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The Devil Wears Wings
A Novel. Whittington does the best sheer story-telling since the greatest days of the detective pulps.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
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About the author
Harry Whittington
179 books42 followersHe also wrote under the names Ashley Carter, Harriet Kathryn Myers, and Blaine Stevens, Curt Colman, John Dexter, Tabor Evans, Whit Harrison, Kel Holland, Suzanne Stephens, Clay Stuart, Hondo Wells, Harry White, Hallam Whitney, Henri Whittier, J.X. Williams.
Harry Whittington (February 4, 1915–June 11, 1989) was an American mystery novelist and one of the original founders of the paperback novel. Born in Ocala, Florida, he worked in government jobs before becoming a writer.
His reputation as a prolific writer of pulp fiction novels is supported by his writing of 85 novels in a span of twelve years (as many as seven in a single month) mostly in the crime, suspense, and noir fiction genres. In total, he published over 200 novels. Seven of his writings were produced for the screen, including the television series Lawman. His reputation for being known as 'The King of the Pulps' is shared with author H. Bedford-Jones. Only a handful of Whittington's novels are in print today.
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Harry Whittington (February 4, 1915–June 11, 1989) was an American mystery novelist and one of the original founders of the paperback novel. Born in Ocala, Florida, he worked in government jobs before becoming a writer.
His reputation as a prolific writer of pulp fiction novels is supported by his writing of 85 novels in a span of twelve years (as many as seven in a single month) mostly in the crime, suspense, and noir fiction genres. In total, he published over 200 novels. Seven of his writings were produced for the screen, including the television series Lawman. His reputation for being known as 'The King of the Pulps' is shared with author H. Bedford-Jones. Only a handful of Whittington's novels are in print today.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2022
Originally published in 1960, later reissued in 1987 by Black Lizard, Whittington’s The Devil Wears Wings has all the attitude you want from a novel of this time period. Buz Johnson is a down on his luck former Major who now works in a small Gulf Coast Florida town teaching whoever how to fly. He has to take it from his boss Smiling Jimmy because no one else will have him and his drinking problem. It’s all sour and going nowhere for Buz, a fact that Whittington’s writing captures so well. He has Judy in the wings (so to speak), but they’re no good together and he wants no one else.
In walks a fine solution to his problems, a mysterious gentleman who could be a CIA operative or some other black ops crew. Someone has been watching Buz and sizing him up. What follows is not a spy versus spy adventure, but a bank caper that somehow is so complicated that it involves stealing two planes and getting away with the dough with no one the wiser. It’s a Three Stooges kind of robbery though far more than Jesse James.
It’s a caper story with great characterization and buildup, but has quite a bit of comic relief among the clamor of the robbery.
In walks a fine solution to his problems, a mysterious gentleman who could be a CIA operative or some other black ops crew. Someone has been watching Buz and sizing him up. What follows is not a spy versus spy adventure, but a bank caper that somehow is so complicated that it involves stealing two planes and getting away with the dough with no one the wiser. It’s a Three Stooges kind of robbery though far more than Jesse James.
It’s a caper story with great characterization and buildup, but has quite a bit of comic relief among the clamor of the robbery.
December 18, 2024
One of the very best noir novels I’ve ever read. Halfway through the book the suspense becomes so unbearable that it is hard to keep turning the pages. Whittington has yet to receive the full recognition he deserves for his many books—over 150 of them—and their fine quality.
Basically, an alcoholic pilot, a war hero, is down on his luck. He is coerced into taking part in a bank robbery. The trick in this case is to take a legitimate plane from the airfield, go to another airfield and steal a second plane, rob the bank, then ditch the plane used in the robbery and head home in the original plane. His accomplice is a devious character that never sits quite right as you read the pages. As this is a noir novel, everything turns out differently than planned. The tension throughout the book is nerve-cracking.
Basically, an alcoholic pilot, a war hero, is down on his luck. He is coerced into taking part in a bank robbery. The trick in this case is to take a legitimate plane from the airfield, go to another airfield and steal a second plane, rob the bank, then ditch the plane used in the robbery and head home in the original plane. His accomplice is a devious character that never sits quite right as you read the pages. As this is a noir novel, everything turns out differently than planned. The tension throughout the book is nerve-cracking.
October 1, 2025
War hero and decorated flyer decides to rob a bank with a shifty partner. This story being a crime noir, the ending isn't going to be pretty. Satisfying read in the genre.
November 2, 2025
My first read for Noirvember 2025 is....The Devil Wears Wings by Harry Whittington (1960, 168 pgs., 1st edition free e-copy at Internet Archive) is a reread for me...and...is my favorite noir by Whittington. It's a well written page turner full of suspense & action from beginning to end about a 30-something-down-his-luck-alcoholic who is a pilot instructor barely keeping his job. He's approached by a wild, wild rich kid who talks him into a heist/caper involving the use of an airplane. Like the best noirs, you just know all is going to go bad from the very start....This book is a ton-o-fun, give it a read...4.5 outta 5.0...-Ok, why did I round down to 4.0 instead of up to 5.0? I've noticed after reading a number of Whittington's novels over the years that he has a bad habit of adding an irrelevant last paragraph or final sentence to sign off the book...The Devil Wears Wings is no different. I'm talking about the last three sentences beginning with "But then I put the whole thing...". I just found it off and the ending could have done without that very last bit....-Also, I really like the book cover of the hard-back 1st edition. Again, an e-copy is available for free at Internet Archive...https://archive.org/details/devilwear...
August 29, 2022
The critical recognition of Harry Whittington came late (probably sponsored by French connisseurs) but in the end what matters is his legacy. And his legacy is good. Authentic and genuine like his contemporaries from the fifties John D. MacDonald, Gil Brewer, Charles Williams, or Lionel White among others. Here Whittington dives into the universe of above-mentioned White (Heist / Hold Ups) to tell the story of an air pilot with a past as a war-veteran who is hired for a bank robbery. Losers, alcoholism, violence, and of course interior monologues and criminal psychology combined with prose in the purest hard-boiled style make an appearance in a well-paced and well-run novel, although it may extend too much in the narrative that convents during the robbery.
Whittington proved to be not only one of the most prolific authors but also one of the most versatile. This novel may not be on the same level as the excellent Forgive me killer (1956) but it is a good novel that I recommend.
Whittington proved to be not only one of the most prolific authors but also one of the most versatile. This novel may not be on the same level as the excellent Forgive me killer (1956) but it is a good novel that I recommend.
January 23, 2020
I liked it very much. Fast paced and very cinematic. You could nearly see the film they could have made of this.
The characterization, specially of Buzz, is very well done, a few brushes and you get the sense of who the person is and where they are heading.
Because for me it become very clear that there was no salvation for Buzz. It did not matter if the Plan went well or not, he is doomed.
The only thing that I would complain about is the girl. I mean every time we see her she is crying. I do not know, I may be reading too much into this. But I would have liked to see more why Buzz fell in love with her and I am finding it difficult to believe it was because she cried
The characterization, specially of Buzz, is very well done, a few brushes and you get the sense of who the person is and where they are heading.
Because for me it become very clear that there was no salvation for Buzz. It did not matter if the Plan went well or not, he is doomed.
The only thing that I would complain about is the girl. I mean every time we see her she is crying. I do not know, I may be reading too much into this. But I would have liked to see more why Buzz fell in love with her and I am finding it difficult to believe it was because she cried
February 7, 2015
Surprisingly moving for a Noir paperback pulp of 1960. Certainly compelling!
August 18, 2017
well-paced. O.K. plot.
December 27, 2012
Bank heist and pilots.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews