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The Shadow Pulp #19
The Romanoff Jewels
The lofty towers of the Kremlin loomed like spectral spires against the darkened sky. Senov - master spider in a web of espionage - was about to ensnare America in the mose nefarious deal of all behind the guise of a trade detante, he and his treacherous American trusties will swap the Romanoff jewels for help in restoring the ancient Russian monarchy!
142 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1932
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Maxwell Grant
651 books32 followersMaxwell Grant was a pseudonym often used by Walter B. Gibson to write stories of "The Shadow".
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 6, 2019
I would have liked The Shadow to have had a bit more screen time, but this is a decent Shadow story regardless.
December 12, 2018
Russian Czarists and Soviets are after the Romanoff jewels and will do anything to get them. The Shadow steps into the fray for reasons of his own. I didn't like this as much as the previous Shadow books I have read, but it is still pretty good.
January 27, 2022
A fun enough adventure. Gibson considers this to be his best Shadow book of which he wrote dozens. Its plainly written in serialized format, every chapter ends with a cliffhanger or exciting event. Every chapter begins with a slight recap, to pull you back into the story.
Characters are very carefully introduced, each clearly delineated and described, sometimes in more than one way, to help keep them apart. The Shadow himself is described in sometimes excessive praise and promotion: he's striking, intimidating, strongest, fastest, smartest, etc. But I mean, its a pulp so you expect things to be a bit over the top, and its not as bad as say, Doc Savage.
The Shadow is more an observer in most of this book, moving pieces around on a board and sometimes taking a personal interest. This reads more like a young adult book than a grown up story, but still is interesting enough. There are some pretty shocking deaths and events in the book, so its not really for kids either.
Its interesting and kept my attention, but some of it doesn't make sense. The Shadow's goals and interest in the gems is confusing and not really adequately explained. It feels more like he is involved because its a Shadow book, and the explanation is tacked on.
In the end, its a fun easy read that is good for a diversion but don't expect deep characterization or plot, clever mystery or anything profound.
Characters are very carefully introduced, each clearly delineated and described, sometimes in more than one way, to help keep them apart. The Shadow himself is described in sometimes excessive praise and promotion: he's striking, intimidating, strongest, fastest, smartest, etc. But I mean, its a pulp so you expect things to be a bit over the top, and its not as bad as say, Doc Savage.
The Shadow is more an observer in most of this book, moving pieces around on a board and sometimes taking a personal interest. This reads more like a young adult book than a grown up story, but still is interesting enough. There are some pretty shocking deaths and events in the book, so its not really for kids either.
Its interesting and kept my attention, but some of it doesn't make sense. The Shadow's goals and interest in the gems is confusing and not really adequately explained. It feels more like he is involved because its a Shadow book, and the explanation is tacked on.
In the end, its a fun easy read that is good for a diversion but don't expect deep characterization or plot, clever mystery or anything profound.
March 2, 2018
This is another full cast recording of a classic Shadow pulp from Walter Gibson. It may well be the best one Audible has done to date. The cast is in fine form here and the story is one of the stronger entries in the long running series. These full cast productions exist almost as a kind of longer form version of Old Time Radio reordered today with better sound and effects. What an absolute treat. For my money, these are better than the single reader versions Audible has also tried. I certainly hope this series continues and that Audible gives us more multi voice cast performances. Who knows what plans lurk in the hearts of Audible producers? The Shadow Knows! HAHAHAHAHAHA
November 7, 2022
The Romanoff Jewels by Maxwell Grant was a very pleasant surprise. After Partners of Peril, I was rather dubious of the next Shadow novel I had on my list. I shouldn't have been, as this story has a compelling story, populated with a couple of twists and turns, and a rather chilling conclusion that was really rather well done. If there was anything to this story that was perhaps a bit weak, it would be the initial hook. We get the feeling that something is definitely happening, which is why The Shadow is involved, but as far as I'm aware nearly everything that happens which gets The Shadow involved takes place afterward. The villains were interesting in their own right as well. The only somewhat forced angle is what happens with the third party that gets involved about a third of the way in, as he is either incredibly skilled at his job, or he is just where the plot needs him to be. The backdrop of Tsarists vs. Bolsheviks was done to great effect, which is a feat made somewhat more surprising given that this book is about 90 years old.
Give it a read if you like some lighter, pulp content.
Give it a read if you like some lighter, pulp content.
June 2, 2023
The obvious title and much of the back cover copy give the game away (of this edition at least), but regardless it is odd that the story spends so much effort in the first 30 or so pages to conceal the nature of the MacGuffin that will drive everything. Or that the MacGuffin is not actually much of a MacGuffin: does "insanely valuable objects" really count?
Part of this is the elaborate shell game played by the author to keep the reader in the dark. Is there any good reason to conceal what was exactly whispered by the dying man to The Shadow? No, probably not. Instead, the reader has to wait twenty pages for the heist scene, and then it becomes obvious. And of course The Shadow is one step ahead of _that_ and is fully aware of the other hidden information known only to one other character and is a pretty amazing Maltese Falcon twist.
Like most pulp novels of this type, the author is hamstrung by the need to make The Shadow as awesome as possible, from the superhuman battle heroics to the Perry Mason reveal at the end, and I can't help but wonder what this story would have been like if The Shadow were firmly in the background.
Part of this is the elaborate shell game played by the author to keep the reader in the dark. Is there any good reason to conceal what was exactly whispered by the dying man to The Shadow? No, probably not. Instead, the reader has to wait twenty pages for the heist scene, and then it becomes obvious. And of course The Shadow is one step ahead of _that_ and is fully aware of the other hidden information known only to one other character and is a pretty amazing Maltese Falcon twist.
Like most pulp novels of this type, the author is hamstrung by the need to make The Shadow as awesome as possible, from the superhuman battle heroics to the Perry Mason reveal at the end, and I can't help but wonder what this story would have been like if The Shadow were firmly in the background.
April 3, 2021
Different factions want the Romanoff jewels which belonged to the Czars of old Russia, a priceless treasure trove. The Shadow goes to Russia where he is caught by the Russian bad guys, escapes then to Paris where the police almost get him, then on a ship to New York, and people die and more die and more die. The chase ends with the survivors meeting in a booby trapped cellar, where they are met by The Shadow. He reveals the truth about the jewels and that the jewel in his own fabled Girasol ring was one of them, a gift from a Czar. The final revenge means only The Shadow escapes.
August 14, 2020
Another excellent installment of the Shadow series! Dz. and I had a lot of fun with this one. The plot was exciting, the ending shocking, and all in all, it was incredibly enjoyable. We were held in rapt attention until the last page. I thought it was funny, though, that there is a beautiful, well-endowed woman on the cover of the book, but no such character appeared in the story. Dz. and I had a good laugh about it, assuming (correctly, I'm sure!) that she was just there for advertising.
February 15, 2019
Is there such a thing here as negative stars!? Ladies & Gentlemen, the first (of hopefully short list) of The Worst Book of 2019 has been born! 'naf said already about it. Brrr... And: Grrr....
September 1, 2020
OK, but not great. Forgettable.
November 9, 2022
Its pulpy adventure, just what you likely signed up for when reading this. International intrigue and a classic Shadow adventure. An easy summer read. Recommended.
January 1, 2024
Not quite Partners of Peril quality but enjoyable none the less.
February 24, 2018
Another take on what happened to the Romanov jewels.
May 30, 2025
One of the best of the Shadow novels, I've read it several times in the past. This time, I listened to the audio book via Audible.
It's about 95% traditional audio book, with most of the prose intact and read by the narrator. But the dialog is performed by actors, with a few sound effects and some background music added.
It's very well done and a great way to experience the story.
The story itself is excellent. A violent faction of Czarists are planning to steal the Romanoff crown jewels from the Communists. The Shadow is battling against both factions. The action moves from New York to Moscow, then back to New York via Paris, with multiple gun battles, captures and escapes along the way. There's a great plot twist at the end involving the final fate of the jewels.
It's about 95% traditional audio book, with most of the prose intact and read by the narrator. But the dialog is performed by actors, with a few sound effects and some background music added.
It's very well done and a great way to experience the story.
The story itself is excellent. A violent faction of Czarists are planning to steal the Romanoff crown jewels from the Communists. The Shadow is battling against both factions. The action moves from New York to Moscow, then back to New York via Paris, with multiple gun battles, captures and escapes along the way. There's a great plot twist at the end involving the final fate of the jewels.
February 2, 2016
When it comes to pulp heroes there are 2 or 3 great standouts and the Shadow is one of those. The stories are fast paced and action filled. The mystery just adds to the excitement. With his army of agents to help the Shadow never lets you down for a great read. Highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews