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Inspector West #6
Battle for Inspector West
Inspector Roger (‘Handsome’) West of Scotland Yard has to deal with a millionaire who is being blackmailed, a kidnapped bride who is threatened with the horrors of an international vice racket and an utterly evil gangster from whose clutches no one is safe. This is a nightmare battle that he must win.
The Author: Born in Surrey, England, into a poor family as seventh of nine children John Creasey attended a primary school in Fulham, London, followed by The Sloane School. He did not follow his father as a coach maker, but pursued various low-level careers as a clerk, in factories, and sales. His ambition was to write full time and by 1935 he achieved this, some three years after the appearance of his first crime novel ‘Seven Times Seven’.
From the outset, he was an astonishingly prolific and fast writer, and it was not unusual for him to have a score, or more, novels published in any one year. Because of this, he ended up using twenty eight pseudonyms, both male and female, once explaining that booksellers otherwise complained about him totally dominating the ‘C’ section in bookstores. They included:
Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, JJ Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton and Jeremy York.
As well as crime, he wrote westerns, fantasy, historical fiction and standalone novels in many other genres. It is for crime, though, that he is best known, particularly the various detective ‘series’, including Gideon of Scotland Yard, The Baron, The Toff, and Inspector Roger West, although his other characters and series should not be dismissed as secondary, as the likes of Department ‘Z’ and Dr. Palfrey have considerable followings amongst readers, as do many of the ‘one off’ titles, such as the historical novel ‘Masters of Bow Street’ about the founding of the modern police force.
With over five hundred books to his credit and worldwide sales approaching one hundred million, and translations into over twenty-five languages, Creasey grew to be an international sensation.
He travelled widely, promoting his books in places as far apart as Russia and Australia, and virtually commuted between the UK and USA, visiting in all some forty seven states.
As if this were not enough, he also stood for Parliament several times as a Liberal in the 1940’s and 50’s, and an Independent throughout the 1960’s. In 1966, he founded the ‘All Party Alliance’, which promoted the idea of government by a coalition of the best minds from across the political spectrum, and was also involved with the National Savings movement; United Europe; various road safety campaigns, and famine relief.
In 1953 Creasey founded the British Crime Writers’ Association, which to this day celebrates outstanding crime writing. He won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his novel ‘Gideon’s Fire’ and in 1969 was given the ultimate Grand Master Award.
There have been many TV and big screen adaptations of his work, including major series centred upon Gideon, The Baron, Roger West and others. His stories are as compelling today as ever, with one of the major factors in his success being the ability to portray characters as living – his undoubted talent being to understand and observe accurately human behaviour.
John Creasey died at Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1973.
The Author: Born in Surrey, England, into a poor family as seventh of nine children John Creasey attended a primary school in Fulham, London, followed by The Sloane School. He did not follow his father as a coach maker, but pursued various low-level careers as a clerk, in factories, and sales. His ambition was to write full time and by 1935 he achieved this, some three years after the appearance of his first crime novel ‘Seven Times Seven’.
From the outset, he was an astonishingly prolific and fast writer, and it was not unusual for him to have a score, or more, novels published in any one year. Because of this, he ended up using twenty eight pseudonyms, both male and female, once explaining that booksellers otherwise complained about him totally dominating the ‘C’ section in bookstores. They included:
Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, JJ Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton and Jeremy York.
As well as crime, he wrote westerns, fantasy, historical fiction and standalone novels in many other genres. It is for crime, though, that he is best known, particularly the various detective ‘series’, including Gideon of Scotland Yard, The Baron, The Toff, and Inspector Roger West, although his other characters and series should not be dismissed as secondary, as the likes of Department ‘Z’ and Dr. Palfrey have considerable followings amongst readers, as do many of the ‘one off’ titles, such as the historical novel ‘Masters of Bow Street’ about the founding of the modern police force.
With over five hundred books to his credit and worldwide sales approaching one hundred million, and translations into over twenty-five languages, Creasey grew to be an international sensation.
He travelled widely, promoting his books in places as far apart as Russia and Australia, and virtually commuted between the UK and USA, visiting in all some forty seven states.
As if this were not enough, he also stood for Parliament several times as a Liberal in the 1940’s and 50’s, and an Independent throughout the 1960’s. In 1966, he founded the ‘All Party Alliance’, which promoted the idea of government by a coalition of the best minds from across the political spectrum, and was also involved with the National Savings movement; United Europe; various road safety campaigns, and famine relief.
In 1953 Creasey founded the British Crime Writers’ Association, which to this day celebrates outstanding crime writing. He won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his novel ‘Gideon’s Fire’ and in 1969 was given the ultimate Grand Master Award.
There have been many TV and big screen adaptations of his work, including major series centred upon Gideon, The Baron, Roger West and others. His stories are as compelling today as ever, with one of the major factors in his success being the ability to portray characters as living – his undoubted talent being to understand and observe accurately human behaviour.
John Creasey died at Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1973.
- GenresMystery
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1948
About the author
John Creasey
721 books79 followersAKA Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Margaret Lisle, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J.J. Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York, Henry St. John Cooper and Margaret Cooke.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 16, 2019
Fast paced crime thriller starring Inspector West of Scotland Yard. Smart, good looking, and modern, West is faced with a nightmare scenario of blackmail, kidnapping and death, in a battle against his old adversary Carosian. Can West find him and put a stop to Carosian's actions before it's too late? Who is behind it all? Read the book and find out!
May 17, 2020
A short, quick read that is packed with action and incident. It starts with a wedding and finishes up on the London docks as Inspector West tracks a master criminal.
Creasey knew how to tell a story with economy and a crisp style, and while his thumbnail portraits of characters don't have a lot of depth they remain remarkably effective.
Creasey knew how to tell a story with economy and a crisp style, and while his thumbnail portraits of characters don't have a lot of depth they remain remarkably effective.
June 25, 2020
Here's the kind of diabolical sociopathic criminal that Roger is up against:
'Oh no,’ protested Carosi calmly. ‘That is not true. I get no pleasure out of hurting your friend Fingleton. It just does not matter. If I could get all I want without it, I would not trouble to cause any man or woman pain, but sometimes it is the only way. But to get pleasure—no. I simply do not care.'
'Oh no,’ protested Carosi calmly. ‘That is not true. I get no pleasure out of hurting your friend Fingleton. It just does not matter. If I could get all I want without it, I would not trouble to cause any man or woman pain, but sometimes it is the only way. But to get pleasure—no. I simply do not care.'
June 24, 2023
First book I have read by John Creasey...although he has so many pseudonyms, I might have read other mysteries by him.
I enjoyed the story although I wish Carosi had been killed ....now that he is alive, perhaps he will outwit the police again.
I liked Inspector West (Handsome) and Christine, Michael Grant's new bride. Story was easy to read and follow.
I enjoyed the story although I wish Carosi had been killed ....now that he is alive, perhaps he will outwit the police again.
I liked Inspector West (Handsome) and Christine, Michael Grant's new bride. Story was easy to read and follow.
July 20, 2022
3.5
Solid mystery
Solid mystery
May 19, 2023
Not for me. Didn’t like any of the characters and the plot was over the top.
September 21, 2024
I happened upon this by accident and really liked it. Published in 1949 so it is totally of its time with equality, sexism and modern-day issues unknown to the modern reader, it could be an alarming read but if you accept that it is a 1940s work it is an easy read/listen. Crimes happen, the baddie is a criminal who addresses people politely and all of the characters are stereotypes. It is of another world and time and, though the story stretches one's credulity, it is interesting to read about this other world. I would definitely read another one in this series.
2.9.24. Listened to this again and heartily endorse my first review. Just wish I could get hold of some more of these fascinating peeps into a bygone time.
2.9.24. Listened to this again and heartily endorse my first review. Just wish I could get hold of some more of these fascinating peeps into a bygone time.
March 12, 2015
I have not liked previous Inspector West books, but continue to hear how fine they are so I gave this one a try. It is anything but fine.
The villain seems continued from an earlier book or books, so reading that (those?) first may have helped, but that would not overcome the limpness of the characters, the improbabilities in the story, or the fact that Creasey blows up yet another house. This is a mannerism he really must overcome, though it is a bit late for that now.
The villain seems continued from an earlier book or books, so reading that (those?) first may have helped, but that would not overcome the limpness of the characters, the improbabilities in the story, or the fact that Creasey blows up yet another house. This is a mannerism he really must overcome, though it is a bit late for that now.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews