What do you think?
Rate this book
Vic Varallo Mystery #2
Run to Evil
The neighbours all said ten-year-old Paul Brandon would grow up to be a he was remarkably observant and inquisitive. But Paul doesn't grow up to be a detective; after failing to return one night, his body is found buried under a road excavation site. A tragic, unnecessary accident it seems.
But after the foreman insists that no child could move that amount of earth, Vic Varallo begins to suspect foul play and follows the leads to Paul's reticent playmate Gordon, who may have witnessed something terrible that night.
'My favourite American crime-writer' New York Herald Tribune
But after the foreman insists that no child could move that amount of earth, Vic Varallo begins to suspect foul play and follows the leads to Paul's reticent playmate Gordon, who may have witnessed something terrible that night.
'My favourite American crime-writer' New York Herald Tribune
- GenresMystery
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
6 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Dell Shannon
157 books24 followersPseudonym of Elizabeth Linington.
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
Barbara "Elizabeth" Linington (March 11, 1921 – April 5, 1988) was an American novelist. She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza. Her 1961 book, Nightmare, and her 1962 novel, Knave of Hearts, another entry in the Mendoza series, were both nominated for Edgars in the Best Novel category. Regarded as the "Queen of the Procedurals," she was one of the first women to write police procedurals — a male-dominated genre of police-story writing.
Besides crime, Linington also took interest in archaeology, the occult, gemstones, antique weapons and languages. Linington was also a conservative political activist who was an active member of the John Birch Society
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2017
“And, like most cops Varallo was not among those who disapproved of the death penalty per se — for one thing, so much more economical; but, not exactly a fair exchange, for the Brandons or for Paul. If the sentimentalists were right in saying that the death penalty was nothing more than crude revenge, well, my God, he thought, could it ever be enough revenge — for a bright ten-year-old boy?” — Varallo
Run to Evil is the second in the Vic Varallo series from the pen of the prolific Elizabeth Linington, who also wrote under the Dell Shannon, Lesley Egan, and Anne Blaisdell monikers. She was a long-time favorite crime writer of Anthony Boucher, during a period when so many of the great crime and detective writers were around. While her Luis Mendoza series was her most famous and long-running, her Vic Varallo series, and the Ivor Maddox/Susan Carstairs series were also very, very good.
The rose-loving Vic is finally moving upward — if slowly — within the Glendale Police Department. Laura is four months pregnant as this one opens, and a young precocious boy named Brandon seems to be inserting himself into the lives of everyone in the neighborhood. He can be annoying, but Linington gradually shows him to be a good kid, as both Vic and Laura become somewhat fond of him, even in his intrusiveness. And then suddenly, just as happens in real life, he’s dead. The streets of Glendale are getting an overhaul, and he’s been trapped in a hole in a tragedy. Or has he?
Vic quickly concludes it’s murder, convincing his pal Charles O’Connor, the burly Irish counterpart to Vic’s tall Northern Italian heritage, to help him find the killer of a ten year old boy. It was no wonder that Paul knew everyone’s secrets, due to his nosiness, but which secret got him killed? It would seem to have little connection to a particularly vile kidnapping and murder gone sour elsewhere, and much more to do with a coded diary in which Paul wrote things down. The code is easily cracked, revealing many suspects, too many, in fact. And then the coin is found in the hole where Paul was dumped after being murdered, and some surprises follow.
O’Connor romances a school teacher who is far from his type in this one, and what Katheryn discovers about Paul’s only friend Gordon will unearth more mystery. Linington shines as she gets into the head of both Paul and Gordon, with not a false note to be found. Other crimes are going on simultaneously as usual in a good police procedural, including some odd break-ins to the school. What can it all mean?
What it means for the reader is a solid police procedural blended with the personal lives of the cops. Vic and Laura are a nice couple, and this one’s a bit sad, but also very good. Not quite as good as The Borrowed Alibi, but a very solid four-stars for the way Linington blends the various elements of police procedural with cozy mystery, and her terrific writing. Linington loved cats, and in this one, Vic and Laura get one from Paul and name him Gideon Algernon Cadwallader! Good stuff from the early 1960s.
Run to Evil is the second in the Vic Varallo series from the pen of the prolific Elizabeth Linington, who also wrote under the Dell Shannon, Lesley Egan, and Anne Blaisdell monikers. She was a long-time favorite crime writer of Anthony Boucher, during a period when so many of the great crime and detective writers were around. While her Luis Mendoza series was her most famous and long-running, her Vic Varallo series, and the Ivor Maddox/Susan Carstairs series were also very, very good.
The rose-loving Vic is finally moving upward — if slowly — within the Glendale Police Department. Laura is four months pregnant as this one opens, and a young precocious boy named Brandon seems to be inserting himself into the lives of everyone in the neighborhood. He can be annoying, but Linington gradually shows him to be a good kid, as both Vic and Laura become somewhat fond of him, even in his intrusiveness. And then suddenly, just as happens in real life, he’s dead. The streets of Glendale are getting an overhaul, and he’s been trapped in a hole in a tragedy. Or has he?
Vic quickly concludes it’s murder, convincing his pal Charles O’Connor, the burly Irish counterpart to Vic’s tall Northern Italian heritage, to help him find the killer of a ten year old boy. It was no wonder that Paul knew everyone’s secrets, due to his nosiness, but which secret got him killed? It would seem to have little connection to a particularly vile kidnapping and murder gone sour elsewhere, and much more to do with a coded diary in which Paul wrote things down. The code is easily cracked, revealing many suspects, too many, in fact. And then the coin is found in the hole where Paul was dumped after being murdered, and some surprises follow.
O’Connor romances a school teacher who is far from his type in this one, and what Katheryn discovers about Paul’s only friend Gordon will unearth more mystery. Linington shines as she gets into the head of both Paul and Gordon, with not a false note to be found. Other crimes are going on simultaneously as usual in a good police procedural, including some odd break-ins to the school. What can it all mean?
What it means for the reader is a solid police procedural blended with the personal lives of the cops. Vic and Laura are a nice couple, and this one’s a bit sad, but also very good. Not quite as good as The Borrowed Alibi, but a very solid four-stars for the way Linington blends the various elements of police procedural with cozy mystery, and her terrific writing. Linington loved cats, and in this one, Vic and Laura get one from Paul and name him Gideon Algernon Cadwallader! Good stuff from the early 1960s.
August 10, 2017
A good mystery, thought the murder of a child is hard. Vic Varallo and his wife are expecting their first child. Laura quits work to await the blessed event (still in the wings by the end of the book) and meets Paul, a charming if inquisitive neighbor boy of about 10. Paul knows everyone's business in the neighborhood and that knowledge gets him killed. As Vic and his colleague O'Connor work frantically to find the killer. This is a problem because everyone seems to have an important secret.
A note of joy does slip in. O'Connor, chaser of short curvy blonds, falls hard for tall, slim, dark Katharine Mason. Hopefully, that romance will continue in the upcoming books.
A note of joy does slip in. O'Connor, chaser of short curvy blonds, falls hard for tall, slim, dark Katharine Mason. Hopefully, that romance will continue in the upcoming books.
November 22, 2022
Such a sad story.
Want to read
January 30, 2020Synopsis: what got Brandon, the neighbourhood kid, killed asks Vic Varallo, a member of the Glendale Police Department.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews