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Frank Terrell #2

Khamosh Tajorian / خاموش تجوریاں

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In the millionaire’s playground of Paradise City, the sinister Ticky Edris is planning the perfect heist. It’s taken him years to set up a bank robbery in broad daylight, and with only two accomplices needed: a smooth con man and a smart beautiful blonde. As Ticky’s plan gets put into action, luck is on his side, but as people start dying and disappearing, detective Tom Lepski picks up the trail. Suddenly, Ticky’s plan is in danger, and if there is one thing he didn’t count on, it was the personalities of the very people who are most vital to his plan.

180 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1965

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About the author

James Hadley Chase

673 books1,021 followers
René Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.

In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.

During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.

Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.

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5 stars
150 (30%)
4 stars
186 (37%)
3 stars
140 (28%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for W.
1,185 reviews4 followers
February 23, 2021
Ticky Edris,the dwarf and Phil Alger,the conman devise a plan to rob one of the safest banks in the world.They have a beautiful blonde as an accomplice.They'll stop at nothing,not even multiple murder.

A junkie call girl is murdered,and so is her school girl daughter.Her father is the vice president of the bank.

Then,detective Tom Lepski gets on their trail.Non stop action,plenty of thrills.

Chase at his best.
4.5 stars
Profile Image for Crime Addict Sifat.
177 reviews96 followers
July 24, 2017
In the mogul's play area of Paradise City, the evil Ticky Edris is arranging the ideal heist. It's taken him years to set up a bank theft without trying to hide, and with just two associates required: a smooth extortionist and a savvy lovely blonde. As Ticky's arrangement gets put enthusiastically, fortunes is his ally, yet as individuals begin kicking the bucket and vanishing, analyst Tom Lepski gets the trail. All of a sudden, Ticky's arrangement is in risk, and if there is one thing he didn't rely on, it was the identities of the very individuals who are most crucial to his arrangement.
Profile Image for Paul Cornelius.
1,069 reviews45 followers
December 18, 2020
These J. Hadley Chase novels are mesmerizing. Filled with anachronisms, cultural malapropisms, and a checklist of situations and passages that must have offended people left and right, even back in 1965, when The Way the Cookie Crumbles appeared. First, what's the deal with meat pies? No meat pies in America! And you couldn't fly to Cuba from the US in 1965. What's a trafficator? Not in the US. It's one thing after another. And James Hadley Chase doesn't care! It's wonderful.

Meanwhile, this story is a masterpiece at showing how criminal minds unravel along with their plans and plot. No heroes, here. And the protagonist doesn't even clearly emerge until the third or fourth chapter. This is really good stuff.
Profile Image for Dr.Javed Rasheed.
168 reviews14 followers
March 16, 2026
I think this is the second book of James Hadley Chase that I read in 1973. The Way the Cookie Crumbles (1965) by James Hadley Chase is a fast-paced thriller set in "Paradise City," involving a meticulously planned bank robbery by the cunning dwarf Ticky Edris. ( this character stands out in my memory ) The heist goes wrong, leading to murder and deception, while detective Tom Lepski follows a trail of complicated, often treacherous relationships and unforeseen human failures.
Ticky Edris recruits a smooth con man and a beautiful woman to help him rob a bank in broad daylight.
The plan fails because of the unexpected actions and personalities of those involved, not for lack of planning.
Detective Tom Lepski works to piece together the evidence as people die and disappear.
Themes: The book focuses on greed, moral decay, and the inevitability of consequences when criminals make mistakes, as
This novel is noted for its tension and character-driven suspense, typical of Chase's work. I would give the book 4 stars !
Dr. Javed Rasheed
Profile Image for Nagesh C.S..
Author 9 books26 followers
September 18, 2013
This is a typical Chase theme with lots of planning , impersonation and double cross with greed and murder thrown in.
The ending is a little predictable as Chase believed in good over evil type climaxes. The titles are the main attractions is Chase books..This and "the paw in the bottle", "try this one for size", "have a change of scene" etc as examples..All with curious and attractive titles!..This one: "The way the cookie crumbles " means 'the way things worked out or panned out' in normal usage.

Where this novel distinguishes itself from others is the human element in the heroine character, who gets transformed mentally coming from a hard criminal background to a comfortable and loving warmth of family as a part of the story.
All in all...a good read on a lazy evening
Profile Image for Κώστας.
200 reviews43 followers
May 25, 2021
Τρεις αδίστακτοι κακοποιοί συνεργάζονται για να κλέψουν μια τράπεζα. Ξεκινά με σφίξιμο στο στομάχι λόγω ενός αποτρόπαιου εγκλήματος, ασυνήθιστο για Τσαίηζ, συνεχίζει ευχάριστα με πίτσα, κόκα κόλα και ηλεκτρονικό υπολογιστή (ενώ βρισκόμαστε στο 1965!) και αναμένεται ένα συναρπαστικό δεύτερο μισό.
Η έχθρα μεταξύ των κακοποιών, μια μέλλουσα περιπλοκή και το γενικό αδιέξοδο που πλανάται είναι μερικά από τα δυνατά χαρτιά.

Υπάρχει ένα θεματάκι με τα περισσότερα βιβλία του J.C.
Δεν μπόρεσα ποτέ να βάλω ένα φρένο όταν τα ξεκινάω. Συνήθως αρχίζω έχοντας τη σκέψη να ασχοληθώ με την ανάγνωση κάποιες συγκεκριμένες ώρες. Τι πλάνη! Το κουμάντο τόχει αποκλειστικά ο συγγραφέας.
Μοιραία συμπαρασύρονται όλες οι δουλειές πίσω κι αυτό κάθε άλλο παρά ευχάριστο είναι σε μια απαιτητική καθημερινότητα. Ευτυχώς που στην συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση το "θύμα" ήταν ο πολυφημισμένος S.King(!) με το βιβλίο που είχα ήδη ξεκινήσει. Η νυσταλέα "νεκρή ζώνη" του με ώθησε στην "απιστία" και θάναι επιτυχία αν επιστρέψω τελικά.
Συμπερασματικά, συνιστώ πολλή προσοχή σε όσους τύχει κάποια στιγμή να ξεκινήσουν κάποιο έργο του. Νάχουν όσο χρόνο χρειάζεται για να το τελειώσουν επειδή ο Τσαίηζ θα τους κρατήσει όμηρους μέχρι το τέλος. Οι ιστορίες του είναι ξεμυαλίστρες!

ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο. 916
Μετάφραση: Τασσώ Καββαδία
Profile Image for Subhajit  Pal.
11 reviews3 followers
December 22, 2020
This is my 4'th Hadley Chase thriller. I haven't seen this much emotion in his thriller previously. The more story advanced, my feelings was growing for Ira. The transformation of her character is huge. And if I talk about Ticky Edris, oh man!! He is the sinister little figure of evil. He resembles a smaller version of Michael Scofield [from Prison Break]. Obviously in a negative way. Seriously I've never seen such dedication of a character towards money. His plan was "sweetest set up for the Big Take ever dream up" i.e. perfect. In one conversation with Algir he said "I'll wait two more years if I have to to get this perfect". These two character really amazed me. And about Jess - I hate him. Algir was okay, but I surprised to see how could a con-man like him have a short temper? I wished for a happy ending, but that's not Hadley Chase's thing. Every deed has a consequence. In that way, it was a perfect end. Overall it's a really good thriller.
Profile Image for Mahduk.
30 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2025
Fairly fast-paced detective novel. Like watching an old '70s episode of Mannix or something. I have a feeling the primary points of purchase were airport book stores back in the day. It was a fun, pulpy read that I would recommend. However, be sure to bring your suspension of disbelief.
1 review
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June 19, 2022
This is rubbish why can't I read it
Profile Image for Emmanuel Wallart.
150 reviews
August 28, 2023
A machiavelivic dwarf imagine the perfect plan to rob the safest bank. But the cookie will crumble... One of JHC best stories.
Profile Image for Selva.
55 reviews
January 30, 2021
ஓர் குள்ளன் (டிக்கி எட்ரிஸ்) தன் சுயநலத்திற்காக பேங்கை கொள்ளையடிக்க திட்டமிடுகிறான். அதற்கு துணையாக திடகாத்திரமான வாலிபனையும் (அல்கிர்), துடுக்குத்தனமான அழகிய இளம்பெண்ணையும் (ஐரா) சேர்த்துக் கொள்கிறான். திட்டமிட்டபடி கொள்ளை நடக்கும் சமயம் இளம்பெண் பரிசுத்தமான தந்தை(மெல் டிவோன்) பாசத்தால் மனமாறுகிறாள். மேலும் இந்த கொள்ளைகாக குள்ளன் தன் அக்காவையும் (முரியல் மார்ஷ் டிவோன்) தன் அக்கா பெண்ணையும் (நொரீனா) கொன்றிருப்பது தெரிந்ததும் முழுமையாக பின்வாங்கி விடுகிறாள்.
துப்பு துலக்கி போலீஸ் அவர்களை நெருங்கிய போது அல்கிரை குள்ளன் கொன்றிருந்தான். ஐரா தன் தந்தையாக ஏற்று கொண்டிருந்த அக்கா கணவருக்கு மன்னிப்புக்கோரி உருக்கமான கடிதத்தை எழுதி வைத்துவிட்டு கடலில் இறங்கி மூச்சிருக்கும் வரை நீந்தி கொண்டிருந்தாள்.
Profile Image for Al-amin Zanna.
28 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2010
"This hansome con-man Phil Agri his wholly no faith bcos the way he kill Norena the daughter of the vice president of the bank but Ticky Edris, the mis-shapen dwarf he's the one initiate the plan and by the end Beigler and Hess told him "you made plans; you played your cards right, then some slope spoils it all." Ticky Edris said half aloud " It's the way the cookie crumbles"
66 reviews6 followers
November 22, 2013
This is another ripper of JHC, Ticky, a dwarf, Philly, a handsome con man, a crafty plan to rob the safest bank in the world. Add in a junkie prostitute, her school girl daughter her father the vice president of the bank, When they all come together in a millionaires playground the plot gets trickier by the chapter and you just can't stop reading;
341 reviews22 followers
July 23, 2012
This is one of Chase's best...
Profile Image for Sylvia .
123 reviews9 followers
September 5, 2016
One of my all time favorites of James Hadley Chase. Engaging and fast paced...thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Rabeea.
66 reviews34 followers
May 2, 2016
Read it as a child. One of his best. Story of an intelligent con.
Profile Image for jaroiva.
2,133 reviews56 followers
October 4, 2018
Zezačátku se mi to moc nezdálo, ale postupně se případ rozběhl do pěkných obrátek. Jsem ráda i za trochu otevřený konec.
Myslím, že budu mít dalšího oblíbeného detektivního autora.
Profile Image for Daniele.
189 reviews
December 16, 2020
A compelling story
Chase's knowledge of the American society in the past is quite extensive and he proves it once again with this thriller placed in Paradise City, Florida, a city that he invented.
Profile Image for Hafsat Ibraheem.
60 reviews21 followers
January 2, 2026
This was my first James Hardley Chase novel and it's funny looking back at how I got to read it
Profile Image for Sola.
1 review2 followers
Read
October 3, 2017
They don't tell em like they ysed to.
1 review
March 16, 2018
It makes a good reason not go out on a wishful thinking....on a very serious not, being a bank robber is no child game.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews