Murder Trail

The Shadow Pulp #26

by Maxwell Grant, Walter B. Gibson

Originally published in "The Shadow Magazine," March 15, 1933.

Genres: Pulp, Mystery, Crime

159 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1933

About the author

Maxwell Grant was a pseudonym often used by Walter B. Gibson to write stories of "The Shadow".

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the twenty-sixth Shadow novel that was published in the pulp magazine (the March 15, 1933 issue), and the eighteenth from the Jove reprint series. The Shadow is returning from a European adventure via Zeppelin (very nicely depicted in the fine Steranko cover on this edition), and becomes involved in a complex mystery involving a master criminal known as Crix, several murders, and the theft of millions of dollars that were intended to benefit mankind. It's a fun (if a little dark) pulp crime story.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody is murdering millionaires who are donating to a global cause, and making off with their money. It is up to The Shadow to figure out who is doing it and how. A nice, pulpy, fast-paced mystery.

[Mh430 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Do you object to my staying here a short while?"
"Stick around," replied the inspector. "Maybe" - he paused to smile - "you may find something we've missed."
"Perhaps," observed Arnaud dryly.
In case you were wondering, yes, The Shadow does indeed have a sense of humor. He just doesn't get to show it very often because there was always another bloody-handed criminal plot popping up that the police were utterly incapable of dealing with.
Here's another example of our hero's playful side:
"Burbank did not detect the motion which occurred in the darkness behind him. His first knowledge that any one was in the room came when a smooth white hand pressed against his right wrist. Staring downward into the feeble glow that came from a switchboard light before him, Burbank caught the glimmer of a sparkling gem that seemed to flash shafts of fire. The Shadow had arrived."
If it was you or me we'd just softly clear our throats from the doorway, but hey, that's why most of us will never get to star in our own long running pulp magazine.
The novel begins with The Shadow returning from Europe where he was presumably involved in some unrecorded adventure. He is traveling back to the U. S. by zeppelin which prompts an uncharacteristic reminiscence on his part about a WWI spy mission he undertook aboard a German dirigible. Whatever our hero was doing in Europe, it seems to have - at least temporally - dampened his usually oh so reserved personality.
Anyway, despite his vast globe-spanning network of agents he stumbles onto the trail of the murderous master criminal known as Crix by merest chance. There are very few clues ("clews") to start with but that's all you need when you're blessed with the deductive reasoning of a Sherlock Holmes. Suffice it to say that once again by book's end, justice prevails. Recommended reading.

[Ryan Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Shadow novel from the grand days of 1933, when Walter B. Gibson was chugging along with the action and mystery. The Shadow is up against a mysterious killer known only as "Crix," who is moving along a chain of millionaires due to make large payments toward a philanthropic European project, murdering the donors and taking their millions as he goes. (The purpose of the project isn't clear, but it's merely a McGuffin.) Crix uses disguises and has several mobsters on his payroll, and The Shadow and his agents (prominently Harry Vincent in the first half and Cliff Marsland in the second) have to attempt to find the next link the payment chain to stop Crix from continuing his multi-million-dollar killing spree.

Gibson is top of his game here: there's plenty of bullet-spraying mayhem and The Shadow executing clever misdirections, appearing acts, and counter-plots. The final revelations and resolution holds up as well. This wouldn't be a bad first Shadow novel for a beginner; most of what makes his adventures work is here.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulp novel featuring the Shadow. Criminal mastermind Crix battles the Shadow and his team.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story opens on a dirigible. A Baron von Tollsburg is a secret guest on board the craft. He's sneaking into the U.S. He's murdered soon after he gets on the craft.

Henry Arnaud is also on the craft. He talks about World War I and being on a dirigible then. This is another of the Shadow's identities. He had noted that, during the war, he was supposed to stop the dirigible L-43 from reaching England, indicating that he was working for some military group or some secret government group.

The guy who murdered the Baron has parachuted from the craft. The Captain later discovers the body, and things Arnaud is the one who murdered the baron.

The Shadow uses his autogryo in the story. There's also a scene in the Shadow's sanctum.

Winston Collister, rich. Supposedly the Baron comes to visit him. Collister gives him $2 million to take to a Frenchman to help set up a World Court of Industry. Collister recognizes the guy is a phony, but the guy kills him and the two servants.

Arnaud shows up at Collister's. Cliff Marsland is finding out about a major crime that is to be committed.

There's a couple of Italian men involved in something, including something to do with Collister.

Cliff almost gets killed by crooks. The Shadow saves him. There's a major gun battle between the Shadow and various crooks.

A rich guy named Bosworth is visited by the fake Baron. Bosworth finds out the guy is fake and draws a gun on him. The fake guy, named Crix, kills Bosworth and takes the money.

There are two guys left in the house and a bunch of crooks comes in. They plan to kill the two guys. Crix plans another crime. A guy named Faraday is the next target.

There are 11 mobsters there at Faraday's home, plus Cliff. It turns out that Faraday is really Crix. There's another massive gun battle between the Shadow and the crooks. It seems that the entire gang and Crix were all killed; otherwise, any surviving gang member would be able out Cliff to other gangs.

This is a really good story, probably with more gun battles in it than any of the other Shadow stories I have read.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to pulp heroes there are 2 or 3 great standouts and the Shadow is one of those. The stories are fast paced and action filled. The mystery just adds to the excitement. With his army of agents to help the Shadow never lets you down for a great read. Highly recommended

[Tomi Vaisala · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 26th The Shadow pulp magazine story.