What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Sgt. (Insp.) Elk #5
Das Gasthaus an der Themse
Rare Book
187 pages, Broschiert
First published January 1, 1929
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
1,729 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 9, 2024
Ich mag die Krimis von Edgar Wallace. Dieses habe ich als Hörbuch gehört. Man merkt der Geschichte ihr Alter an, aber gerade das macht wohl auch den Reiz der Bücher aus.
Und sie erinnern mich an früher, als ich die alten Schwarz-/Weiß-Verfilmungen gesehen und mich schön gegruselt habe :)
Und sie erinnern mich an früher, als ich die alten Schwarz-/Weiß-Verfilmungen gesehen und mich schön gegruselt habe :)
September 2, 2017
A well-organized, unscrupulous gang of robbers is terrorizing London. They make their hit almost undetected, and before the police can scramble, they disappear into the night. Sometimes, their exploits coincide with the sightings of a mysterious and fast motor boat passing on the Thames, but no one but the Thames Police Inspector John Wade believes the two are connected...Yet his gut and his heart keep bringing him onto the doorstep of the "Mecca" club on one of the Thames's wharves. How is the club connected? And who is the beautiful, yet mysterious niece of the proprietress?
This was my favorite Edgar Wallace novel while growing up, and I'm glad to report, it didn't lose its appeal in all these years.
Fast-paced, faster than any book so far in this series, with the tempo (and danger) increasing with each passing chapter, until by the end, the plot, the characters, and the reader are hurtling toward the finish line.
The mysteries are intriguing, and so are the connections between the gang of robbers, the seemingly innocent gentleman's club, and the young girl who everybody desires for one reason or the other. There are plenty of twists, plenty of questions and loose ends, the danger is at an all-time high for the police (especially one of its inspectors), and action scenes are well-written and gripping.
As it's the norm in this series, there's a bit of romance thrown into the mix, yet it's a little more believable than in its predecessors (or maybe I'm just biased, since I love John Wade with all his charm and abundant use of endearments). What is not the norm, is the fact this book, as much as it was obviously intended primarily for a male audience, actually passes the Bechdel test...And the two ladies don't even need to be rescued from the bad guys in the end.
Fast-paced, well-plotted, with a wonderful main male character (I'm a sucker for slightly oddball characters, I guess), and an even more wonderful mystery and suspense arc.
This was my favorite Edgar Wallace novel while growing up, and I'm glad to report, it didn't lose its appeal in all these years.
Fast-paced, faster than any book so far in this series, with the tempo (and danger) increasing with each passing chapter, until by the end, the plot, the characters, and the reader are hurtling toward the finish line.
The mysteries are intriguing, and so are the connections between the gang of robbers, the seemingly innocent gentleman's club, and the young girl who everybody desires for one reason or the other. There are plenty of twists, plenty of questions and loose ends, the danger is at an all-time high for the police (especially one of its inspectors), and action scenes are well-written and gripping.
As it's the norm in this series, there's a bit of romance thrown into the mix, yet it's a little more believable than in its predecessors (or maybe I'm just biased, since I love John Wade with all his charm and abundant use of endearments). What is not the norm, is the fact this book, as much as it was obviously intended primarily for a male audience, actually passes the Bechdel test...And the two ladies don't even need to be rescued from the bad guys in the end.
Fast-paced, well-plotted, with a wonderful main male character (I'm a sucker for slightly oddball characters, I guess), and an even more wonderful mystery and suspense arc.
November 27, 2020
One if Wallace's more convoluted plots coupled with a romantic interest who's a real dum dum meant I didn't like this as much as I have others by this author. Although I was honestly surprised by the villain when he was revealed and that's unusual.
November 30, 2021
Barca înainta prin ceaţa dimineţii în josul fluviului. După cum se mişcau cele două perechi de rame, îţi puteai da seama că vâslaşii erau oameni cu experienţă. Se strecurau pe lângă malul dinspre Surrey, încercând să rămână ascunşi în umbra şalupelor ancorate.
Spre est, soarele începea să răsară. De-a lungul fluviului şi pe maluri se vedeau lumini arzând. Piaţa de peste faleză era înecată în lumină şi deasupra cheiurilor, unde se legănau cargouri în ancoră, strălucea lumina reflectoarelor.
Fluviul se trezea. Cei din barcă auzeau limpede respiraţia motoarelor, zăngănitul macaralelor, duruitul stins al lanţurilor.
Se aflau în dreptul unei şalupe lungi, cu prova orientată spre malul dinspre nord, când, pe fundalul întunecat se ivi conturul vag al unui obiect greu de definit. Primul dintre luntraşi îşi întoarse capul şi văzu o şalupă aşezată transversal pe direcţia apei. Omul lăsă vâslele şi mormăi:
― Oh! E Wade!
Din beznă se auzi o voce veselă:
― Bună, iubiţelule! Vrei s-o iei din loc?
Mânuită cu abilitate, şalupa poliţiei se lipi de barcă. Cineva făcu abordajul cu un harpon.
― Sunt eu, d-le Wade. Duceam barca la Dorlin, ca să acostăm acolo, spuse unul din vâslaşi. Avea o voce profundă şi vorbele îi erau punctate în răstimpuri cu pufnituri involuntare.
― Ce-mi văd ochii? Vocea din barca poliţiei părea să fie foarte surprinsă. Să fie chiar dl. Sughiţ în persoană? Cu ce ocazie pe aici, iubiţeilor? Faceţi sport de dimineaţă?
O lumină puternică inundă barca. Cei doi vâslaşi îşi acoperiră ochii îndureraţi.
― Se pare că avem o cutie, se auzi vocea nu tocmai prietenoasă a inspectorului John Wade. Cred c-o fi o cutie cu sticle de whisky şi să fiu al naibii dacă nu mai e încă una.
― Noi le-am găsit, numai. Pluteau pe fluviu, spuse omul pe care inspectorul îl numise Sughiţ. Eu şi cu Harry le-am pescuit.
― Le-aţi pescuit? Pot să pariez că da! Ia poftiţi puţin la noi, şi mai vioi, iubiţeilor!
Cei doi hoţi au rămas tăcuţi tot timpul drumului până la sediul poliţiei.
Spre est, soarele începea să răsară. De-a lungul fluviului şi pe maluri se vedeau lumini arzând. Piaţa de peste faleză era înecată în lumină şi deasupra cheiurilor, unde se legănau cargouri în ancoră, strălucea lumina reflectoarelor.
Fluviul se trezea. Cei din barcă auzeau limpede respiraţia motoarelor, zăngănitul macaralelor, duruitul stins al lanţurilor.
Se aflau în dreptul unei şalupe lungi, cu prova orientată spre malul dinspre nord, când, pe fundalul întunecat se ivi conturul vag al unui obiect greu de definit. Primul dintre luntraşi îşi întoarse capul şi văzu o şalupă aşezată transversal pe direcţia apei. Omul lăsă vâslele şi mormăi:
― Oh! E Wade!
Din beznă se auzi o voce veselă:
― Bună, iubiţelule! Vrei s-o iei din loc?
Mânuită cu abilitate, şalupa poliţiei se lipi de barcă. Cineva făcu abordajul cu un harpon.
― Sunt eu, d-le Wade. Duceam barca la Dorlin, ca să acostăm acolo, spuse unul din vâslaşi. Avea o voce profundă şi vorbele îi erau punctate în răstimpuri cu pufnituri involuntare.
― Ce-mi văd ochii? Vocea din barca poliţiei părea să fie foarte surprinsă. Să fie chiar dl. Sughiţ în persoană? Cu ce ocazie pe aici, iubiţeilor? Faceţi sport de dimineaţă?
O lumină puternică inundă barca. Cei doi vâslaşi îşi acoperiră ochii îndureraţi.
― Se pare că avem o cutie, se auzi vocea nu tocmai prietenoasă a inspectorului John Wade. Cred c-o fi o cutie cu sticle de whisky şi să fiu al naibii dacă nu mai e încă una.
― Noi le-am găsit, numai. Pluteau pe fluviu, spuse omul pe care inspectorul îl numise Sughiţ. Eu şi cu Harry le-am pescuit.
― Le-aţi pescuit? Pot să pariez că da! Ia poftiţi puţin la noi, şi mai vioi, iubiţeilor!
Cei doi hoţi au rămas tăcuţi tot timpul drumului până la sediul poliţiei.
November 9, 2018
I read a mass market paperback version of the book and reread it several times until it fell apart in my hands. It was bought from an old-bookstore, you see.
The book is written with the wit and wry humor typical of English writers of that era. The pacing is Fast and the author is able to show the daily drudgery of police work (enlivened by an occasional explosion or two) without losing the readers' interest. The book was first published in 1929 and for the present day reader is a good source of information on how life was on the Thames in the early decades of the twentieth century. The river itself becomes a character over the course of the book.
It will not do to read this wearing 21st century glasses. Very enjoyable as a period piece.
The book is written with the wit and wry humor typical of English writers of that era. The pacing is Fast and the author is able to show the daily drudgery of police work (enlivened by an occasional explosion or two) without losing the readers' interest. The book was first published in 1929 and for the present day reader is a good source of information on how life was on the Thames in the early decades of the twentieth century. The river itself becomes a character over the course of the book.
It will not do to read this wearing 21st century glasses. Very enjoyable as a period piece.
July 4, 2021
Klasikinis detektyvas su genialiu blogiečiu. Kiek ištemptas. Pradžioje nervino merginos “trapumas”, nors suprantu kelintais metais rašyta. Tad pabaiga, kai ji ėmėsi iniciatyvos mane patenkino. Tiesa - taip ir nesupratau patinka man šis autorius ar ne. Formatas - audio knyga rusų kalba youtube kanale.
July 16, 2021
Beach literature.
Coincidentally also filled with pedophiles.
Coincidentally also filled with pedophiles.
June 7, 2020
Безобразна. Червена кърпа, съшита с бели конци all the way
January 6, 2011
Es un libro sobre una banda de ladrones y el policía que los investiga la hace medio de Sherlock Holmes, tiene suspenso y poco a poco vas intuyendo el desenlace con las pistas, lo único que no me gustó fue que al finalizar y descubrir todos los misterios como que los cuenta muy rapido, sentí como si se le terminaba el número de páginas al escritor y dijo ay pues ahorita resuelvo todo en un capítulo jajajjaja. Es un libro entretenido.
September 10, 2014
His books are terrible! - but I have some strange affection for them. It's something to do with period pieces, it's something to do with the comedy value, it's something to do with their own little myth of a London that he produces that occasionally sends me back for a read of 2 or 3 in a quick flush of enthusiasm. having said that I've read this one 6 times - WHY?, and the Door with Seven Locks 3 times. Strange, but true - and fun.
September 8, 2013
A simply marvellous read!! Jam packed with witty dialogue , action, intrigue, great characters and complete suspense. Loved the setting, tone and feel. Would read it again any-day! So very glad its on my shelf.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews