The Red Blot

The Shadow Pulp #31

by Maxwell Grant (Pseudonym)

Genres: Pulp

Paperback

Published June 1, 1933

About the author

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

Reviews

[Henry Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in the June 1st, 1933 issue of The Shadow, this story features a super-crook gangster directing a group of hardened, murderous mobsmen through a series of brazen crimes. Each time the criminals miraculously disappear capture, even when the police surrounded them.

This early Shadow is unusual as it has The Shadow acting alone, the primary protagonist in the tale, rather than relying on a proxy hero or his agents. Harry Vincent turns in a report off-stage, and Burbank gets a couple of lines, but that's the extent of it.

Detective Joe Cardona is on hand about three-quarters of the way through the novel, overshadowed (if you'll pardon the pun) by a new hotshot detective by the name of Merton Hembroke. In addition, the rest of the usual NYC PD notables are here: Commissioner Weston, Det. Sgt. Markham, and Inspector Timothy Klein.

One odd thing early on is the introduction of a minor crook called 'Spider' Carew. Gibson refers to him frequently as Spider, and it always brought to mind their publishing competitor's Shadow analogue, The Spider. I wondered if this was a tongue-in-cheek jab at this new character, with the Spider petrified of The Shadow. But the first Spider magazine hit the stands in October 1933, so this was just a strange coincidence.

All-in-all, a fun gangland tale from the annals of The Shadow.

[Brian Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love coming across these classic pulp stories and cracking them open to find their plots just as explosively propulsive as ever. I love how just the slimmest of threads in the beginning is woven into a skein of crime for the Shadow to solve.

[Margeaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read but not an outstanding entry on the series.

[Jeff J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pulp novel featuring The Shadow. Yet another criminal mastermind arises in New York City. Much chaos ensues.

[Jeff Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew the new detective was a baddie as soon as he was introduced. The story was a three-star, but the dialog and gangster monikers bumped it up a notch.

[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

[Ronald]

read some time in 2007