Back to The Singapore Wink. The female characters are fairly strong, the story is largely set in Singapore, and the characters are interesting. There are a fair amount of monologues delivered to our main character, who soaks them up to eventually distill into the true plot. The ending felt very quick to me, and it wasn't because I was turning the pages faster - Bray's pace remained constant. Recommended.
April 27, 2016
Ross Thomas wrote a lot of novels. His books are generally categorized as either thrillers, espionage or political satire. Which makes sense since he wrote all of the above more than a time or two. However if you want to generalize you could probably cover all this writings by simply categorizing them as satires. Like a lot of writers who write or wrote numerous novels I find him a bit uneven at times. However, when he is at his best he transcends from simply entertaining to being really good.
For me this one is amongst his best. When I envision Ross Thomas writing I see this image of this tidy man hunched over a typewriter, smoking a cigarette, staring at his output with a stern face. But every once in awhile a sly grin creeps across his face as he chuckles inwardly at his wry humor understanding his readers will be soon be grinning as well. Well I really don't know anything personal about the man, it's all speculation, but I'm betting he chuckled more than a few times writing this one.
For me this one is amongst his best. When I envision Ross Thomas writing I see this image of this tidy man hunched over a typewriter, smoking a cigarette, staring at his output with a stern face. But every once in awhile a sly grin creeps across his face as he chuckles inwardly at his wry humor understanding his readers will be soon be grinning as well. Well I really don't know anything personal about the man, it's all speculation, but I'm betting he chuckled more than a few times writing this one.
February 19, 2017
I found six or seven of Thomas' books in a Purcellville used book store, 50 cents each. What a find! His books are mostly out of print, hard to find even on Amazon, at least the last time I checked. I love smoothly plotted capers, thrillers, and adventures. Thomas reliably delivers the goods. I love that neither his heroes nor his villains are masterminds thinking 5 steps ahead of everyone else; everyone just kind of blunders along, making mistakes based on limited information, just like real life; although, it goes without saying life for Thomas' characters is a touch more interesting and romantic than actual real life.
This one has satisfying levels of violence, romance, deception, treachery, and exotic locales. Let's not give away the plot; just go out and find yourself some Ross Thomas!
This one has satisfying levels of violence, romance, deception, treachery, and exotic locales. Let's not give away the plot; just go out and find yourself some Ross Thomas!
December 20, 2022
Not my favorite Thomas but more than entirely sufficient for a plane trip.
October 14, 2013
There are very few authors I re-read repeatedly; Ross Thomas is one of them. Each book is a lesson in careful craftsmanship. Reading Thomas reminds me to keep it simple but make each line interesting.
This is not one of his best, in my opinion, (the somewhat contrived plot takes a while to get off the ground) but even his weaker ones are enjoyable for the dry, ironic style. In this one, a retired Hollywood stuntman is pressured into accompanying a top mobster's daughter to Singapore (the setting nicely evoked by Thomas's gimlet eye) to deliver a message to the girl's fiance, who seems to have taken control of the rackets out there... As I said, a bit contrived. But never mind. Good clean fun ensues, with multiple slayings, betrayals, reversals of fortune and the awesome power of large amounts of dirty money.
This is not one of his best, in my opinion, (the somewhat contrived plot takes a while to get off the ground) but even his weaker ones are enjoyable for the dry, ironic style. In this one, a retired Hollywood stuntman is pressured into accompanying a top mobster's daughter to Singapore (the setting nicely evoked by Thomas's gimlet eye) to deliver a message to the girl's fiance, who seems to have taken control of the rackets out there... As I said, a bit contrived. But never mind. Good clean fun ensues, with multiple slayings, betrayals, reversals of fortune and the awesome power of large amounts of dirty money.
September 11, 2013
I'm revisiting Ross Thomas. He never disappoints. What a writer.
June 2, 2015
This was the first Ross Thomas novel I read and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to read more. Reminded me much of Elmore Leonard.
April 5, 2009
Quick reading thriller
December 4, 2022
This is a thriller with lots of angles. For anyone interested in Singapore, it provides an interesting view of the slice of life of the country just after independence. That drew me to the book, but I was also hooked by the protagonist, Ed Cauthorne, a stuntman who accidentally killed a colleague during the shooting of an action sequence and is traumatised by that event. He gets an episode of "the shakes" every day, and has had to given up that career.
Cauthorne is requested by a mafia don to trace the man who got killed in the accident... because apparently he didn't kill the man, and the don has compelling reasons for Cauthorne to be the one to go for the hunt. When Cauthorne demurs, he's made an offer he can't refuse.
What follows is a story involving spies, gangsters, a crooked politician, a strong-willed woman (the would-be wife of the man who may or may not be dead...) and a few other characters. This is atmospheric pulp fiction, with a bunch of very slick-talking people.
Does it portray Singapore well? I liked how well-researched it was, on the whole. I disagree with the premise that . It did fascinate me to read about Singapore on the cusp of its transition to a First World country. I especially liked the phrase .
Highly recommended if you're look for a fast-paced thriller that straddles a few genres and has very few boring people in it. Very well read (I listened to it on Audible), except that "Johore" doesn't have an "ee" sound at the end.
Cauthorne is requested by a mafia don to trace the man who got killed in the accident... because apparently he didn't kill the man, and the don has compelling reasons for Cauthorne to be the one to go for the hunt. When Cauthorne demurs, he's made an offer he can't refuse.
What follows is a story involving spies, gangsters, a crooked politician, a strong-willed woman (the would-be wife of the man who may or may not be dead...) and a few other characters. This is atmospheric pulp fiction, with a bunch of very slick-talking people.
Does it portray Singapore well? I liked how well-researched it was, on the whole. I disagree with the premise that . It did fascinate me to read about Singapore on the cusp of its transition to a First World country. I especially liked the phrase .
Highly recommended if you're look for a fast-paced thriller that straddles a few genres and has very few boring people in it. Very well read (I listened to it on Audible), except that "Johore" doesn't have an "ee" sound at the end.
June 30, 2025
This is a very dumb fun book. I've not come across Ross Thomas before, but I have to say that based on this novel I think I would enjoy any other of his trashy men's adventure books. I mean this book has a plot, but that's a distraction from the real business of getting our hero into as many thrillingly ridiculous situations as possible. There is some quipping, some gun play, just enough knocking boots to raise the stakes, and some delightful sneering at car culture nostalgia. The entire novel, aside from being witty and fast paced, is just shot through with the most delightful arch cynicism.
In short, it's really fun and amusing, while also being very untaxing. Why don't they write them like this anymore?
In short, it's really fun and amusing, while also being very untaxing. Why don't they write them like this anymore?
April 6, 2021
Sharp dialogue and a sympathetic hero and the exotic locale of 1960's Singapore make this book about Eddie Calthourne, ex-stunt man and now a seller of vintage cars, a lot better than many similar books currently on the market. Calthourne is forced by the Mob to track down Angelo Sacchetti, a fellow stunt-man who Eddie thought was dead, a result of a on-set accident which haunts Eddie every day. In Singapore, the Mob, the FBI, local security, and Angelo's family all put pressure on Eddie for different reasons and his life is threated more than once. Ross Thomas has a nice writing style with intelligent dialogue, so the story moves at a crisp pace as Eddie hunts down Angelo.
August 31, 2022
This is a strange little tale, set in the early 70s, I think. I was interested to read it because I lived in Singapore in the early 60s, the daughter of an Australian soldier stationed there for three years. It came across as an old-style gangster story, sort of. I did enjoy the references to places I knew in Singapore; the book even mentioned the 1964 race riots that I remember happening (I was only 10 at the time). I specifically remember that there were curfews imposed and I recall running across the street to play with my friends in their house. I don't know if my parents knew about that, but surely they must have, lol. Anyway, it is an odd story but I liked it.
February 10, 2021
I really like Ross Thomas. He's got the same problems most thriller writers from the 60s and 70s has: modern tone but also problematic. In this case, he doesn't write women very well.
That being said, this is a quick read. A former stunt man/used car salesman gets involved in a Mafia disagreement that sends him to... wait for it... Singapore.
The plot was full of twists and coincidences and ridiculous connections that don't make any sense.
Regardless, it's a fun page turner. It is a VERY QUICK read.
If you like 70s thrillers, this worth your time.
That being said, this is a quick read. A former stunt man/used car salesman gets involved in a Mafia disagreement that sends him to... wait for it... Singapore.
The plot was full of twists and coincidences and ridiculous connections that don't make any sense.
Regardless, it's a fun page turner. It is a VERY QUICK read.
If you like 70s thrillers, this worth your time.
October 22, 2023
Ross Thomas audio books! And what a great reader! This is one I haven't revisited in a verry long time, an ex-stuntman who caused the death of a fellow stuntman is now selling cars and haunted by the man's final moments, but is visited by two very nasty men because someone wants him to find the dead guy who is very much alive. Complicated things continue to happen, most of them in Singapore, where there are murders, double and triple crosses and elaborate games played for high prizes.
March 8, 2018
This is typical Ross Thomas fare. Everybody's tricky, there's plenty of action, and the plot comes to a satisfactory conclusion after not too many easy-reading pages.
Almost a five-star novel, but I reserve five stars for Jane Austen and her ilk. (I do this to preserve my reputation as a highly educated, intellectual person, and not because Austen et al are much fun to read.)
Almost a five-star novel, but I reserve five stars for Jane Austen and her ilk. (I do this to preserve my reputation as a highly educated, intellectual person, and not because Austen et al are much fun to read.)
October 5, 2023
A book about Singapore (mostly- a lot takes place in the USA) and is written in a Raymond Chandler voice. The cynical detective who has seen it all and slept with anything available. A type particularly popular in depression USA.
It’s ok. It runs along. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t climb a mountain to find the sequel.
It’s ok. It runs along. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t climb a mountain to find the sequel.
July 7, 2022
One of his best
Plenty of nasty people doing nasty things to each other. A buddy book, as many of his are. In Singapore, which he seems to know well. The bad guys are especially bad, the woman is appropriately sexy. Justice triumphs. If you don't know Thomas, start here.
Plenty of nasty people doing nasty things to each other. A buddy book, as many of his are. In Singapore, which he seems to know well. The bad guys are especially bad, the woman is appropriately sexy. Justice triumphs. If you don't know Thomas, start here.
June 22, 2025
A nice, little story, not the best by Ross Thomas but still enjoyable enough.
Different from many others of his books, which have bitter or at best sour-sweet tones, this is an overall feel-good story.
Different from many others of his books, which have bitter or at best sour-sweet tones, this is an overall feel-good story.
June 18, 2018
Always good.
There's nothing like a good Ross Thomas book. They are always tricky, the characters are amazing, and he describes Singapore so well it makes me sweat in sympathy.
There's nothing like a good Ross Thomas book. They are always tricky, the characters are amazing, and he describes Singapore so well it makes me sweat in sympathy.
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April 14, 2020I read this book.
May 18, 2020
There is only one bad thing about a Ross Thomas read: One must have a full day available to read it as one will be able to stop reading it until it is done.
August 8, 2020
Tightly plotted. Hits all detective memes. Alcohol, casual sex, revenge violence. Quick read.
December 14, 2021
A bit of a trifle from Thomas but still enjoyable.
June 12, 2024
Closer to 3.5 but Ross Thomas knows how to build a universe and populate it with unique characters.
December 23, 2021
One thing this book will definitely do is give you an opportunity to learn what spats are
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