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Vic Malloy #2
Figure it out for Yourself
Serena Marshland was the fourth richest woman in the world, and looked every inch the part - a cold, diamond-hard beauty with eyes of steel. When her husband was kidnapped and held on half a million dollars ransom, she hired Vic Malloy, the toughest private-eye in the business, to hand over the money to the kidnappers.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1950
12 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
James Hadley Chase
646 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 11, 2022
In modern times, this thriller will be frowned upon becoz of the free-flowing booze throughout the storyline. The thrill of chase is intact but the plot is relatively thin compared to the other Malloy novels. Too many coincidences and too many lucky escapes make it a bore in some places. Overall average read.
April 8, 2021
Vic Malloy is Back
"Figure It out For Yourself," published in 1950, was the second of three Vic Malloy detective novels that Chase put out. Set in "Orchid City," Chase offered his usual geographic confusion by locating this burg outside of Coral Gables, Florida, surrounded by San Diego highway and desert foothills. Interestingly, Malloy has a secretary named Paula just like another of Chase's detectives, Dave Fenner.
This one's got kind of a wild and confusing plot line, but if you stick with it, you'll get to an exciting and exhilarating finish. Starting with the kidnapping of the new husband of the world's fourth richest woman, Chase rescues damsels in distress from stinking drug dealers, planted evidence, reefer wars, and being bound in a cave and stalked by a wild animal. And all that's without mentioning the gunfights, the knife fights, and the unexpected.
"Figure It out For Yourself," published in 1950, was the second of three Vic Malloy detective novels that Chase put out. Set in "Orchid City," Chase offered his usual geographic confusion by locating this burg outside of Coral Gables, Florida, surrounded by San Diego highway and desert foothills. Interestingly, Malloy has a secretary named Paula just like another of Chase's detectives, Dave Fenner.
This one's got kind of a wild and confusing plot line, but if you stick with it, you'll get to an exciting and exhilarating finish. Starting with the kidnapping of the new husband of the world's fourth richest woman, Chase rescues damsels in distress from stinking drug dealers, planted evidence, reefer wars, and being bound in a cave and stalked by a wild animal. And all that's without mentioning the gunfights, the knife fights, and the unexpected.
November 24, 2020
Mi-a plăcut mai mult decît primul Vic Malloy.
Read
November 20, 2024 My Rating: 3.75
Opening Sentence: One hot June afternoon I was witting in my office at peace with the world, and conscious that the world was, for a change, at peace with me, when Paula put her dark, lovely head around the door to shatter my pipe dream.
What it's about: Vic Malloy had his life saved on a job and promises the man his services for free anytime he needs it. A few days later the man gets framed for murder and Vic finds himself in the middle of a strange and multi-layered plot with shady players at every turn.
This was fun. It felt like the perfect example of a classic Chase book where the plot keeps you on edge and guessing and you still don't get all the facts right. The one thing this book can't be accused of is having weak female characters. Every character felt grounded and forceful. Each had a stronghold and played their part well. The fact that Vic Malloy didn't sleep with any of them pushes my admiration for both the women and Malloy himself further.
According to Goodreads this is the 2nd Vic Malloy book which is good because this is a character I would like to see again. I don't know exactly what he really does, for the sake of this story we can say he was an amateur detective, I have the feeling he does whatever you ask of him. Also I really liked his train of thought. He thinks funny, for example:
The bell sounded shrill and urgent and startled me, probably because, up to now, the cabin had been as still and as silent as a poor relation at a wedding.
Kerman and I spent hours at Police Headquarters being questioned and cross-questioned by a furious, purple-faced fist-pounding Brandon and later by two quiet Federal agents who took us apart, laid us on the desk, poked us about with long inquisitive fingers, and weren't over-fussy how they put us together again.
My yells for help would be as futile as a short-tempered man trying to slam a revolving door.
That last one really had me laughing when I imagined it. Vic had a way of stating things that made me glad to be in his head. Apart from which his assistants, Paula and Kerman, were also good for giving out a few laughs.
One random thing I am beginning to notice from my month of reading James Hadley Chase novels is that everyone smokes in his stories. It's not even questioned. Any time two characters sit down together, male or female, they share a cigarette with each other without hesitation. That's pretty cool if you ask me. People aren't that cool anymore. Wish they were.
Opening Sentence: One hot June afternoon I was witting in my office at peace with the world, and conscious that the world was, for a change, at peace with me, when Paula put her dark, lovely head around the door to shatter my pipe dream.
What it's about: Vic Malloy had his life saved on a job and promises the man his services for free anytime he needs it. A few days later the man gets framed for murder and Vic finds himself in the middle of a strange and multi-layered plot with shady players at every turn.
This was fun. It felt like the perfect example of a classic Chase book where the plot keeps you on edge and guessing and you still don't get all the facts right. The one thing this book can't be accused of is having weak female characters. Every character felt grounded and forceful. Each had a stronghold and played their part well. The fact that Vic Malloy didn't sleep with any of them pushes my admiration for both the women and Malloy himself further.
According to Goodreads this is the 2nd Vic Malloy book which is good because this is a character I would like to see again. I don't know exactly what he really does, for the sake of this story we can say he was an amateur detective, I have the feeling he does whatever you ask of him. Also I really liked his train of thought. He thinks funny, for example:
The bell sounded shrill and urgent and startled me, probably because, up to now, the cabin had been as still and as silent as a poor relation at a wedding.
Kerman and I spent hours at Police Headquarters being questioned and cross-questioned by a furious, purple-faced fist-pounding Brandon and later by two quiet Federal agents who took us apart, laid us on the desk, poked us about with long inquisitive fingers, and weren't over-fussy how they put us together again.
My yells for help would be as futile as a short-tempered man trying to slam a revolving door.
That last one really had me laughing when I imagined it. Vic had a way of stating things that made me glad to be in his head. Apart from which his assistants, Paula and Kerman, were also good for giving out a few laughs.
One random thing I am beginning to notice from my month of reading James Hadley Chase novels is that everyone smokes in his stories. It's not even questioned. Any time two characters sit down together, male or female, they share a cigarette with each other without hesitation. That's pretty cool if you ask me. People aren't that cool anymore. Wish they were.
January 27, 2021
Two favorite elements of plot for JHC are kidnappings and smuggling operations. You get both of them in this novel. This is the second of the Vic Malloy detective novels, the first being You're Lonely When You're Dead. Alas, Figure It Out for Yourself doesn't quite measure up to the former's pace, energy, and mythic overlap. Chase seems to settle rather for extending the personae of Vic Mallory off into another tale, with familiar sidekicks, foes, and backgrounds already in place. An enjoyable read. What really saves it, however, is the description of the journey through the mine. It's harrowing. Reminds me of something I might read in a Talbot Mundy adventure story.
September 12, 2020
ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο.128
August 3, 2024
A full action packed read!
May 27, 2015
When a job goes awry for private detective Vic Malloy, he is saved from imminent death by Nick Perrili. Vic promises Nick a favor in return whenever he needed it.
Fast-Forward 3-weeks, Nick gets into trouble and he asks for Vic's help. The trouble Nick never knew about and the only way Vic could save him was to figure out things himself
A suspenseful piece of criminology again from James Hadley Chase, Enjoy Malloy's adventure.
Fast-Forward 3-weeks, Nick gets into trouble and he asks for Vic's help. The trouble Nick never knew about and the only way Vic could save him was to figure out things himself
A suspenseful piece of criminology again from James Hadley Chase, Enjoy Malloy's adventure.
May 7, 2024
Nějak jsem se při čtení na Rudou žeň namlsal Jamese Hadleye Chase, Angličana imitujícího americké kriminálky a přečet si jeho „třikrátku“ s Vicem Malloeym: Ve smrti je každý sám, Chytrému napověz a Položte ji mezi liliemi. A ano, i když je to ryzí drsná škola, s hláškujícím soukromým očkem, kterého pořád někdo mlátí do hlavy, tak pořád je to zábavná a řekl bych i nápaditá série.
Zajímavý je už jen to, že agentura Vic Malloye pracuje čistě pro pracháče a zařizuje v podstatě cokoliv. Od řešení problémů s policií až po učení dcerušku jezdit. Druhá zajímavá věc, že v prvním příběhů je seznámení s jeho sympatickým týmem detektivů… jehož členové jsou ovšem zabití jako první. I to je zvláštní, že první oběti jsou z řady pátračů, a hrdina neví proč. A drobná odchylka je tu i v tom, že hrdina nemá sekretářku, která je do něj tajně zamilovaná… ale má v podstatě šéfovou, která se ve firmě o všechno stará, aby mužská část sekce mohla nasávat whisky, chodit za ženskýma a nechávat se mlátit. Ale jo, taky tajně hrdinu miluje.
Ve smrti je každý sám, je solidní, klasická detektivka, která začíná drobnými krádežemi a končí haldou mrtvol… a slušně zamaskovaným pachatelem.
Chytrému napověz řadím mezi nejlepší Chaseho romány, hlavně proto, že po půlce nastupuje mohutná akční scéna, která obsahuje únik z jeskyně plné krys, zdrhání před pašeráky, přestřelku, další přestřelku… Žádná z těch akční scén nepřináší nic převratného, ale jak se řetězí, působí to bombasticky. A taky je to detektivka, která sloužila v rodině mé ženy jako takový večerníček při cestách autem… hlavně ta pasáž s krysami.
Plus to má ještě jedno plus. I když to začíná obvyklým obdržením zakázky na vytažení dcery z drogového doupěte, u kterého člověk čeká, že se to nějak zvrtne, tak celá tahle sekvence slouží jen k tomu, aby hrdina mohl někomu dlužit laskavost… a brzo jí musel splatit.
Třetí příběh, Položte ji mezi liliemi, přináší taky zajímavou zápletku a spoustu mrtvých (v celé téhle trilogii, když jde hrdina navštívit člověka, který je do případu zapletený, můžete si být jistí, že ho najde mrtvého), ale i hrdinu uvězněné v blázinci, v jedné místnosti s člověkem, co občas jí lidi. A opět je tu souboj s časem… a navíc pak ještě šplhání po útesu a dobývání lodi.
Řešení nejsou zrovna překvapivá, ale nejsou ani urážlivě pitomá a autor kolem nich nedělá zase tak velký čurbes. Vlastně jediné, co mě na téhle knize štvalo, byl překlad. Ne, nebyl z těch, co byste si museli záhadné věty překládat zpátky do angličtiny, abyste pochopili, co tam bylo řečené – ale poté, co jsem četl Za tohle tě dostanu přeložené Tomášem Hráchem, tak jsem si říkal, o kolik by tomhle mohlo být lepší, kdyby se toho chytnul opravdu talentovaný překladatl a ne sice snaživá, ale už zřejmě stará a konzervativní osoba, která většinu hlášek lehce vykastrovala. Jo, pořád to nějak funguje, ale ne tak, jak by mohlo.
Zajímavý je už jen to, že agentura Vic Malloye pracuje čistě pro pracháče a zařizuje v podstatě cokoliv. Od řešení problémů s policií až po učení dcerušku jezdit. Druhá zajímavá věc, že v prvním příběhů je seznámení s jeho sympatickým týmem detektivů… jehož členové jsou ovšem zabití jako první. I to je zvláštní, že první oběti jsou z řady pátračů, a hrdina neví proč. A drobná odchylka je tu i v tom, že hrdina nemá sekretářku, která je do něj tajně zamilovaná… ale má v podstatě šéfovou, která se ve firmě o všechno stará, aby mužská část sekce mohla nasávat whisky, chodit za ženskýma a nechávat se mlátit. Ale jo, taky tajně hrdinu miluje.
Ve smrti je každý sám, je solidní, klasická detektivka, která začíná drobnými krádežemi a končí haldou mrtvol… a slušně zamaskovaným pachatelem.
Chytrému napověz řadím mezi nejlepší Chaseho romány, hlavně proto, že po půlce nastupuje mohutná akční scéna, která obsahuje únik z jeskyně plné krys, zdrhání před pašeráky, přestřelku, další přestřelku… Žádná z těch akční scén nepřináší nic převratného, ale jak se řetězí, působí to bombasticky. A taky je to detektivka, která sloužila v rodině mé ženy jako takový večerníček při cestách autem… hlavně ta pasáž s krysami.
Plus to má ještě jedno plus. I když to začíná obvyklým obdržením zakázky na vytažení dcery z drogového doupěte, u kterého člověk čeká, že se to nějak zvrtne, tak celá tahle sekvence slouží jen k tomu, aby hrdina mohl někomu dlužit laskavost… a brzo jí musel splatit.
Třetí příběh, Položte ji mezi liliemi, přináší taky zajímavou zápletku a spoustu mrtvých (v celé téhle trilogii, když jde hrdina navštívit člověka, který je do případu zapletený, můžete si být jistí, že ho najde mrtvého), ale i hrdinu uvězněné v blázinci, v jedné místnosti s člověkem, co občas jí lidi. A opět je tu souboj s časem… a navíc pak ještě šplhání po útesu a dobývání lodi.
Řešení nejsou zrovna překvapivá, ale nejsou ani urážlivě pitomá a autor kolem nich nedělá zase tak velký čurbes. Vlastně jediné, co mě na téhle knize štvalo, byl překlad. Ne, nebyl z těch, co byste si museli záhadné věty překládat zpátky do angličtiny, abyste pochopili, co tam bylo řečené – ale poté, co jsem četl Za tohle tě dostanu přeložené Tomášem Hráchem, tak jsem si říkal, o kolik by tomhle mohlo být lepší, kdyby se toho chytnul opravdu talentovaný překladatl a ne sice snaživá, ale už zřejmě stará a konzervativní osoba, která většinu hlášek lehce vykastrovala. Jo, pořád to nějak funguje, ale ne tak, jak by mohlo.
January 3, 2018
Vic Malloy is thrown in misadventures after misadventures in this breathtakingly adrenaline packed story. Will he be able to survive? Will he be able to solve the crime? Will he be able to save his friend?
I liked that, even till the end, it was hard to unscramble the mystery behind the crimes.
The story was particularly fast paced and it felt nearly impossible to put the book down at any given time in the story. "Just one more chapter"
The character of Vic Malloy is badass and still charming. He is the perfect amalgamation of brain and brawn. If you like Detective thrillers or books with awesome male protagonist, be sure to check this one out.
I liked that, even till the end, it was hard to unscramble the mystery behind the crimes.
The story was particularly fast paced and it felt nearly impossible to put the book down at any given time in the story. "Just one more chapter"
The character of Vic Malloy is badass and still charming. He is the perfect amalgamation of brain and brawn. If you like Detective thrillers or books with awesome male protagonist, be sure to check this one out.
June 4, 2021
This insanely interesting and gorgeous little novel was released exactly 70 years ago, but you won't feel it at all. That is, you will never feel that the action takes place in such a long time (compared to the length of a person's life). This is great reading. You will immerse yourself in this incredible reading.
This is the second book of three in which we meet a unique protagonist, a certain Vic Malloy.
So, one millionaire's husband is missing. In exchange for his life, the gangsters demand a ransom of half a million dollars. The millionaire does not want to involve the police in this case and turns to the agency where Vic works. But the trouble is, after paying the money, the husband never returned home, and the police arrested an innocent person. Very complicated case. The reader will have a wonderful journey into the world created by J. H. Chase, the master of crime fiction literature.
This is the second book of three in which we meet a unique protagonist, a certain Vic Malloy.
So, one millionaire's husband is missing. In exchange for his life, the gangsters demand a ransom of half a million dollars. The millionaire does not want to involve the police in this case and turns to the agency where Vic works. But the trouble is, after paying the money, the husband never returned home, and the police arrested an innocent person. Very complicated case. The reader will have a wonderful journey into the world created by J. H. Chase, the master of crime fiction literature.
November 1, 2013
A very quick read.
Finished it overnight during my train ride. Its been a while since I went so long by train and didn't expect to be able to read in between.
Interesting plot. Kept a decent pace. Loved the flow of things. I had to choose between 3 and 4 and decided on the lower one.
Doesn't deserve a 'really liked' verdict. But was a good read altogether.
Finished it overnight during my train ride. Its been a while since I went so long by train and didn't expect to be able to read in between.
Interesting plot. Kept a decent pace. Loved the flow of things. I had to choose between 3 and 4 and decided on the lower one.
Doesn't deserve a 'really liked' verdict. But was a good read altogether.
August 20, 2015
This one is just another quick ripsnorter from the maestro, as always his attention to detail, whether it be his hardboiled characters, the scenery, or a description of the background, Sir " James Hadley Chase, " is without a doubt the best there has ever been, and ever will be when it comes to murder, mystery, thriller....another must read for all you fanatics....
January 17, 2014
This one is just another quick ripsnorter from the maestro, as always his attention to detail whether it be his hardboiled characters, the scenery or a description of the background JHC is without a doubt the best there has been and ever will be when it comes to murder, mystery, thriller.....
October 12, 2012
Dont miss it....
October 17, 2014
The best whodunit I have read in recent times
December 4, 2014
James Hadley Chase, best Crime Thriller Author...love this book
December 15, 2020
Second book with Vic Malloy
One of the best thriller that I have read lately with the right dose of suspance, horror and a lot of plot twists in only 157 pages. Definitely Chase.
One of the best thriller that I have read lately with the right dose of suspance, horror and a lot of plot twists in only 157 pages. Definitely Chase.
January 20, 2014
Good thriller as always by James Hadley Chase.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews