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Don Micklem #1
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Sudden death lurks along the canals of Venice.
That's what Don Micklem, millionaire American playboy on the trail of a disappearing one-time British agent, discovered the hard way. Had his quarry been murdered - or had he committed treason?
Micklem's adventures, his fight against a ruthless political organisation and his narrow escapes from violent death, all set against a taut background of Venice's sinister waterways, make a deep-freeze chiller of a book.
That's what Don Micklem, millionaire American playboy on the trail of a disappearing one-time British agent, discovered the hard way. Had his quarry been murdered - or had he committed treason?
Micklem's adventures, his fight against a ruthless political organisation and his narrow escapes from violent death, all set against a taut background of Venice's sinister waterways, make a deep-freeze chiller of a book.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
59 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
James Hadley Chase
645 books1,005 followersRené Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.
In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.
Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.
In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.
Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 3, 2020
Mission to Venice
"Mission to Venice" is a 1954 Cold War British espionage novel. It's filled with fast-paced action and a thrilling chase through the canals of Venice and across Western Europe. One interesting twist that Chase plays is that the main character is not your classic spy, but a multimillionaire who travels with a butler. Sort of as if Bruce Wayne traveled on business with a stocky fearless Alfred in tow.
"Mission to Venice" is a 1954 Cold War British espionage novel. It's filled with fast-paced action and a thrilling chase through the canals of Venice and across Western Europe. One interesting twist that Chase plays is that the main character is not your classic spy, but a multimillionaire who travels with a butler. Sort of as if Bruce Wayne traveled on business with a stocky fearless Alfred in tow.
September 15, 2020
The setting is interesting,the waterways of Venice,Italy.But when Chase writes about espionage,he is not at his best.
Millionaire American Don Miklem is on the trail of a one time British agent,who has disappeared.Has he been murdered or has he committed treason ?
Miklem fights against a ruthless organization and evades death,but this is at best a lukewarm thriller.
Millionaire American Don Miklem is on the trail of a one time British agent,who has disappeared.Has he been murdered or has he committed treason ?
Miklem fights against a ruthless organization and evades death,but this is at best a lukewarm thriller.
March 10, 2021
A departure from what Chase had been writing up until this book, Mission to Venice is an espionage thriller. Another story with a Euro-setting, it, like other similar Chase works initially published under the Raymond Marshall pseudonym, takes the opportunity to experiment and veer from Chase's usual style and content. It's not quite as bloody as the usual Chase work, although there are some highly descriptive fistfights, and, surprisingly, the only letdown in the novel comes at the end, where Chase's trademark shock finale sort of lingers into a bit of nothing.
Otherwise, there are two major influences at work, here. First, this book is strikingly similar to Eric Ambler's spy thrillers of the 1930s. The same sort of escapes that Ambler used, crossing frontiers with an international conspiracy of spies in the wake of the hero, Don Micklem, and a confusing femme fatale whose relation to her spy brother seems taken from Ambler's Zaleshoff and Tamara in Cause for Alarm, which was also set in Italy and involved a network of Communist spies!
Of course, no direct mention of Communist or Communist spies is ever made in Chase's novel, but it's clear that that is the counterforce Micklem must face. Which also brings me to the other major influence, or inspiration, for the novel. That concerns the presence of a dangerous mole in the upper echelons of the British government and spy services. In pursuing this them, Chase is following the headlines of his day, with the story of Burgess and MacLean, the British diplomats who defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
At any rate, this is a fast paced action thriller, which never slows down. It even makes use of a relatively new technological tool, the helicopter, which Chase calls a "hover plane." It was just in the postwar period that helicopters were being mass produced and appearing on the scene. They were still a novelty, I suppose, in 1954, when this novel was published, because Chase and his characters seem almost stunned with them.
Otherwise, there are two major influences at work, here. First, this book is strikingly similar to Eric Ambler's spy thrillers of the 1930s. The same sort of escapes that Ambler used, crossing frontiers with an international conspiracy of spies in the wake of the hero, Don Micklem, and a confusing femme fatale whose relation to her spy brother seems taken from Ambler's Zaleshoff and Tamara in Cause for Alarm, which was also set in Italy and involved a network of Communist spies!
Of course, no direct mention of Communist or Communist spies is ever made in Chase's novel, but it's clear that that is the counterforce Micklem must face. Which also brings me to the other major influence, or inspiration, for the novel. That concerns the presence of a dangerous mole in the upper echelons of the British government and spy services. In pursuing this them, Chase is following the headlines of his day, with the story of Burgess and MacLean, the British diplomats who defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
At any rate, this is a fast paced action thriller, which never slows down. It even makes use of a relatively new technological tool, the helicopter, which Chase calls a "hover plane." It was just in the postwar period that helicopters were being mass produced and appearing on the scene. They were still a novelty, I suppose, in 1954, when this novel was published, because Chase and his characters seem almost stunned with them.
December 28, 2017
I picked this book based on my friend's suggestion, and it's not a bad book to begin 2017. The Don Micklem's character will be something I will carry along with me. He felt like a hybrid between James Bond and Bruce Wayne. I might have appreciated it more if I would have read this some 7 - 8 years ago, may be then I was more receptive of such a narrative, nevertheless reading it still thrilled me
May 2, 2016
As far as I am concerned, one of the greatest ever thrillers ever written; Chase at the very height of his stirring powers. Don Micklem, Harry, Guissepe representing "good" whilst a charming young man and his beautiful sister very much represent "evil". The only thing to say is that if one loves exciting brilliant works, this is it!!
January 6, 2024
ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο.447
ΑΝΑΤΟΜΙΑ ΕΝΟΣ ΦΟΝΟΥ
Συγκίνηση με διακατείχε όταν μετά από αρκετές δεκαετίες ξανάπιασα στα χέρια μου βιβλίο του Τζαίημς Τσαίηζ και τον διάβασα αστραπιαία. Όπως ακριβώς διαβαζόταν τότε, στη χρυσή εποχή που μεσουρανούσε στα περίπτερα: απνευστί.
Ολοκληρωμένη άποψη, παρουσίαση, κριτική και σκέψεις/σχόλια μπορείτε να βρείτε στην ομάδα* μας στο facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
*Goodreads μετάβαση
Όταν πρωτογνώρισα το goodreads, εντυπωσιάστηκα!
Ήταν η Μetropolis του βιβλίου.
Τόσα δεδομένα μαζεμένα δεν είχα ξαναδεί.
Το είπα "μεγάλη δεξαμενή".
Σε σχέση με τα φόρουμ της εποχής, τούτο ήταν κάτι διαφορετικό. Δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα να γράψεις κακή κριτική για όποιο βιβλίο δεν σου άρεσε. Ήταν εύχρηστο, αντικειμενικό, φιλικό. Και ο χρήστης δεν ένιωθε την ανάσα των λειτουργών (operators) και των ιδιοκτητών (admins) να τον ελέγχουν και να τον παρατηρούν σαν άλλοι big brothers.
Από τότε πέρασαν πολλά χρόνια. Κύλησε πολύ νερό στον μύλο, μεγαλώσαμε μαζί του.
Άρχισε να γερνάει. Να δείχνει κάποιες ατέλειες και αδυναμίες. Νέα χαρακτηριστικά σε νέους ιστότοπους έρχονταν να το υπερκεράσουν.
Πόσες φορές, θυμάμαι, με είχε απασχολήσει ένα θέμα εδώ. Αλλά το μόνο "εργαλείο" αλληλεπίδρασης των χρηστών είναι τα mail μεταξύ φίλων. Έστελνα κι εγώ, λοιπόν, ομαδικές επιστολές. Όπου θάμουν ευτυχής αν έπαιρνα απάντηση σε μία από κάθε δέκα που έστελνα. Είναι φανερό. Οι περισσότεροι αρέσκονται στο να λαμβάνουν μόνο. Να διαβάζουν κριτικές, να μην γράφουν δικες τους, να μη συμμετέχουν σε απορίες χρηστών ή καλέσματα φίλων.
Αλλά για να γράψω εγώ και να μοντάρω κάποιες σκέψεις μου για ενα βιβλίο που μόλις διάβαζα, χρειαζόμουν ένα ολόκληρο απόγευμα. Άνισο δεν νομίζετε;
Κάπως έτσι...
Αποφάσισα κι εγώ να μεταφέρω τις κριτικές μου και τα σχόλια, σιγά σιγά σε ομάδες στο διαδίκτυο. Ξεκινώντας από το facebook. Ψάχνοντας την αμεσότητα, την ανοιχτή συζήτηση. Την συμμετοχή όσων μας ενώνει το κοινό μας χόμπυ.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
ΑΝΑΤΟΜΙΑ ΕΝΟΣ ΦΟΝΟΥ
Συγκίνηση με διακατείχε όταν μετά από αρκετές δεκαετίες ξανάπιασα στα χέρια μου βιβλίο του Τζαίημς Τσαίηζ και τον διάβασα αστραπιαία. Όπως ακριβώς διαβαζόταν τότε, στη χρυσή εποχή που μεσουρανούσε στα περίπτερα: απνευστί.
Ολοκληρωμένη άποψη, παρουσίαση, κριτική και σκέψεις/σχόλια μπορείτε να βρείτε στην ομάδα* μας στο facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
*Goodreads μετάβαση
Όταν πρωτογνώρισα το goodreads, εντυπωσιάστηκα!
Ήταν η Μetropolis του βιβλίου.
Τόσα δεδομένα μαζεμένα δεν είχα ξαναδεί.
Το είπα "μεγάλη δεξαμενή".
Σε σχέση με τα φόρουμ της εποχής, τούτο ήταν κάτι διαφορετικό. Δεν υπήρχε πρόβλημα να γράψεις κακή κριτική για όποιο βιβλίο δεν σου άρεσε. Ήταν εύχρηστο, αντικειμενικό, φιλικό. Και ο χρήστης δεν ένιωθε την ανάσα των λειτουργών (operators) και των ιδιοκτητών (admins) να τον ελέγχουν και να τον παρατηρούν σαν άλλοι big brothers.
Από τότε πέρασαν πολλά χρόνια. Κύλησε πολύ νερό στον μύλο, μεγαλώσαμε μαζί του.
Άρχισε να γερνάει. Να δείχνει κάποιες ατέλειες και αδυναμίες. Νέα χαρακτηριστικά σε νέους ιστότοπους έρχονταν να το υπερκεράσουν.
Πόσες φορές, θυμάμαι, με είχε απασχολήσει ένα θέμα εδώ. Αλλά το μόνο "εργαλείο" αλληλεπίδρασης των χρηστών είναι τα mail μεταξύ φίλων. Έστελνα κι εγώ, λοιπόν, ομαδικές επιστολές. Όπου θάμουν ευτυχής αν έπαιρνα απάντηση σε μία από κάθε δέκα που έστελνα. Είναι φανερό. Οι περισσότεροι αρέσκονται στο να λαμβάνουν μόνο. Να διαβάζουν κριτικές, να μην γράφουν δικες τους, να μη συμμετέχουν σε απορίες χρηστών ή καλέσματα φίλων.
Αλλά για να γράψω εγώ και να μοντάρω κάποιες σκέψεις μου για ενα βιβλίο που μόλις διάβαζα, χρειαζόμουν ένα ολόκληρο απόγευμα. Άνισο δεν νομίζετε;
Κάπως έτσι...
Αποφάσισα κι εγώ να μεταφέρω τις κριτικές μου και τα σχόλια, σιγά σιγά σε ομάδες στο διαδίκτυο. Ξεκινώντας από το facebook. Ψάχνοντας την αμεσότητα, την ανοιχτή συζήτηση. Την συμμετοχή όσων μας ενώνει το κοινό μας χόμπυ.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1267229...
May 15, 2017
It's been a good read.
Sudden passing sneaks along the channels of Venice ...
That is the thing that Don Micklem, tycoon American playboy on the trail of a vanishing one-time British operator, finds the most difficult way possible. Has his quarry been killed or has he submitted treachery? It's been a mystery.
Against the scenery of Venice's vile conduits, Micklem must battle a savage political association while confronting the possibility of a brutal passing every step of the way.
Sudden passing sneaks along the channels of Venice ...
That is the thing that Don Micklem, tycoon American playboy on the trail of a vanishing one-time British operator, finds the most difficult way possible. Has his quarry been killed or has he submitted treachery? It's been a mystery.
Against the scenery of Venice's vile conduits, Micklem must battle a savage political association while confronting the possibility of a brutal passing every step of the way.
April 13, 2015
Doublecross, danger all around, sinister alleys, spies with cloaks and daggers, damsels in distress, thugs and goons, gun shots and a chase till the end. There you have it, the classical James Hadley Chase story. Never mind the skimpily clad cover girls of his novels, if other thriller authors write page turners Mr Chase writes paragraph turners or better still sentence turners.
December 17, 2020
What a thriller this was, so majestically written by Chase and, in a way, entertaining until the very last page. The story develops between London and Venice mainly, but the characters will travel a bit across the North of Italy as well. It was impossible to guess what was going to happen next, and this made this book really enjoyable. Looking forward to reading another book by Chase.
December 19, 2025
70's action novels and movies are a vibe and I love it. This one is everything there is to love about a typical classic action/spy novel. I honestly did enjoy the plot, the characters, the twists, ate it all right up! However
-1⭐️ because all these businessmen seem to be directly and personally involved in state secrets and espionage. Micklem's employees are so committed to their jobs they are absolutely thrilled at the chance to risk their lives for their employer's secret cause and every single character is expertly trained in hand to hand combat.
-1⭐️ because everyone who isn't beautifully athletically fit is described as morbidly obese with multiple chins. Not sure if this is also a 70's thing.
But these are my only 2 complaints. It truly was a super fun book to read
-1⭐️ because all these businessmen seem to be directly and personally involved in state secrets and espionage. Micklem's employees are so committed to their jobs they are absolutely thrilled at the chance to risk their lives for their employer's secret cause and every single character is expertly trained in hand to hand combat.
-1⭐️ because everyone who isn't beautifully athletically fit is described as morbidly obese with multiple chins. Not sure if this is also a 70's thing.
But these are my only 2 complaints. It truly was a super fun book to read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2017
I liked this book, it was a fun read. The whole chase and following the characters, where will they go, what will they do. It was fun.
But I'd say it was nothing more than fun. I'd personally add a little bit of depth to the characters and their relationships. Maybe some more history to Micklem and Tyler. I'd also add a little bit of boredom to Don's life, so that when he gets the offer it is something exciting he wants to do. Although honestly, I did get a little sense of that throughout the book. That maybe this whole thriller took place just because those people were bored and wanted to play hunting games.
But I'd say it was nothing more than fun. I'd personally add a little bit of depth to the characters and their relationships. Maybe some more history to Micklem and Tyler. I'd also add a little bit of boredom to Don's life, so that when he gets the offer it is something exciting he wants to do. Although honestly, I did get a little sense of that throughout the book. That maybe this whole thriller took place just because those people were bored and wanted to play hunting games.
August 30, 2025
Just like this noir novels should be. Exciting, something happens all the time, and not complicated. The book is the first in the Don series (I think) and something in his character was not totally to my liking. But still an entertaining book to read.
June 9, 2018
Enjoyable reading for a relaxing weekend.
July 29, 2019
The usual stuff
Read
June 27, 2020I love this book
December 28, 2020
Suspense suspense and suspense, Quite a good read.
January 9, 2021
A nice classic and pure James Hadley Chase.. very easy to read.
March 15, 2021
Simple detective story but very atmospheric. I read it being in Venice so I'm sure it affected my impression.
July 23, 2025
It was 2016. The Kolkata Book Fair was decked up with Bolivian banners, dampened by drizzle, and thick with the smell of wet earth and books. Somewhere between a stall selling Gabriel García Márquez box sets and a Mouchak mishti stand, I found Mission to Venice—a sun-warped, yellowing copy. James Hadley Chase. No fancy cover, just that familiar name punching out from the pulp.
Back home, the first chapter snapped like a matchstick. Steve Harmas, a journalist with more grit than tact, stumbles into a tale of espionage, betrayal, and political hush-hush in post-war Europe.
It isn’t his best work—but it’s classic Chase: noir-tinted cynicism, punchy one-liners, girls with dangerous secrets, and men who shoot before they think. Venice isn’t romantic here; it’s misty, sinister, full of shadows that watch you back. The Cold War backdrop crackles like old vinyl.
Was it predictable? Maybe. Did I care? Nope.
Because in 2016, surrounded by literary theory and syllabi, I needed a story that just moved. Chase delivered. That Mission to Venice became my nightly escape—an antidote to academic fatigue and the overthought. That year, I didn’t just read a book; I remembered why thrillers thrill.
Sometimes, a soggy Book Fair bag holds more than pages. It holds portals. This one took me to Venice, via 1960s pulp. No regrets. Only bullets and fog.
Back home, the first chapter snapped like a matchstick. Steve Harmas, a journalist with more grit than tact, stumbles into a tale of espionage, betrayal, and political hush-hush in post-war Europe.
It isn’t his best work—but it’s classic Chase: noir-tinted cynicism, punchy one-liners, girls with dangerous secrets, and men who shoot before they think. Venice isn’t romantic here; it’s misty, sinister, full of shadows that watch you back. The Cold War backdrop crackles like old vinyl.
Was it predictable? Maybe. Did I care? Nope.
Because in 2016, surrounded by literary theory and syllabi, I needed a story that just moved. Chase delivered. That Mission to Venice became my nightly escape—an antidote to academic fatigue and the overthought. That year, I didn’t just read a book; I remembered why thrillers thrill.
Sometimes, a soggy Book Fair bag holds more than pages. It holds portals. This one took me to Venice, via 1960s pulp. No regrets. Only bullets and fog.
Read
March 22, 2013It's been a long while since I read any of his books and I believe some of the covers have changed quite a bit over the years but I remember feeling on top of the world with all the details and suspence. Mr.Chase was a master of action and suspence because with each chapter he clearly over analyzes his characters and the situations they are in, as if at some time in his life he was actually that person or wrtting it down straight from the source's mouth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
Don Micklem lived only in two books of the magnificent Mr. James Chase, but how brightly he lived for two books :-) An unforgettable literary character. This is the first work of those two books in which the wife of his front-line comrade turns to Don Micklem, one of the richest Englishmen, for help. Her husband is missing. He went to Italy and disappeared. Everyone refuses to help her in finding her husband, but Don goes in search of the missing in Venice...
January 20, 2010
Good book with Malik and Co
January 30, 2019
a fascinating book with great pace and wide canvas
February 25, 2022
Exhilarating Book.
You can book it down until the last page. Too good. I am just shocked they haven't made movies out of this.
You can book it down until the last page. Too good. I am just shocked they haven't made movies out of this.
June 22, 2011
ending was awesome...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews