Jack O'Judgement

by Edgar Wallace

The Boundary Gang has proven impossible for the police to break up or convict - but the mysterious Jack O'Judgement is now on their trail, and Jack doesn't let anything stop him.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.

Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.

He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.

Reviews

[Nam Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

Đại tá Dan Boundary có bề ngoài là doanh nghiệp thành đạt, nhưng đằng sau là một băng nhóm tội phạm chuyên thực hiện các vụ tống tiền kín kẽ nên bên cảnh sát không thể sờ gáy. Nhưng vào một ngày, Gregory -một thành viên băng bị phát hiện giết chết với lá bài J nhép trong túi. Đó chỉ là khởi đầu của chuỗi ác mộng với băng đảng khi một kẻ bịt mặt bí ẩn bí danh Jack- ''Kẻ hành pháp'' tuyên bố sẽ lật tẩy Boundary và đồng bọn.

So với ''Vòng tròn máu'' thì cuốn này có nội dung phức tạp và hấp dẫn hơn. Vai trò của cảnh sát mờ nhạt nhưng trọng tâm là những trò vờn nhau giữa Đại Tá và Kẻ Hành Pháp. Nhân vật Boundary được xây dựng thành công với sự tàn nhẫn và những mánh khóe tống tiền xảo quyệt. Kẻ Hành Pháp tuy ngoại hình khoa trương kì quặc nhưng còn cao tay hơn với những ngón đòn bất ngờ, từng bước bào mòn lực lượng và tinh thần của băng đảng, khiến chúng sụp đổ dần.

Với những kẻ tội phạm nguy hiểm mà pháp luật bất lực thì những thủ đoạn ''phi chính thống'' đó cũng là xứng đáng và phù hợp. Danh tính của Jack có đoán được cũng không quá quan trọng vì diễn biến li kỳ, gay cấn đã đủ khiến mình không thể bỏ dở cho đến trang cuối cùng.

Wallace viết rất dễ đọc và giải trí tốt . Chấm cá nhân 7.75/10

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is from the 1950's Ward, Lock Dust Jacket: Jack O' Judgment, that light-hearted, insouciant, masked mystery man, who sets out to expose a gang of daring crooks who are amassing millions regardless of their methods, is a book to read at a sitting. We are carried, spell-bound, through every page of what can justly be described as one of the late Edgar Wallace's best and most exciting thrillers.

I have to take their word for this being one of Wallace's best and most exciting thrillers. I read it during my bad health days and remember next to nothing about it. This is all I remember, the main bad guy in this book, the one leading all the other bad guys astray is Col. Dan Boundary. Col. Boundary, honest business man that he says he is, is still bothered constantly by Stafford King, a police detective, and Jack O'Judgment, a mysterious, dressed so you don't know who he is figure, bent on vigilante justice. This is what he looks like:

It was clad from head to foot in a long coat of black silk, which shimmered in the half-light of the electrolier. The hands were gloved, the head covered with a soft slouch hat and the face hidden behind a white silk handkerchief.

The colonel's hand was in his hip-pocket when he thought better and raised both hands in the air. There was something peculiarly businesslike in the long-barrelled revolver which the intruder held, in spite of the silver-plating and the gold inlay along the chased barrel.

"Everybody's hands in the air," said the Jack shrilly, "right up to the beautiful sky! Yours too, Lollie. Stand away from the table, everybody, and back to the wall. For the Jack o' Judgment is amongst you and life is full of amazing possibilities!"

They backed from the table, peering helplessly at the two unwinking eyes which showed through the holes in the handkerchief.

"Back to the wall, my pretties," chuckled the Thing. "I'm going to make you laugh and you'll want some support. I'm going to make you rock with joy and merriment!"


If the police can't catch them he'll do it them and leave playing cards laying around. Col. Bounderby himself is nice enough to tell us just what he and his gang are up to:

"Wait, I'll tell you. I've got men working for me all over the country, agents and sub-agents, who are constantly on the look-out for scandal. Housekeepers, servants, valets--you know the sort of people who get hold of information."

Mr. Crotin was speechless.

"Sooner or later I find a very incriminating fact which concerns a gentleman of property. I prefer those scandals which verge on the criminal," the colonel went on.

The outraged Mr. Crotin was rolling his serviette.

"Where are you going? What are you going to do? The night's young," said the colonel innocently.

"I'm going," said Mr. Crotin, very red of face. "A joke's a joke, and when friend Crewe introduced me to you, I hadn't any idea that you were that kind of man. You don't suppose that I'm going to sit here in your society--me with my high connections--after what you've said?"

"Why not?" asked the colonel; "after all, business is business, and as I'm making an offer to you for the Riverborne Mill----"

"The Riverborne Mill?" roared the spinner. "Ah! that's a joke of yours! You'll buy no Riverborne Mill of me, sitha!"

"On the contrary, I shall buy the Riverborne Mill from you. In fact, I have all the papers and transfers ready for you to sign."

"Oh, you have, have you?" said the man grimly. "And what might you be offering me for the Riverborne?"

"I'm offering you thirty thousand pounds cash," said the colonel, and his bearer was stricken speechless.

"Thirty thousand pounds cash!" he said after awhile. "Why, man, that property is worth two hundred thousand pounds."

"I thought it was worth a little more," said the colonel carelessly.

"You're a fool or a madman," said the angry Yorkshireman. "It isn't my mill, it is a limited company."

"But you hold the majority of the shares--ninety-five per cent., I think," said the colonel. "Those are the shares which you will transfer to me at the price I suggest."

"I'll see you damned first," roared Crotin, bringing his hand down smash on the table.

"Sit down again for one moment." The colonel's voice was gentle but insistent. "Do you know Maggie Delman?"

Suddenly Crotin's face went white.

"She was one of your father's mill-girls when you were little more than a boy," the colonel proceeded, "and you were rather in love with her, and one Easter you went away together to Blackpool. Do you remember?"

Yes, he remembers. He also married her, but no one knows that, especially his wife. Well, his second wife I guess you'd say. There's a love story too, we have to give Stafford King something to do while the Jack guy is running around catching all the criminals and buying new decks of playing cards. And his love interest disappears, shortly after her father disappears, and she reappears, I have no memory as to whether or not her father makes a come back. What I can't figure out, and don't remember if I ever had it figured out, is why the good guy couldn't come up with a better name than Jack O' Judgment, which annoys me terribly, why he only left jack cards, why not a king, a queen, or maybe a little lonely three or four card now and then, and how someone going around being the only person in the book who seems to be able to take down the criminals be considered light-hearted. I'm moving on, hopefully the next book I read I'll remember better than this one. Happy reading.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars. I was surprised it was written in 1920, somehow I thought a story like this would have been written later. No matter how much I read I can always be surprised and learn. I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was engaging and an easy read. Exited to pick something else by Edgar Wallace. Maybe not the perfect book but entertaining nevertheless

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who was the mysterious avenger whose hooded form sent terror into the dark haunts of the underworld? Criminal mastermind Colonel Dan Boundary fights two enemies — Stafford King, a dedicated detective, and Jack O'Judgment, a mysterious figure bent on vigilante justice.The tale opens with the murder of "Snow" Gregory, a drug lord linked with Boundary. ...

I first discovered this book when investigating old-time, public domain mysteries for the Kindle. Edgar Wallace is much praised and rightly so. I've read quite a few of his mysteries and really enjoyed them. This was an excellent mystery that had me guessing at Jack O'Judgment's identity throughout the book. It was also interesting to see the interplay of various characters and the skill with which the author emphasized their personalities.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a mystery in this book but it isn't your typical sort. Col. Dan Boundary runs one of the most pervasive and ugly criminal organizations in England and the police are having a hard time getting enough hard evidence to convict him. But Jack O' Judgment, a masked and caped figure, doesn't need courtroom proof - he will extract his own justice. But who is Jack O' Judgment? That is the mystery.

I have noticed before in Edgar Wallace (in the "Four Just Men" series for example) that he appears to advocate vigilantism. Unlike most early 20th century crime/mystery writers, his books don't necessarily affirm that society's justice systems (police, lawyers, courts) will prevail and uphold the good over the evil.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books by this author popped up in my recommendations list so thought I'd give one a go. One of the reasons for me going on Goodreads was to occasionally try new books of genres that I'd not normally go for. Jack O'Judgement seemed to be the book most people suggested starting with by Edgar Wallace. I downloaded it free from my local library but it is available on Project Gutenberg.

I'd describe it as a crime/mystery novel. The subject matter of criminals versus detectives and their surrounding events didn't overly interest me from then outset, however, I liked the way it was written and the story was gripping enough building to a 'reveal' at the end. the characterisation was also very good. I think I would probably read another of Wallace's novels - they are free after all!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Criminal mastermind Col. Dan Boundary fights two enemies, Stafford King, a dedicated detective, and Jack O'Judgment, a mysterious figure bent on vigilante justice.

The novel opens with the murder of "Snow" Gregory, a doper linked with Boundary. (I was surprised to learn that "snow" was slang for cocaine as far back as 1920, and addicts were just as common then as now.)

Naturally, there is also a love interest, actress Maisie White, daughter of one of Boundary's associates, who's sought after by both King and Pinto Silva, a slimy Boundary henchman.

It's something of a potboiler, and a little predictable, but the story moves along and the crime lord's machinations become wonderfully complex and nasty.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tânărul poreclit Gregory Coco fu ridicat dintr-un şanţ al cartierului Lambeth din Londra; murise înainte ca sergentul din post, din strada Waterloo, care auzise împuşcăturile, să fi ajuns la faţa locului. Noaptea era viforoasă, ningea; fusese, probabil, urmărit şi apoi împuşcat; nimeni însă nu fusese martor la această crimă. Când fu adus la morgă şi i se cercetară hainele, nu se găsi asupra lui decât o cutiuţă de tinichea conţinând un praf alb, ce se dovedi a fi cocaină, şi o carte de joc… valetul de treflă!

Asociaţii săi îl botezaseră Gregory Coco fiindcă era cocainoman şi pentru că, printre robii beţiei reci, cocainei i se zice „coco”. Fusese jucător de cărţi şi tovarăş cu colonelul Boundary în câteva dintre afacerile acestuia. Asta era tot ce se putuse afla despre el. Colonelul nu ştia nimic din trecutul tânărului, afară de faptul că urmase Universitatea din Oxford şi că apoi decăzuse. Boundary mai adăugă câteva amănunte în scopul de a dovedi ― pentru cei ce voiau să fie obiectivi ― că el, colonelul Boundary, fusese totdeauna un om care dorea binele tuturor. Acest titlu de colonel era onorific şi Boundary îl purta, mai curând, graţie unui vechi obicei, decât în baza vreunui drept. Unii pretindeau că Gregory Coco, în momentele sale de exagerată exaltare, vorbise despre lucruri ce ar fi putut dăuna colonelului; lumea însă era întotdeauna gata să-l bârfească pe Boundary, a cărui avere era o sfidare şi o ruşine. După ce-l îngropă pe misteriosul Gregory Coco, un juriu compus din concetăţeni de-ai săi pronunţă verdictul: „crimă premeditată, înfăptuită de una sau mai multe persoane necunoscute”. Aşa se părea că s-a sfârşit o tragedie pornită din cauze meschine când, trei luni mai târziu, se produse în viaţa colonelului Boundary o întâmplare, nu tocmai plăcută.

Într-o dimineaţă, sosi, pe adresa locuinţei sale de un lux princiar, din Albermale Place, o scrisoare. O deschise el însuşi, căci purta menţiunea „personal”. După cum se dovedi, nu era chiar o scrisoare, ci o carte de joc, soioasă şi pătată: valetul de treflă. O privi adânc uimit; uitase de mult ce soartă avusese fostul său asociat, apoi observă că era ceva scris pe marginea cărţii de joc şi, răsucind-o, citi: „Jack Judecătorul”, nimic mai mult. Colonelul îşi coborî pleoapele peste ochii obosiţi, încercând parcă să înlăture astfel o fantasmă.

― Eh! exclamă el dezgustat, aruncând cartonaşul în coşul de hârtii.

În clipa aceea avu o viziune: o faţă albă, nerasă şi uscăţivă, cu buzele întredeschise într-un zâmbet uşor, zâmbetul lui Gregory „Coco”, din ziua când se întâlniseră ultima oară.

Apoi îi mai sosiră şi alte cărţi de joc şi urmară diferite întâmplări neplăcute, ca să nu le numim neliniştitoare. După ce chibzui câtva timp, colonelul se hotărî să dea o dublă lovitură. Era pe cale de a face un pas cutezător pe care nimeni altul afară de colonelul Dan Boundary nu l-ar fi riscat. Ştia mai bine decât oricine că, de trei ani încoace, Stafford King îşi destinase întregul său timp deconspirării bandei lui Boundary. Îi era cunoscut faptul că tânărul acela grav, cu ochii cenuşii şi pătrunzători, care şedea acum de partea cealaltă a mesei stil Ludovic XV, în elegantul birou particular al Sindicatului Spillsbury, îşi câştigase situaţia de frunte din departamentul poliţiei criminale numai mulţumită inteligenţei sale şi că, dintre toţi agenţii, el era cel mai de temut.

Nu exista un contrast mai izbitor decât cel dintre cei doi bărbaţi: de o parte detectivul, un om rafinat, dotat cu simţ estetic; de cealaltă, statura înaltă, impresionantă, a omului de care era bine să te fereşti, colonelul Boundary. Acesta din urmă, cu părul negru, lins, despărţit la mijloc printr-o cărare, cu ochii mari, obosiţi, mustaţa lată, galbenă, ca de fiară, bărbia dublă, corpul mătăhălos şi puternic, mâinile enorme şi păroase ce se odihneau acum pe masă, era întruchiparea forţei brutale, neobosite, lipsite de scrupule; mai înfăţişa şi viclenia, viclenia tigrului ce stă la pândă.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thundering good pulp novel from a master of the craft.

A ruthless gang of criminals have a clever approach to making illicit money. They buy stolen letters from burglars, and if they find anything compromising against someone who has some valuable property or a business, they blackmail them into selling it to the gang at far below its value. They've made a legitimate payment, they don't have to account for money given to them for apparently no reason, there's nothing illegal in paying less than an asset's worth for it if the seller agrees to the price, and all in all it's netting them a nice income.

The police know what's going on, but can't prove it in court. Likewise, they pretty strongly suspect that the death of a drug addict and dealer, "Snow" Gregory, was connected to the gang, but again, they can't prove anything. Enter the mysterious masked vigilante calling himself Jack O' Judgement, whose mark is the Jack of Clubs left at the scene of his vengeance. He isn't constrained by the laws of evidence, and his crusade against the gang wears away at their nerves until they're all ready to flee with what assets they can lay hands on quickly.

Wallace does an excellent job of misdirection, making us believe that Jack is any of several different people (one of whom does take on the persona at one point), only to reveal a completely unexpected identity at the end. There are armed confrontations, there's a kidnapping (of the main investigator's fiancée, who's also the daughter of a member of the gang who's trying to leave it and go straight), it's all strong stuff, and in Wallace's trademark pacy style. If he has a fault, it's that it's not always easy to tell who is talking in some of the extended dialog sequences; he could have done with adding a few more tags (in his books in general, not just this one).

[Mai Anh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ nha.
Tậu được em này từ sàn cam của sốp PM. Lần đầu tiên mua của sốp và cũng là lần săn được deal ngon nhất của sốp :).
Lúc đầu thấy quyển này là trinh thám từ những năm 1900s cũng hơi rén vì trinh thám cổ điển sợ khó đọc khó hiểu. Nhưng mà trộm vía, không hề khó đọc, dễ đọc là đằng khác, đọc cuốn dễ sợ luôn. Trinh thám cũng kiểu nhẹ nhàng thôi, chủ yếu là đấu trí giữa tội phạm và cảnh sát.Nhưng vì luật pháp khá hạn chế nên phe cảnh sát cũng bị hạn chế theo, nên đã có một nhân tố "phi luật pháp" gia nhập cuộc chơi. Chính ra mình thích nhân tố ngoài pháp luật này ghê á, tại người ta có thể linh hoạt trong mọi tình huống được, bớt bị pháp luật trói buộc, chỉ còn mỗi đạo đức ràng buộc thôi :). Phải thế thôi không họ dễ sa ngã lắm, họ dễ nghĩ rằng mình nắm quyền sinh sát trong tay á.
Giờ mình cũng đọc kiểu tận hưởng một cuốn sách đúng nghĩa thôi, đến đâu thì đến, không ngồi động não suy luận đoán đoán nữa :). Nhức đầu á. Giờ theo chủ nghĩa đọc để giải trí mà, cái gì vui vẻ thì mình ưu tiên :).
Thề lúc đọc tên quyển này cứ nghĩ đến Kẻ hành pháp Zero :)))))
Truyện cũng dễ chịu khi xen lẫn vài chi tiết tình yêu của 2 cặp đôi (cũng khá đẹp đôi, may là kết thúc có hậu :) ).
Bìa des đẹp, in đẹp, dịch mượt, không lỗi typo, không lỗi chính tả. Tuyệt vời. À nhưng mình phát hiện ra nhà PM ko khâu tép mà dán keo gáy luôn nên sợ mấy trang ẻm không chịu được thói đành hanh của mình mà rơi lả tả á :(.

[Jim Puskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another intriguing crime story from the prolific Edgar Wallace, who, despite being emphatically English in both outlook and style, may well have anticipated the noir genre before all those Americans who were so successful in crafting murky tales set precisely on the margin between the "respectable" and the criminal worlds. It's only its English setting and 1920s time frame that prevents me from shelving it as noir; but all the classic noir elements are there: e.g. the requisite femme fatale; the unofficial investigative agent who ignores accepted police rules and constraints; characters who are not what they pretend to be; and a plot line that repeatedly goes sideways for no obvious reason.
I see Wallace as a logical link between Conan Doyle and Raymond Chandler; at his best, he comes close to matching both of them. This one is not up to his best, but it's a satisfying bit of entertainment. A strong three-plus stars.

[Steallia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Đây là một tác phẩm điển hình cho văn phong của thế kỷ 19-20, tác giá tập trung rất kỹ vào miêu tả, rất chi tiết nhưng điều đó cũng khiến cho mạch truyện trở lên dài lê thê và người đọc cũng sẽ dễ nản. Nhưng tác giả lại làm rất tốt việc duy trì sự bí ẩn về thân phận của Jack, điều này khiến tôi không thể không bỏ qua sự dài dòng để tìm hiểu cái kết. Nhìn chung, nếu đặt vào thời hiện đại thì tác phẩm này không phải 1 cuốn quá nổi bật xuất sắc nhưng bên cạnh những khía cnahj trinh thám, phá án thì nó lại khá nhân văn, ý nghĩa và đáng suy ngẫm

[Ches Torrants · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a pioneer of crime thrillers, this story reflects the world of 1920 England. Although it might feel quaint and cosy, it contains strong action and a repulsive central villain. To me, the protagonist detective and his fiancee lack depth. The real hero is the mysterious Jack o'Judgement.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid and very typical Edgar Wallace mystery perhaps not his most compelling but still entertaining.

[Sherry McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received a free copy for a review. I am amazed sometimes how these old mysteries are so entertaining and interesting. I really enjoyed reading this.

[NQK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Không phải Jack dồ tể mà là Jack hành pháp. Truyện theo đặc phong cách cổ điển với tội phạm và lãng mạn đan xen. Tình tiết trinh thám hơi khiên cưỡng, không hấp dẫn lắm. Đủ đọc thôi.

[Tien Cong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sự bất lực của cảnh sát trước Dan Boundary - ông trùm tội phạm khét tiếng được thể hiện trong bộ truyện này, chỉ cho đến khi Grocery Tuyết bị giết ( tức con trai của Stanley ) thì ngài chủ tịch này mới tham gia vào với cái tên Jack - Kẻ hành pháp

Cuốn này mình cho rằng là dễ đọc nhất trong 3 cuốn được xuất bản ở Việt Nam, vẫn với những từ ngữ mỉa mai nhưng rất dễ hiểu. Kẻ Hành Pháp với một tạo hình khá hoành tráng, mỗi lần xuất hiện là người đọc đứng ngồi không yên. Nhưng đến chương cuối khi mọi chuyện hé lộ, mọi chuyện đi đến đỉnh điểm khi Đại tá và Jack - Kẻ hành pháp có màn so găng cuối cùng và Đại tá biết được danh tính của Jack. Kết thúc truyện là cuộc chia tay giữa Stamford King và Stantley, sau một năm Stamford cùng Maise nhận được bức ảnh của 1 cặp vợ chồng và một đứa trẻ và như thế là đủ cho một cái kết toại nguyện.

Rất đáng đọc 8/10

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly Dated but a real page turner of a thriller.

[Petr Toman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Čekal jsem víc, nádherný dabing v audioknize, ale pribeh mě úplně nedostal.

[Đăng Đang Đọc · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 🌟

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crisply told tale of a gang of blackmailers under the thumb of a ruthless leader. Jack of Judgment takes the law into his own hands and goes as far as execution of gang members.

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this genre, and this timeframe for mystery books. So refreshing after many of the "same old, same old" modern lines of writing. This was fun, interesting and enjoyable - and most importantly, unlike so many other books I've read, memorable! I've a good collection of Edgar Wallace, and enjoy them all heartily.

[Le Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,2*

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar Wallace has long been a favorite author of mine. He's best known for creating The Four Just Men and the outline that became King Kong. His crime novels were always beloved by the public (and he wrote well over 100). This was one I'd somehow never read before, and it's a real treat. The Boundary Gang has a finger in every crooked business in London, but Colonel Boundary is too clever to be ever convicted in court. So a mysterious cloaked figure calling himself Jack O'Judgement is now on his trail - and nobody escapes his reach... Unusually for this type of book, I was actually surprised by the revelation as to who Jack really is under his cloak and mask. Definitely recommended reading - if you can find it.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Wallace's best. Although the methodology of the bad guys (buying property for a fraction of it's value as an alternative to blackmail payments) is clever, I just couldn't get past the silliness of the "Jack O' Judgment" and his pronouncements. Granted, he wasn't supposed to be silly, but gimme a break--he was silly. Even the name...I kept picturing this giant jack-in-the-box thing similar to Michael Keaton in "Betelguese."

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, a free download to my Kindle. It was not until the very end that the identity of Jack O'Judgement is revealed. The Boundary Gang, headed by "Colonel" Boundary, the blackmailer extraordinaire, is "picked off," one by one by the Jack O'Judgement. The book was well written and I enjoyed it.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story in which I recognized more than a few scenes from (of all things) Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Well-developed characters and just enough plot twists.

[Ladislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zaujímavé čítanie.

[Lucia C. Smolski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read!!!

Couldn't put this down. Kept in suspense as to the true identity of Jack 'O Judgment til the very last few pages.