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Believe This... You'll Believe Anything
Out of the past comes a woman Clay Burden had loved and idolized. Believing her lost to him he married, and then finds she is married too. To him the situation presents no a double divorce and the problem is solved. But there are many complications, including hypnotism and murder.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 1975
35 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
James Hadley Chase
639 books1,007 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 23, 2022
“Believe this ... You’ll Believe Anything” has a number of stock character types and, if you’ve read a number of these types of books, you’ll probably guess some of the directions the plot takes. It has the clueless joe (Burden) who falls head over heels for a hot to trot bombshell of a secretary (Val) who promptly drops him like a hot potato. It has the sloppy woman who he settles for after Val brushes him off and shrilly cross-examines him about the millionaire’s wife “Slinky” he’s now working closely with. And the caustic controlling manipulative millionaire who couldn’t possibly be this demanding.
Nevertheless, it is quite readable and, even though you know Burden is over his head and has no idea how he’s being manipulated and what he’s in for, Chase makes it a compelling read.
Nevertheless, it is quite readable and, even though you know Burden is over his head and has no idea how he’s being manipulated and what he’s in for, Chase makes it a compelling read.
June 8, 2013
Black magic, devil reincarnation, hypnotism or just a perfect con game."Believe this - You'll believe anything" is a novel that touches all of the above mentioned topics. It is a interesting tale woven around deceit and "confidence trick".
Keeping in tradition with James Hadley Chase's style, the first act is quick, establishing all the major players of the game. The novel quickly picks up the pace and takes the reader into a a dark sinister world of the paranormal. The central conflict of the story being a hapless woman trapped in the hands of her powerful husband who seems to posses demonic powers. Its one of JHC's unique quality to make the reader eat out of the palms of his hands. He makes us believe the narration and eliminates any chance of rational thinking with his powerful punch lines and life like description. But just when you think it's predictable, comes a revelation that throws you out of your comfort zone and presents before you the shocking truth.
I find this is a great novel by JHC. It's pacy, interesting, suspenseful and ultimately touches the fine line between thriller and horror. As always, once I picked up this book I was so engrossed that it was hook line and sinker for me.
Keeping in tradition with James Hadley Chase's style, the first act is quick, establishing all the major players of the game. The novel quickly picks up the pace and takes the reader into a a dark sinister world of the paranormal. The central conflict of the story being a hapless woman trapped in the hands of her powerful husband who seems to posses demonic powers. Its one of JHC's unique quality to make the reader eat out of the palms of his hands. He makes us believe the narration and eliminates any chance of rational thinking with his powerful punch lines and life like description. But just when you think it's predictable, comes a revelation that throws you out of your comfort zone and presents before you the shocking truth.
I find this is a great novel by JHC. It's pacy, interesting, suspenseful and ultimately touches the fine line between thriller and horror. As always, once I picked up this book I was so engrossed that it was hook line and sinker for me.
July 19, 2021
One of a series of novels (Have a Change of Scene, So What Happens to Me?, Goldfish Have No Hiding Place) in which JHC centers the action around a gullible beyond belief protagonist. Here, that person is Clay Burden. They all seem to have been written with a purpose, however, intentionally experimenting with the overly credulous hero. As with the others mentioned above, you see so clearly what Clay and his buddies seem too blind to comprehend--that the women they've fallen for are using them and have serious psychological flaws or diseases. No matter. They blunder on.
In the case of Believe This . . . You'll Believe Anything, however, even realizing Clay is walking into a trap has no effect on Chase's ultimate and, yes, shocking ending. Without spoiling things, all the pieces come together as you think they will, but the revelation is still brutal and even mystifying. Once again, there is no violence until some "off screen" yells are intimated right at the very end. This was more of a horror novel than a crime or mystery thriller.
In the case of Believe This . . . You'll Believe Anything, however, even realizing Clay is walking into a trap has no effect on Chase's ultimate and, yes, shocking ending. Without spoiling things, all the pieces come together as you think they will, but the revelation is still brutal and even mystifying. Once again, there is no violence until some "off screen" yells are intimated right at the very end. This was more of a horror novel than a crime or mystery thriller.
August 1, 2016
Interesting old book but has not lost its flavour
February 12, 2024
A little bit predictable and the padding came in the form of travel agent busy work . But the plot revolved around an ape man hypnotizing his wife so of course it wasn't all bad. Oh and for those counting, it had the threat of acid being thrown in the face.
June 18, 2019
Una cosa è abbastanza certa: il giallo non fa per me, o io non faccio per il giallo :(
L'unica cosa che mi ha affascinato di questo libro, e che mi ha spinto ad andare fino alla fine, sono state le atmosfere noir che mi riportavano alla mente le grandi pellicole americane degli Anni '40 e '50. Per il resto, pur possedendo tutti gli elementi del genere - il protagonista maschile dalla vita privata tormentata, la dark lady, il villain infernale - e pur introducendone uno potenzialmente molto interessante - l'ipnotismo -, non è riuscito a darmi molti brividi.
Migliora nelle ultime 20 venti pagine, dove finalmente la narrazione acquista ritmo - lo stesso ritmo vorticoso dell'uragano che si abbatte sui protagonisti. Eppure anche il finale mi ha deluso.
Fragilino.
L'unica cosa che mi ha affascinato di questo libro, e che mi ha spinto ad andare fino alla fine, sono state le atmosfere noir che mi riportavano alla mente le grandi pellicole americane degli Anni '40 e '50. Per il resto, pur possedendo tutti gli elementi del genere - il protagonista maschile dalla vita privata tormentata, la dark lady, il villain infernale - e pur introducendone uno potenzialmente molto interessante - l'ipnotismo -, non è riuscito a darmi molti brividi.
Migliora nelle ultime 20 venti pagine, dove finalmente la narrazione acquista ritmo - lo stesso ritmo vorticoso dell'uragano che si abbatte sui protagonisti. Eppure anche il finale mi ha deluso.
Fragilino.
April 16, 2014
Just another classic piece of mastery from the one and only JHC, a storyline about a guy who falls head over heels in love with his Secretary, then 6 years later he finds her or vice versa then the black magic, voodooism, hypnotic tranches and maybe just a game of double cross. A must read for all his fanatical supporters including myself....
February 9, 2018
Dù là một cuốn tiểu thuyết được viết vào thời đại trước, câu chuyện xoay quanh Burden, Valerie và Vidal vẫn khiến mình bị lôi cuốn và hồi hộp theo từng trang viết của James Hadley Chase. Đọc tới khoảng 30% câu chuyện mình đã đoán ra được nội dung, tưởng rằng đã qua mặt được tác giả mà cuối cùng vẫn bỏ sót một chi tiết và vãn cứ bị bất ngờ như thường.
Mình rất thích những câu chuyện của JHC, giàu yếu tố hành động, kịch tính, lãng mạn và thường xoay quanh những người đàn bà đẹp mà đầy nguy hiểm. Những câu chuyện của ông thường kết thúc mở và rất súc tích, để cho người đọc tự mình thưởng thức.
Mình rất thích những câu chuyện của JHC, giàu yếu tố hành động, kịch tính, lãng mạn và thường xoay quanh những người đàn bà đẹp mà đầy nguy hiểm. Những câu chuyện của ông thường kết thúc mở và rất súc tích, để cho người đọc tự mình thưởng thức.
July 31, 2020
Black Magic. Reincarnation of Devil. Hypnotism. A perfect con game.
Loved James Hadley Chase's style. First act is quick establishing all the major players of the game. Quickly picks up the pace and takes the reader into dark sinister world of the paranormal.
Book is written in first person perspective, eyes of Clay Burden, the protagonist.
In the end, James Hadley Chase gave us readers, a relief that what we feared didn't happen and then we start believing it. We're sure that it won't happen now and then it happens.
It is hard to digest. A beautiful book by a great writer.
Loved James Hadley Chase's style. First act is quick establishing all the major players of the game. Quickly picks up the pace and takes the reader into dark sinister world of the paranormal.
Book is written in first person perspective, eyes of Clay Burden, the protagonist.
In the end, James Hadley Chase gave us readers, a relief that what we feared didn't happen and then we start believing it. We're sure that it won't happen now and then it happens.
It is hard to digest. A beautiful book by a great writer.
January 23, 2021
This is one gorgeous book in a series set in the luxurious and glamorous resort town of Paradise City (invented by the author, fictional location on the Florida coast of the US).
Interesting actions develop around one travel agency manager, a financial tycoon, the wife of this financial tycoon, who was once the secretary of that agency manager, with whom, many years later, he is still madly in love. Heavy triangle. Many tumultuous events will take place in this novel. Hey, reader! Great reading pleasure awaits you.
Interesting actions develop around one travel agency manager, a financial tycoon, the wife of this financial tycoon, who was once the secretary of that agency manager, with whom, many years later, he is still madly in love. Heavy triangle. Many tumultuous events will take place in this novel. Hey, reader! Great reading pleasure awaits you.
June 8, 2021
4,5
Es difícil hablar de por qué este es un buen libro sin hacer spoilers de su trama. A grandes rasgos, cumple con todos los puntos de la novela negra sin caer en los estereotipos clásicos. Lo cual no estaría mal, ya que es una novela del '75, también hay que leerla en ese contexto.
Es fácil de leer, es entretenida, tiene una buena historia y se nota que está pensada, que hubo un trabajo artístico por detrás. Todo lo que quiero en una novela negra.
Es difícil hablar de por qué este es un buen libro sin hacer spoilers de su trama. A grandes rasgos, cumple con todos los puntos de la novela negra sin caer en los estereotipos clásicos. Lo cual no estaría mal, ya que es una novela del '75, también hay que leerla en ese contexto.
Es fácil de leer, es entretenida, tiene una buena historia y se nota que está pensada, que hubo un trabajo artístico por detrás. Todo lo que quiero en una novela negra.
May 19, 2022
Absolutely loved it.
December 2, 2022
One of the best JHC....
May 12, 2020
Why JHC novels are so popular? As I can understand, right from the word go, story of his plot starts. Here in this novel, as the novel starts... I saw him through the glass wall… story takes off. The first important character Dyer enters in the scene. The novel is written in first person through the eyes of main character Clay Burden. Characterization is the hall mark of this novel. Rhoda is portrayed as sluttish, unorganized and lethargic wife. The character of Val is portrayed in such a way that it clearly and successfully lineate the two extremes of human nature.
November 3, 2014
This was my first encounter with Chase and will most probably be the last one as well. I found the book to be average at best. It lacked atmosphere, interesting characters and a sensible plot.
February 7, 2016
I liked it because it was very short and easy read with 2 surprises for me as I am super gullible!
July 30, 2018
Good book
August 22, 2018
It's very interesting book, I enjoyed it.
January 28, 2019
Inspiring
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews