This Is for Real

Mark Girland #1

by James Hadley Chase

When a woman turns up in Paris with information to sell to the CIA, is it for real? It soon becomes clear that it is, and the CIA aren't the only ones to realize it. As the tale sweeps from Paris to Africa, combining espionage with violence, sex and intrigue, this book from James Hadley Chase gives a new background for the spy thriller while maintaining the highest standards of readability.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Noir, Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

René 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.

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spy thriller with lots of false lead and thrilling chase and last-minute escapes to keep you glued till the end. The climax is quite a let-down compared to his other novels.

[Paul Lothane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you'll excuse the tautology, this is an exceedingly "thrilling thriller" in the real sense of the word! Action packed, suspenseful, pacy, lovely scenery, tantalising women ...this book has everything.

And the major characters are larger than life, Herman Radnitz, something of the anti Christ, Malik the nightmarish ruthless Russian agent, Mark Girland, erratic agent, genial but also ruthless when he has to be, even Tessa the enigmatic, lovely and very efficient lady....

France and Senegal (to mention the countries) are where the action(s) take place. Apart from Radnitz, America and Russia also pull out all the stops to unravel the mystery of an alleged defector. The stakes are very high indeed. Rightly so.

Who is more ruthless? Radnitz and his key men who are always ready to stamp out anyone standing in their way? Or Malik and the Russians who have no qualms in killing even innocent kids and women? Girland is as tough as teak too, though he always comes across as quite likeable and charming.

Something of a playboy too, Girland. Women often fall for him though he is honest enough to tell them that he could never stay permanently with one woman... Girland unashamedly enjoys the fine things of life, and as usual comes out trumps in this superb adventure.

One always feels uneasy when one reads about creatures like vultures or even hawks, soaring overhead on the look out for vulnerable... humans, as is the case here. Hence at the end, with Girland and a lady apparently trapped in the never ending scrubland, this descriptions seems fraught with despair/doom: "The hawks overhead hung motionless. Their shadows made large black splashes on the white sand..."

But not to worry. All somewhat ends well!

[Ram Ganesh]

Mark Girland is "James Bond". High adventure in Senegalese bush and desert. Very cool Tessa and Janine. Very rough Malik, Radnitz, Borg and Schwartz. Thoroughly enjoyed it. A movie would be great.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again James Hadley Chase manages to revitalize his writing. By reading Chase's work chronologically you can see how he developed, when he became exhausted or tired, and when he found renewal. It appeared, at this point, 1965, Chase might be turning a little stale. But along comes This Is for Real and Chase adapts to the spy thriller in a way where you can see his indebtedness to Eric Ambler (there is a Lt. Ambler in the novel) and Hammond Innes. Chase had been successful earlier with spy novels in Mission to Siena and, especially, Mission to Venice. But in This Is for Real, he moves his setting to Paris for the first half of the book and Senegal for the other half. It works really quite well. And unlike many a Chase crime thriller, this one also retains a few mysteries that need to be uncovered at the end. And it makes for a great Cold War atmosphere.

[Arnab Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable.

[Mark Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even after reading this one for the third time in 35 years, JHC the best author that's ever been and ever will be brings to life espionage, murder and mystery with his amazing characters, beautiful women as always, mix in the CIA and the Russians where he takes you from Paris to Africa this one's another masterpiece from the genius himself....

[Sunil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girland and Chase in combination...makes the pages roll....A superb novel ...Must read for a Crime\Thriller genre fans..

[Srikanth R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical jhc thriller... Fast and furious

[Akintunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trademark James Hadley Chase with Al the right amount of espionage, suspence, thrills, women, secrecy and high octane action. Mark Garland is not your usual secret agent. He is an unrefined version of the Ian Fleming's James Bond. The story races across France and Senegal where Mark Garland pits his wits and strength against Russian spy agents, a billionaire's thugs and the agents of the CIA.
Henry Carey has defected from the Russians with a lot of secrets and delicate information. Carey wants to hand this secret to Garland who he believes Will expose its content and get them into the right hands.
This book was a great lead. The climax was just a lil' bit disappointing.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

My Dad gave me this book a couple of years ago. He found it in the backseat, probably forgotten by one of his clients. He brought it home and gave it to me, knowing I always had room for more books in my life.
That memory is the only reason I put up with this horrible book, which is so full of sexist and misogynistic lines that I spent most of it cringing.
I know it was written in the 60s and times were different back then, but seriously... such an awful book. James Hadley Chase desperately needed a good lesson of feminism.
Still, despite the awfulness, it was worth it. But only because the memory of how I got it makes even the worst of books bearable.

[Κώστας · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eίναι το πρώτο βιβλίο από μια σειρά τεσσάρων που αφορά τον Mark Girland, και δημοσιεύθηκε για πρώτη φορά το 1965.

Μια δυνατή πλοκή που κρατά την προσοχή και την περιέργεια του αναγνώστη.
Ο Mark Girland είναι ένας ατρόμητος και εξυπνάκιας ήρωας, που δεν διστάζει να χρησιμοποιήσει τη βία ή τη γοητεία του για να πετύχει τους σκοπούς του. Έχει όμως και μια αδυναμία για τις όμορφες γυναίκες, που συχνά τον βάζουν σε μπελάδες. Ο Chase δημιουργεί μια πειστική ατμόσφαιρα αγωνίας και κινδύνου, περιγράφοντας με λεπτομέρεια τους διάφορους τόπους και χαρακτήρες που συναντά ο Girland. Η πλοκή είναι γεμάτη απρόβλεπτες ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις, που κρατούν το ενδιαφέρον αμείωτο μέχρι το τέλος.

Το βιβλίο είναι για όσους αγαπούν την κλασική κατασκοπική λογοτεχνία, με έντονη δόση δράσης και ρομαντισμού. Δεν είναι ένα βαθύ ή φιλοσοφημένο έργο, αλλά μια ευχάριστη διασκέδαση.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first J.H. Chase book I read in my early teens and I was so impressed back then. Main character is like James Bond except he's more pragmatic rascal type which made him more fascinating then typical good macho heroes.
I reread it once again more then 10 years after the first time and the story seemed quite cheesy with cartoonish evil guys, very stupid women, and a deus ex machina kind of ending. But I gave it 4 starts anyway just for the sake of good old times and hey the book was written half a century ago so you can easily read it as retro lit and imagine why pulp fiction was popular back then. It's like watching old gangster movies.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fictional world around the deeds of Mark Girland is great! It is difficult to find another series, another book about secret service agents, about their incredible adventures, full of dangers and secrecy than in the books of this master about Mark Girland. CIA, KGB, Chinese intelligence, and so on... Read and with great pleasure and immerse yourself in this truly portentous world. Start with this first book. So, here Girland sets out to find a double agent…

[Salihu]

being a spy is not easy,and when you find yourself in africa............

[Vinod Jayachandran · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical under cover agent story, trying to escape all odds risking his life where absolutely no one can be trusted.

The novel is quite engaging in the beginning and middle, but gets quite predictable towards the end.

Recommend it for quick read through.

[Kushang Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

fancy thriller, nice build up but the climax is unsatisfying.

[SG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great read but also not a complete let down either

[Hamisi Seif]

Very good book I read it 20 years back and today I got. Very much pleased

[Grefa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todos los libros que he leído de Chase son de mucho suspenso y espionaje, donde las cosas que suceden nos dejan con la boca abierta y muy buenos finales.

[Bollexy Shoks · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the book some 30 years ago, reading it again brought memories of unforgetable proportions. Its captivating

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all the four Mark Girland series books several times and each time was a new experience for me. I imagine our Bollywood star Dev Anand Sir in Mark Girland's place and the enjoyment doubles. Must read for all
JHC readers

[Al-amin Zanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The year of experience tough me always to be suspiciouse of people who did'nt fit into a background"

[Ezema Ikechukwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Patrick Young]

I want to read this book.

[Δήμος Καραχάλιος · Rating 4 out of 5]

Απολαυστικός όπως πάντα! Δράση, αγωνία, μοιραίες γυναίκες, κατάσκοποι, διπλοί πράκτορες, σκληροί άντρες.