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The Seven Clues
The impossible puzzle…
Norris Jordan uncovers a fiendish plot and is about to give evidence to the British Government - but on his return to England he is murdered.
Having anticipated this, however, he has concealed his evidence within an elaborate series of riddles, each leading to a scrap of vital information; the first going to his friend, Peter Clayton.
Aided by the head of the Secret Service, Clayton struggles to solve the riddles - but the duo soon find that their very lives are at stake as the plotters try to silence them...
Gerald Verner (1897-1980) was the pseudonym of British writer John Robert Stuart Pringle. Born in London, Verner wrote more than 120 novels that have been translated in over 35 languages, and many of his books have been adapted into films, radio serials and stage plays. Verner also wrote forty-four Sexton Blake tales.
Norris Jordan uncovers a fiendish plot and is about to give evidence to the British Government - but on his return to England he is murdered.
Having anticipated this, however, he has concealed his evidence within an elaborate series of riddles, each leading to a scrap of vital information; the first going to his friend, Peter Clayton.
Aided by the head of the Secret Service, Clayton struggles to solve the riddles - but the duo soon find that their very lives are at stake as the plotters try to silence them...
Gerald Verner (1897-1980) was the pseudonym of British writer John Robert Stuart Pringle. Born in London, Verner wrote more than 120 novels that have been translated in over 35 languages, and many of his books have been adapted into films, radio serials and stage plays. Verner also wrote forty-four Sexton Blake tales.
Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
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About the author
Gerald Verner
118 books21 followersGerald 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 3, 2022
As far as I can make out, Verner wrote only two novels featuring Michael Dene, Head of the British Secret Service.Dene is riddled with class prejudice, and imbued with confidence in his own minor abilities, in a way that is wholly unamiable.
One would wonder how Britain had managed to survive the political machinations of the 1930s, if one were to believe that those protecting it were as amateurish and incompetent as pictured here.
Had the story been well-written and -plotted, much might have been forgiven: after all, this is no more than escapist tosh. But the writing is not good and the protagonists stumble from one unexciting cliffhanger to the next "perilous" situation, thanks to the seven clues of the title.
Foreign scientists, lonely old houses, poison gas, bombs, and greedy international financiers bent on World Domination, all feature. Despite all this, it was curiously tepid.
2.5 stars.
One would wonder how Britain had managed to survive the political machinations of the 1930s, if one were to believe that those protecting it were as amateurish and incompetent as pictured here.
Had the story been well-written and -plotted, much might have been forgiven: after all, this is no more than escapist tosh. But the writing is not good and the protagonists stumble from one unexciting cliffhanger to the next "perilous" situation, thanks to the seven clues of the title.
Foreign scientists, lonely old houses, poison gas, bombs, and greedy international financiers bent on World Domination, all feature. Despite all this, it was curiously tepid.
2.5 stars.
June 20, 2024
Ex-journalist Peter Clayton is visited late at night by Norris Jordan who disappeared ten years ago, fearing for his life after discovering a worldwide plot. He informs Clayton he has sent seven friends each a part of the plot. Then the shooting starts.
An enjoable thriller
(Originally published in 1936)
An enjoable thriller
(Originally published in 1936)
December 11, 2024
But did they find the gold?
Characters were well described as were the countryside and the locations where the action took place. Sadly I reached the phrase "The End" before the end of the story. Who has the gold?
Characters were well described as were the countryside and the locations where the action took place. Sadly I reached the phrase "The End" before the end of the story. Who has the gold?
January 24, 2025
It was a good read.
This is a British mystery worth the read
This is a British mystery worth the read
July 29, 2019
Books from the pulp-era days can be fun, interesting, and sometimes as good as more recent works. I found MURDER IN MANUSCRIPT by Gerald Verner rather enjoyable. Unfortunately, I did not find THE SEVEN CLUES as good.
The plot seemed rather mechanical – a series of “clues” written in verse hidden in objects left with a variety of persons – that are intended to be difficult but which are easily solved. The characters are rather thin, including Michael Dene, who apparently is intended to be one of England’s top agents.
The writing is also rather off-putting; the writer seems infatuated with adverbs. For example:
“Oh, my head!” he murmured huskily
She stared up at him fearfully.
…on which an oil lamp burned smokily.
In many places the exposition is awkward. For example:
grasping the handle he breathed a fervent hope that the door would not be locked. As it turned out it was not, and he slipped into the room.
This can lead to some unintentionally humorous dialogue:
“The question is,” continued Dene, when they were once more in the cool little sitting-room, “how much did the fellow overhear?”
“That,” said Colgate-Jones, “depends on how long he was there.”
One might, however, cut the writer some slack, because the book in many ways was kind of fun. The difference between the two Verner books might be writer’s experience. THE SEVEN CLUES was originally published in 1936 and MURDER IN MANUSCRIPT in 1963.
The plot seemed rather mechanical – a series of “clues” written in verse hidden in objects left with a variety of persons – that are intended to be difficult but which are easily solved. The characters are rather thin, including Michael Dene, who apparently is intended to be one of England’s top agents.
The writing is also rather off-putting; the writer seems infatuated with adverbs. For example:
“Oh, my head!” he murmured huskily
She stared up at him fearfully.
…on which an oil lamp burned smokily.
In many places the exposition is awkward. For example:
grasping the handle he breathed a fervent hope that the door would not be locked. As it turned out it was not, and he slipped into the room.
This can lead to some unintentionally humorous dialogue:
“The question is,” continued Dene, when they were once more in the cool little sitting-room, “how much did the fellow overhear?”
“That,” said Colgate-Jones, “depends on how long he was there.”
One might, however, cut the writer some slack, because the book in many ways was kind of fun. The difference between the two Verner books might be writer’s experience. THE SEVEN CLUES was originally published in 1936 and MURDER IN MANUSCRIPT in 1963.
July 22, 2018
This is the worst book yet that I have read from this author. Given the massive economic repercussions to the UK in particular and to the world in general as well as the gravity of the situation, how can such a delicate and sensitive matter be left in the hands of bumbling amateurs (the presence of Dene notwithstanding)? There is the constant laxity in manner and lack of preparedness in terms of their own security and welfare given the number of times any one of them have been hurt by their encounters with the criminals (one would even think that they have become familiar to one another since they keep on meeting every time a clue is uncovered). They do not even exhibit a modicum of wariness or a certain degree of caution or a small amount paranoia. Once bitten twice shy and all that? This one sucks.
P.S. ` I stopped reading after the 3rd clue. The degree of carelessness and stupidity shown by the main characters have reached beyond Annoyance level. I do not recommend this for anyone.
P.S. ` I stopped reading after the 3rd clue. The degree of carelessness and stupidity shown by the main characters have reached beyond Annoyance level. I do not recommend this for anyone.
February 28, 2022
Brilliant
This is one of the most brilliantly written crime thrillers. It's absolutely outstanding and I am madly in love with this book. It had me completely hooked right from the beginning until the end. I was actually sorry to see it end. It's so gripping that you can't afford to put it down. It is actually like watching a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster. I am already raving about it like a crazy fan. Author Gerald Verner deserves a standing ovation for his efforts.
This is one of the most brilliantly written crime thrillers. It's absolutely outstanding and I am madly in love with this book. It had me completely hooked right from the beginning until the end. I was actually sorry to see it end. It's so gripping that you can't afford to put it down. It is actually like watching a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster. I am already raving about it like a crazy fan. Author Gerald Verner deserves a standing ovation for his efforts.
March 13, 2022
The style of this book is like 13 episode serial from the 1940s movie theaters. Fun and lighthearted.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews