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Mark One: The Dummy
Ed Nesbitt has a problem.
Nesbitt is the author of dozens of phenomenally successful suspense novels starring that lethal super-agent of the West, Mark Day, master of karate and aikido, and irresistible womanizer. Everyone loves his books—"So realistic," they say; "Day is so true-to-life." The problem is: he's too realistic. Everyone thinks Nesbitt is Mark Day. Even the enemy. And the enemy means to do something about it.
Which explains what the large man with the very sharp knife is doing in Nesbitt's hotel room in Berlin. Which explains why Nesbitt's luggage and possessions are being ransacked.
Which does not explain what happens the next moment, when Ed Nesbitt quite suddenly finds himself transformed into a man three inches taller, several years younger—and possessed of some of the most awesome fighting capabilities the West has ever known.
Ed Nesbitt, meet Mark Day. You're about to save your own life—in a most remarkable fashion.
Nesbitt is the author of dozens of phenomenally successful suspense novels starring that lethal super-agent of the West, Mark Day, master of karate and aikido, and irresistible womanizer. Everyone loves his books—"So realistic," they say; "Day is so true-to-life." The problem is: he's too realistic. Everyone thinks Nesbitt is Mark Day. Even the enemy. And the enemy means to do something about it.
Which explains what the large man with the very sharp knife is doing in Nesbitt's hotel room in Berlin. Which explains why Nesbitt's luggage and possessions are being ransacked.
Which does not explain what happens the next moment, when Ed Nesbitt quite suddenly finds himself transformed into a man three inches taller, several years younger—and possessed of some of the most awesome fighting capabilities the West has ever known.
Ed Nesbitt, meet Mark Day. You're about to save your own life—in a most remarkable fashion.
- GenresEspionage
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1974
7 people want to read
About the author
John Dudley Ball
87 books38 followersJohn Dudley Ball writing as John Ball, was an American writer best known for mystery novels involving the African-American police detective Virgil Tibbs. He was introduced in the 1965 In the Heat of the Night where he solves a murder in a racist Southern small town. It won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America and was made into an Oscar-winning film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier; the film had two sequels, and spawned a television series several decades later, none of which were based on Ball's later Tibbs stories. He also wrote under the name John Ball Jr..
Ball was born in Schenectady, New York, grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He wrote for a number of magazines and newspapers, including the Brooklyn Eagle. For a time he worked part-time as a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, was trained in martial arts, and was a nudist. In the mid 1980s, he was the book review columnist for Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Ball lived in Encino, California, and died there in 1988.
Ball was born in Schenectady, New York, grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He wrote for a number of magazines and newspapers, including the Brooklyn Eagle. For a time he worked part-time as a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, was trained in martial arts, and was a nudist. In the mid 1980s, he was the book review columnist for Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine. Ball lived in Encino, California, and died there in 1988.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 13, 2022
For those unfamiliar with him, John Dudley Ball was one of the best mystery & espionage writers of his time. When I was in high school (early ‘70s) my dad gave me a copy of Last Plane Out by John Ball. Definitely a 5 star book, it made me realize what a great writer he was. Mark One: The Dummy also does not disappoint (though the title sucks). Lots of action in exotic locales all around the world, Mark One: The Dummy is a short enjoyable read
September 4, 2022
This is the second book of Mr. Ball's that I read, and it was just as enjoyable as the first one. In fact is now so good that I have to go and actually buy a copy because I know I'll want to read it again.
The story revolves around a very successful espionage writer who's writing is so authentic and true to life that he is mistaken for one of his characters, Mark Day, whom because of the detail everyone believes is actually patterned after his own life because they think he is in fact a secret agent for some division of the American government.
He doesn't really help his case in denying this, because he does somewhat resemble his lead character, and having lived with the character for so long he has the ability to slip into his mindset and perform just as if he was the agent. When A woman shows up claiming to be his agents love interest, things get very interesting in that he knows very well that she's a fictional character, but she too acts just like the character he designed.
Based solely on the title I assume that Mr. Ball was planning on writing more in this series, unfortunately he never did.
This is a very interesting and fun to read book. I think it would make a very good movie, as long as Hollywood didn't present it as a "James Bondish" style of movie.
The story revolves around a very successful espionage writer who's writing is so authentic and true to life that he is mistaken for one of his characters, Mark Day, whom because of the detail everyone believes is actually patterned after his own life because they think he is in fact a secret agent for some division of the American government.
He doesn't really help his case in denying this, because he does somewhat resemble his lead character, and having lived with the character for so long he has the ability to slip into his mindset and perform just as if he was the agent. When A woman shows up claiming to be his agents love interest, things get very interesting in that he knows very well that she's a fictional character, but she too acts just like the character he designed.
Based solely on the title I assume that Mr. Ball was planning on writing more in this series, unfortunately he never did.
This is a very interesting and fun to read book. I think it would make a very good movie, as long as Hollywood didn't present it as a "James Bondish" style of movie.
May 23, 2020
Never mind method acting....method writing is amazing. From what Ed Nesbitt describes, it is almost like having Secret Agent Mark Day living in his head and occasionally stepping into his body to do truly amazing deeds. Is method writing another phrase for multiple personality syndrome?
January 21, 2013
A 1974 spy novel from John Ball, the author of the Virgil Tibbs series. The novel somewhat successfully walks the line between thriller and spoof. There are too many locales, characters and situations for them all to be taken seriously and given due consideration.
Non-series - Ed Nesbitt, author of a series of books featuring secret agent Mark Day, is on a world tour to research backgrounds. In Berlin he surprises a thief in his hotel roomand when attacked with a knife he slips into Mark Day mode and disables the thief. Later, he seems to be attracting attention as if he were actually an agent and then a beautiful woman approached him and introduces herself with the name of Mark Day's fictional girlfriend.
Non-series - Ed Nesbitt, author of a series of books featuring secret agent Mark Day, is on a world tour to research backgrounds. In Berlin he surprises a thief in his hotel roomand when attacked with a knife he slips into Mark Day mode and disables the thief. Later, he seems to be attracting attention as if he were actually an agent and then a beautiful woman approached him and introduces herself with the name of Mark Day's fictional girlfriend.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews