The Silent Scream

Dan Fortune #6

by Michael Collins

book

Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Michael Collins was a Pseudonym of Dennis Lynds (1924–2005), a renowned author of mystery fiction. Raised in New York City, he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during World War II, before returning to New York to become a magazine editor. He published his first book, a war novel called Combat Soldier, in 1962, before moving to California to write for television.

Two years later Collins published the Edgar Award–winning Act of Fear (1967), which introduced his best-known character: the one-armed private detective Dan Fortune. The Fortune series would last for more than a dozen novels, spanning three decades, and is credited with marking a more politically aware era in private-eye fiction. Besides the Fortune novels, the incredibly prolific Collins wrote science fiction, literary fiction, and several other mystery series. He died in Santa Barbara in 2005.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making my way through the Dan Fortune series and while I’m not sure “Dennis Lynds” (Michael Collins’ pen name for these books) is going to improve these like I initially hoped he would after greatly enjoying book one, he’s at least showing signs that he can grow.

This is thematically similar to the other Dan Fortune novels I’ve read, and the Lew Archer ones the series inspired: the private eye gets involved in the nefarious deeds of a well-off family and has to untangle them. Unfulfilled desire is usually a catalyst for this. Only this time, the mob is involved (as it was in the first book in the series) and Collins layers the plot more than usual. The three-part act is the first to be broken down like that in the series initial six.

Handling the plot in that way, shifting the story over multiple months, trusting the reader to stay with the timeline shows narrative improvement. I was able to keep up with the story spreading over time and while the plot gets a little too complex for a paperback potboiler, Collins is able to bring it home okay even if I found the revelation of the killer to be predictable.

There’s not much more too add here because aside from those small flourishes, this is similar to every other Dan Fortune book I’ve read and I’ve enjoyed all of them to a degree, this slightly more than most. As an ersatz Archer series, it functions well for the diehard Archer fan in me. Your mileage may vary.

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silent Scream. Dennis Lynds

Treachery, greed. A world some people easily live in. Most cannot. An informer, protected who is playing both sides. Bodies are piling up. Random or is there a pattern? Dan Fortune almost loses his life trying to solve the puzzle. An imperfect world, someone is trying to make perfect. Fortune won't quit until he figures it out. Treachery, deceit even honor in a twisted way. An excellent read!! I recommend highly!

[Roxana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and enjoyable, a series I'll be on the look out for more of. I especially liked the characterizations and Dan's self-dialogues. Also, the subtle way to cross the border between being a detective and being a criminal investigator.