The Token

Trevor Lowe #8

by Gerald Verner

Four murders in just over a month, and not the ghost of a clue as to who has committed them.

Except that in each case a little silver bell was left on the body of the victim. Under pressure from all quarters, Detective-Inspector Shadgold seeks the help of his friend Trevor Lowe, the famous criminologist. But Lowe has nothing to go on either. Until he is approached by terrified film star Gloria Swayne, who reveals that the first victim of the silver bell killer had been her secret fiancée...

Gerald Verner (1897-1980) was the pseudonym of British writer John Robert Stuart Pringle. Born in London, Verner wrote more than 120 novels that have been translated in over 35 languages, and many of his books have been adapted into films, radio serials and stage plays. Verner also wrote forty-four Sexton Blake tales.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Gerald Verner is one of the pseudonyms used by John Robert Stuart Pringle, who was born in Streatham, London, on 31 January 1897.

In his early writing days he used the name Donald Stuart, under which name he wrote 44 stories for the Sexton Blake Library as well as six stories for Union Jack and three for the Thriller magazine. In addition he wrote two stage plays, 'Sexton Blake' and 'The Shadow', two films, 'The Man Outside' (1933) and 'The Shadow' (1933) under the Stuart name. Later a number of his books were adapted for radio serials, stage plays and films.

He became a hugely successful thriller writer, producing more than 120 novels that were translated in 35 languages. The Duke of Windsor was a big Verner fan and at one time he was presented with 15 volumes specially bound.

Heavily influenced by Edgar Wallace, he wrote extensively for magazines such as Detective Weekly, the Sexton Blake Library, Union Jack and The Thriller. He also adapted Peter Cheyney's 'Meet Mr Callaghan' and Agatha Christie's 'Towards Zero' for the stage.

He also used the pseudonyms Thane Leslie, Derwent Steele and Nigel Vane.

He died at Broadstairs, Kent, of natural causes on 16 September 1980.

Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all started with the death of an actor. A small silver bell was found on his body. Less than a month later there were three more deaths. When Lowe got back from holiday he becomes part of the investigation. But the deaths continued.
An entertaining historical mystery
(Originally published in 1937)

[Roy Kenagy]

RK KINDLE

Trevor Lowe #1-11
The Complete Trevor Lowe Series
Gerald Verner

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are very easy to read if you can ignore some of the author's irritating writing habits, principally his foreshadowing of developments in the plot. The reader also has to be prepared to suspend credulity on many occasions, for instance Trevor Lowe is allowed to break the law by not revealing vital information to Scotland Yard. This usually lets him or his secretary blunder into more danger and another victim to be killed.

The plot is not difficult to fathom and the killer was easy to spot.

[Sheridan Miles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely terrible novel.
I did not like the writing style at all.
Very disappointed.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another really good book and another one I didn't guess 'who dun it'.