The Guilty Are Afraid

by James Hadley Chase

Lew Brandon, private eye, lands in St. Raphael City, to learn that his partner, Jack Sheppey, has been found murdered. His efforts to trace Sheppey's killer leads him to Creedy, racketeer and businessman. Creedy has cops and thugs on his payroll, and tells Brandon to lay off or else. But Brandon will do anything to find his partner. Helped in his pursuits by Margot Creedy - the glamorous daughter of the racketeer boss, things spiral out of control...

Genres: Thriller, Noir, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Novels

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1957

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

[SVETLANA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago I was fascinated by James Hadley Chase's mystery stories. And decided to refresh some of memories.

The Guilty Are Afraid is a story about the private investigator Lew Brandon whose partner Jack Sheppey was killed before Lew arrived in St. Raphael City, where he was called by Jack to help with a case.

The plot has everything: a handsome investigator, corrupted police, drug dealers, wealthy influential people and, of course, a love story.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bogart, as Sam Spade, famously explained: " When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it. And it happens we're in the detective business. Well, when one of your organization gets killed, it's-it's bad business to let the killer get away with it, bad all around, bad for every detective everywhere."

Chase, in his 1957 novel, " The Guilty Are Afraid," takes up that theme. Chase sets his story though not in foggy San Francisco, but in St. Raphael City, a made-up locale that seems to be a version of San Diego, corrupt, filled with wealthy men, secret clubs, and bikini-clad heiresses. Lew Brandon didn't think much of his partner, Jack Sheppey, but he wasn't going to let his corpse lie without the truth being ferreted out.

Chase provides us a well-written, absorbing story that is filled with lots of standard cliches, but is written so smoothly you allow for that even if you figure it out before our gumshoe does. Chase really gives an authentic feel to his story. You feel Brandon's frustration as he realizes there's little to no clue as to why his partner was in this city, what he was working on, or for who. You feel Brandon's annoyance with the millionaire's secretaries and bodyguards as Brandon asks his questions. There are great fight scenes as Brandon takes on five to one odds against wrecking crews. And, of course, there's Margot who is as bewitching as she is beautiful. Most of what Brandon does here is follow some hunches, but he's running out of time as a corrupt police captain threatens to shut down this unofficial investigation.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many James Hadley Chase crime thrillers have I read that use an exclusive club as a key plot device? Exclusive being either for the ultra wealthy or the elite criminal. At least seven or eight times in the books I've read so far. And how many of his novels make use of a beach cabin or oceanside bungalow? Ten or twelve at last count? He does it again, here. And it all plays into the mystery of the case just as if you're seeing it for the first time. Chase's American setting is mythic and abstract. It's a place of atmosphere and impressions. It rarely gets tiring in his work. Even, here, where you pretty much have sized up the killer and the mystery perhaps a quarter of the way through. It doesn't matter. Because it is how Chase puts it all together at the end that is so fascinating. That, and a pace to this novel that just builds and builds.

[Crime Addict Sifat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Thoroughly enjoyed. The Guilty Are Afraid is a 1957 thriller novel by James Hadley Chase. The novel is set against the foundation of a rich hoodlum ridden city on the Pacific Coast where Lew Brandon, the hero, searches for the executioner who discarded his accomplice Jack Sheppey

[Chinmay Hota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lew Brandon, a smart private detective, solves the mystery of the murder of his colleague, in a city riven by crime, drug dealing and corruption at high places. The killer turns out to be one whom one least suspects. That kind of twist in the tale is the hallmark of James Hadley Chase. I give three stars since there are a few moments when the story drags. Otherwise a good entertainer.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this glorious novel, my favorite author writes again about a private detective. Mister Chase created several more such detective protagonists, and all the stories about them are very different and incredibly interesting. Yes, write D. H. Chase even a thousand books, I would swallow them all quickly and with great pleasure.
The main protagonist of this book, Lew Brandon, an agency private detective, arrives at the resort town of St. Raphael, responding to his companion's telegram. Looks like they're getting a lucrative order. However, the meeting of colleagues did not take place – his companion was killed on a beach... So Brandon is forced to start an investigation against the wishes of the local police and crime. The reader will have an excellent, completely interesting reading ahead.

[Chacha Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first James Hadley book. So far the writing was so entertaining and kept me on the edge to turn pages and i enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of james works. I hope i am going to enjoy every of his work more or just the same way i enjoyed this. I am expecting no disappointments.

[Rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its really difficult to comment on or rate any JHC book really ! But what i observed is that the books published till 1960 are greatest ! Those after 1960 till end are comparatively less interesting than earlier.

[Κώστας · Rating 3 out of 5]

ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο. 344
Οι ένοχοι φοβούνται πάντα.

[Paperback Papa · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Hadley Chase's real name was Rene Lodge Brabazon Raymond. He died in 1985 at the age of 78. He was an English crime/mystery/thriller writer who is considered one of the greats of all time. He wrote 90 novels, many of which were bestsellers, and 40 of which were made into movies. "The Guilty Are Afraid" (1959) was my first taste of his work. It won't be my last.

The novel is about Lew Brandon, a private eye who is determined to solve his partner's murder. The deceased was a notorious ladies' man, leading to the obvious theory that he was knocked off by a jealous husband or boyfriend. But of course, that would be too easy. As Lew begins to sniff around the crime scene and talk to the principles, he realizes that the town has dark secrets.

The town also has beautiful women. Two in particular. All great crime novels from this era that are worth their salt have a seductive female, a femme fatale to spice up the story. Mr. Chase gives us two of them. I love the fact that they hate each other and that Lew gets caught in between them. What fun!

I subtracted a star because I figured out who the killer was well before the final reveal. I still greatly enjoyed the book and will read many more of Chase's novels, but I prefer to be surprised at the end. And the thing is, I'm not that hard to surprise. I usually can't figure out the mystery, so on those rare occasions when I can, I feel like the author could have maybe done a little better job. But I am quibbling. This is a fun read.

[Simeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am shaking

[Esha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first James Hadley Chase. I had heard a lot about his thrillers that would have you at the edge of your seat. And I got to experience it a little. But I believe I didn’t start with his best works. I’d give him another chance to sweep me off my feet. I don’t like small books but I would give him another star for making a good story out of a few pages.

I like how strong Brandon was. I enjoyed his fights and little stunts. But I could tell who the culprit was a few moments after meeting her. Brandon was too trusting of her and that gave it away. I also wondered why Brandon was never shot by a snipper. If they really wanted to get rid of him that bad, it could have been an easy hit. I understand they warned him severally and he didn’t keep off. That’s enough reason. He just seemed too protected.

I liked how it ended though. I was thrilled by the story behind the matches.

[আহসানুল শোভন · Rating 3 out of 5]

জেমস হ্যাডলি চেজের আর দশটা বইয়ের মতই এখানেও লাভ, সেক্স আর ধোঁকার কাহিনী। হ্যাডলি আমার প্রিয় লেখকদের একজন, তার প্লটগুলো ঘুরিয়ে ফিরিয়ে একই ধরণের হওয়াতেও পড়তে খারাপ লাগে না। কারণ তার কাহিনীতে গতি থাকে। তবে আহামরি ভাল লাগে না।

[Rangarajan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detective investigating his colleague's murder in a crime city.

[Δήμος Καραχάλιος · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κλασικός, απολαυστικός Chase! Σκληροί άντρες, διεφθαρμένοι μπάτσοι, μοιραίες γυναίκες, υπόκοσμος.

[Δήμος Καραχάλιος · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κλασικός απολαυστικός Chase

[Alanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good

[முத்து நாயகம் · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Once left this book half-read and after long time read it again to finish it, It Didn't disappoint me. The remarkable feature of Chase is , He won't Disappoint you. This book is no different, it's an absolute Page Turner.
The story about a private detective finding the killer of his fellow partner who was dead when the former visits this beach city and how he does that is the plot. Until the last chapter , the Author doesn't give you a single iota of space to guess the killer, so only at the end you can take a peak.
The only shortcome i came across was the little little snippets could be explained more but the author let us make our own assumptions, maybe that's his speciality
Totally, a fine read

[Sani Garba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mara gaskiya ko a ruwa yayi jibi

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

A really awful private-eye novel, completely predictable and full of noir clichés. Well, it was written in the 1950s, and we've come a long way since then, but still...

[Kerha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. It became transparent after the first few chapter, no real plot twists. Not one of his better works

[Mihai Frenţiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical police novel with drugs affairs, good looking women and some shooting and fights.
Easy to read and to forget after.
Good to fill some available time.

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

the guilty run when no one is chasing

[Vuyiswa Mathula]

it is a very smart book. always leaving one reading with an eager to read even more. it is in a form of a very trendy movie. it so excellent.