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Department Z #2
Redhead
Martin Storm’s visit to New York seemed like it was a success. But that was until his car was machine gunned and the police had to smuggle him out of the country…
But Martin finds no safety at home, either, and the search begins to find the man who is hunting him down.
He soon discovers that he has become involved with an American underworld boss who is planning to expand his business to Britain. Will he be able to escape the gangster’s clutches, or will he become a victim in his complex game?
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1911295357
But Martin finds no safety at home, either, and the search begins to find the man who is hunting him down.
He soon discovers that he has become involved with an American underworld boss who is planning to expand his business to Britain. Will he be able to escape the gangster’s clutches, or will he become a victim in his complex game?
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1911295357
- GenresMystery
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
John Creasey
697 books78 followersAKA Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Margaret Lisle, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J.J. Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York, Henry St. John Cooper and Margaret Cooke.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 10, 2025
John Creasey, aka JJ Marric, Gordon Ashe, Anthony Morton, etc. was one of the most prolific writers of all time. Over his life, he specialized in crime thrillers and published in excess of 600 books. I've only begun to explore his work, some series I prefer to others. So far, the Commander Gideon books are my favorite, but I've also enjoyed the Baron, the Toff and a few others. The Department Z series, so far while not a favorite, still is an action packed thriller series. Creasey wrote 28 books in this series and thus far, I've enjoyed the 1st 2.
So far the series reminds me of those movies serials that you used to see at the beginning of a movie, especially if you're as old as I am and spent your Saturdays at the matinees. The serial was a ten or 15 minute show that preceded the main feature and always ended on a cliff hanger which was resolved in the following week.
Department Z is like that. In Redhead, which oddly enough doesn't really feature Dept Z until the end, two young British boxers, best friends, get into a scrape with gangsters while touring the US. A reporter goads them into bad-mouthing local gangsters who are terrorizing the New York area. Barely surviving a gun attack, the local police advise them to leave the US for their own good.
While on their cruise back to England, Storm and Grimm (that's their names, I didn't invent them.) make acquaintance with a brother and sister, Frank & Letty Granville, who are also on their ship and they seem to be being intimidated by an American gangster.... Is he Redhead? (Btw, the US police had indicated that a gangster known only as Redhead has been terrorizing the US) Wenlock keeps showing off how strong he is but is soundly trashed by Storm, arousing his ire...
Upon arrival in England, someone tries to shoot both Storm and Grimm. Is it Wenlock or one of his gang? This starts a chain of events that will lead to a full scale battle at the country estate of the Granvilles, between Storm, Grimm & a group of their friends & Wenlock's gang and also a British gang led by Noeman...
It's a convoluted story with which you definitely have to suspend disbelief, but it's full of neat characters, lots of action and suspense that ramps up throughout... And what about Dept Z, you ask? Ah, well, you'll have to read the story to find out, eh? It's not great literature but if you want good fun, it's worth reading. (2.5 stars)
So far the series reminds me of those movies serials that you used to see at the beginning of a movie, especially if you're as old as I am and spent your Saturdays at the matinees. The serial was a ten or 15 minute show that preceded the main feature and always ended on a cliff hanger which was resolved in the following week.
Department Z is like that. In Redhead, which oddly enough doesn't really feature Dept Z until the end, two young British boxers, best friends, get into a scrape with gangsters while touring the US. A reporter goads them into bad-mouthing local gangsters who are terrorizing the New York area. Barely surviving a gun attack, the local police advise them to leave the US for their own good.
While on their cruise back to England, Storm and Grimm (that's their names, I didn't invent them.) make acquaintance with a brother and sister, Frank & Letty Granville, who are also on their ship and they seem to be being intimidated by an American gangster.... Is he Redhead? (Btw, the US police had indicated that a gangster known only as Redhead has been terrorizing the US) Wenlock keeps showing off how strong he is but is soundly trashed by Storm, arousing his ire...
Upon arrival in England, someone tries to shoot both Storm and Grimm. Is it Wenlock or one of his gang? This starts a chain of events that will lead to a full scale battle at the country estate of the Granvilles, between Storm, Grimm & a group of their friends & Wenlock's gang and also a British gang led by Noeman...
It's a convoluted story with which you definitely have to suspend disbelief, but it's full of neat characters, lots of action and suspense that ramps up throughout... And what about Dept Z, you ask? Ah, well, you'll have to read the story to find out, eh? It's not great literature but if you want good fun, it's worth reading. (2.5 stars)
February 20, 2024
Second in the Department Z vintage spy thriller series and revolving around the men and leader of British Intelligence in the 1930s. The focus is on Martin Storm and Roger Grimm — and Letty Granville. Redhead was originally published in 1933.
My Take
I have a bone to pick with Creasey. I had the impression that Storm and Grimm were NOT associated with Department Z. When it came to the other men who helped them out, they may have been agents but I did not understand why they weren’t acting in cahoots with Department Z. What the hell?
It’s an odd start, part way through Storm’s and Grimm’s experience aboard ship, we get thrown back in time, and Creasey explains why the men are traveling in third class. It is a good tale and too sad that the gangster problem is that bad! The fears of Sergeant O’Halloran and Warren were scary!
Further incitement comes with Ginger grandstanding aboard ship and upsetting the Granvilles. Of course, the situation was sparked by a journalist who put words in their mouths. Shocking . . .! I suspect Storm and Grimm would have said it anyway.
What was the deal with the government weighing in and threatening Storm and Grimm with incarceration if they talked?? That sure sounds illegal to me. It does tie in with those lax attitudes of the time period with law enforcement getting into people’s apartments, the special license plates, reverse directory retrievals, and more without any pesky troubles with warrants and such. Such a contrast with today!
It’s the worried Letty and the angry Frank that pull Storm and Grimm in even more intimately. It’s a tale of great confusion — I know there are supposed to be unexpected developments in a story, to keep it exciting, but Redhead goes out of its way to twist and turn about, for the surprises keep on a’coming.
That Wenlock is certainly a bad character. No sense of fair play and dives into depths of wicked revenge. His counterpart, Zoeman, is so much the opposite. I had to laugh at Zoeman’s relationship with Storm.
Talk about secret! Even the agents don't know who each other is! It’s a good thing Creasey uses third person global subjective point-of-view! That way we get a perspective from all sorts of characters! Phew.
It’s exciting what with ambushes, gun battles, cover-ups, threats, explosives, kidnapping, arson, betrayals and double crosses, snipers, a “fortress” under siege, not much in the way of car chases but plenty of crashes(!), and malaria forces an ugly turn.
Sure, Creasey's Department Z is over-the-top with that devil-may-care attitude and the fortitude of these supermen of Department Z, men determined to succeed at all costs. Just thinking of that blackened thumb and finger . . .!
The Story
Amateur boxer Roger Grimm's visit to New York seemed like it was a success. That is, until he and his cousin's, Martin Storm’s, car was machine-gunned and the police had to smuggle the men out of the country . . .
But Storm and Grimm find no safety at home, either, and the search begins to find the man who is hunting them down.
Storm soon discovers that they have become involved with an American underworld boss who is planning to expand his business to Britain. Will Storm and Grimm be able to bob and weave their way out of the gangster’s clutches, with some help from the agents of Department Z — or will this be their final match?
Meanwhile robbery is on the rise in England, especially the Royal Mail! And a new friend’s family and home is under threat.
The Characters
Martin “Windy” Annersley Storm and his cousin Roger “Grimy” Montgomery Grimm, the winner of a prized boxing trophy in America, might both be agents for Department Z. Sir Joseph and Alicia, Lady Grimm, are Roger’s parents who live in Philmore Crescent. Marcus “Horrors” Horrobin is Storm’s manservant.
Department Z is . . .
. . . the unofficial name for British Intelligence. Gordon Craigie, Number One, is the legend who heads it up, preventing “war rising from the little flames of insurrection simmering . . . throughout Europe and the Near East”. Agents include Bill Loftus, the long-winded Timothy and Toby Arrans, who speaks with machine-gun precision, are twins; (I think Splits is the twins’ manservant); Martin Best; “Dodo” Trale; Derek Milhowel; and, St John “Righteous” Dane. Mention is made of Numbers Seven, Eight, Ten, and Twelve. Hmm, as well as a Chubby Spencer?
Scotland Yard
Superintendent Horace Miller is the liaison between the Yard and Department Z.
Sir William Divot is a politician with the Home Office. Perret is his chauffeur. I think Sir John is the prime minister.
On board the Hoveric . . .
. . . where Roker is the captain. Storm and Grimm were shoved aboard in New York. “Ginger” is a show-off and a braggart who can’t handle rejection. Just wait till you hear about his actions at the end of the voyage!!! Tiger Norse is an obnoxious prize fighter.
Frank “Granny” and Letty Granville are brother and sister have been traveling for the past five years and normally live at the isolated Ledsholm Grange. Their parents, Sir Frank and Lady Granville, died in a car crash. The staff at the Grange includes Perriman, the gardener; Tom Harries, the caretaker; Mrs Harries; and, Smithers, the under-gardener who looks after the Grange’s electric plant.
Ledsholm in Sussex is . . .
. . . the village. Benjamin Cripps runs the local pub, The Four Bells. Jane Simms is the post mistress Cripps is sweet on. PC Gummer is the contentious local constable. Nearby is the Utopia Garage.
Hesketh Zoeman, a former branch manager of the English side of Wenlock Oil, is the fair-playing English agent for Redhead. His men include Kurt, who is Zoeman’s second-in-command; Hemmings; Lefty; Hibbert; Snelling; Greenaway; and, Browning.
Ralph Wenlock’s men include Pedro and Seltzer. The inhuman Saul Wenlock, his father, shows up in London. Vines is his chauffeur. Rosselli is another man of Wenlock's (the father). The Florida Moon is Wenlock’s yacht.
The Éclat Hotel is a popular spot. The Carilon Club appears to be an unofficial club for Department Z agents. The Assistant Postmaster General has a daughter, Felicity du Corle. Sommers Lee-Knight is on his honeymoon and let his house to Gazzoni.
New York City
Superintendent O’Halloran is with the New York PD. The Courier is run by George Warren, the editor.
Redhead, the deadly swine, is the nickname for a truly evil crime boss of whom everyone is in deadly terror.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a devilish combination of black background and the red of the author's name at the top, the ubiquitous slanted label in the top right corner with the series info, an info blurb under the title, and the stripes of the British flag in the middle right and those of the American flag in the lower left. That title under the author's name and the stars in the American flag are the only white.
The title is succinct. It is all about that vile Redhead.
My Take
I have a bone to pick with Creasey. I had the impression that Storm and Grimm were NOT associated with Department Z. When it came to the other men who helped them out, they may have been agents but I did not understand why they weren’t acting in cahoots with Department Z. What the hell?
It’s an odd start, part way through Storm’s and Grimm’s experience aboard ship, we get thrown back in time, and Creasey explains why the men are traveling in third class. It is a good tale and too sad that the gangster problem is that bad! The fears of Sergeant O’Halloran and Warren were scary!
Further incitement comes with Ginger grandstanding aboard ship and upsetting the Granvilles. Of course, the situation was sparked by a journalist who put words in their mouths. Shocking . . .! I suspect Storm and Grimm would have said it anyway.
What was the deal with the government weighing in and threatening Storm and Grimm with incarceration if they talked?? That sure sounds illegal to me. It does tie in with those lax attitudes of the time period with law enforcement getting into people’s apartments, the special license plates, reverse directory retrievals, and more without any pesky troubles with warrants and such. Such a contrast with today!
It’s the worried Letty and the angry Frank that pull Storm and Grimm in even more intimately. It’s a tale of great confusion — I know there are supposed to be unexpected developments in a story, to keep it exciting, but Redhead goes out of its way to twist and turn about, for the surprises keep on a’coming.
That Wenlock is certainly a bad character. No sense of fair play and dives into depths of wicked revenge. His counterpart, Zoeman, is so much the opposite. I had to laugh at Zoeman’s relationship with Storm.
Talk about secret! Even the agents don't know who each other is! It’s a good thing Creasey uses third person global subjective point-of-view! That way we get a perspective from all sorts of characters! Phew.
It’s exciting what with ambushes, gun battles, cover-ups, threats, explosives, kidnapping, arson, betrayals and double crosses, snipers, a “fortress” under siege, not much in the way of car chases but plenty of crashes(!), and malaria forces an ugly turn.
Sure, Creasey's Department Z is over-the-top with that devil-may-care attitude and the fortitude of these supermen of Department Z, men determined to succeed at all costs. Just thinking of that blackened thumb and finger . . .!
The Story
Amateur boxer Roger Grimm's visit to New York seemed like it was a success. That is, until he and his cousin's, Martin Storm’s, car was machine-gunned and the police had to smuggle the men out of the country . . .
But Storm and Grimm find no safety at home, either, and the search begins to find the man who is hunting them down.
Storm soon discovers that they have become involved with an American underworld boss who is planning to expand his business to Britain. Will Storm and Grimm be able to bob and weave their way out of the gangster’s clutches, with some help from the agents of Department Z — or will this be their final match?
Meanwhile robbery is on the rise in England, especially the Royal Mail! And a new friend’s family and home is under threat.
The Characters
Martin “Windy” Annersley Storm and his cousin Roger “Grimy” Montgomery Grimm, the winner of a prized boxing trophy in America, might both be agents for Department Z. Sir Joseph and Alicia, Lady Grimm, are Roger’s parents who live in Philmore Crescent. Marcus “Horrors” Horrobin is Storm’s manservant.
Department Z is . . .
. . . the unofficial name for British Intelligence. Gordon Craigie, Number One, is the legend who heads it up, preventing “war rising from the little flames of insurrection simmering . . . throughout Europe and the Near East”. Agents include Bill Loftus, the long-winded Timothy and Toby Arrans, who speaks with machine-gun precision, are twins; (I think Splits is the twins’ manservant); Martin Best; “Dodo” Trale; Derek Milhowel; and, St John “Righteous” Dane. Mention is made of Numbers Seven, Eight, Ten, and Twelve. Hmm, as well as a Chubby Spencer?
Scotland Yard
Superintendent Horace Miller is the liaison between the Yard and Department Z.
Sir William Divot is a politician with the Home Office. Perret is his chauffeur. I think Sir John is the prime minister.
On board the Hoveric . . .
. . . where Roker is the captain. Storm and Grimm were shoved aboard in New York. “Ginger” is a show-off and a braggart who can’t handle rejection. Just wait till you hear about his actions at the end of the voyage!!! Tiger Norse is an obnoxious prize fighter.
Frank “Granny” and Letty Granville are brother and sister have been traveling for the past five years and normally live at the isolated Ledsholm Grange. Their parents, Sir Frank and Lady Granville, died in a car crash. The staff at the Grange includes Perriman, the gardener; Tom Harries, the caretaker; Mrs Harries; and, Smithers, the under-gardener who looks after the Grange’s electric plant.
Ledsholm in Sussex is . . .
. . . the village. Benjamin Cripps runs the local pub, The Four Bells. Jane Simms is the post mistress Cripps is sweet on. PC Gummer is the contentious local constable. Nearby is the Utopia Garage.
Hesketh Zoeman, a former branch manager of the English side of Wenlock Oil, is the fair-playing English agent for Redhead. His men include Kurt, who is Zoeman’s second-in-command; Hemmings; Lefty; Hibbert; Snelling; Greenaway; and, Browning.
Ralph Wenlock’s men include Pedro and Seltzer. The inhuman Saul Wenlock, his father, shows up in London. Vines is his chauffeur. Rosselli is another man of Wenlock's (the father). The Florida Moon is Wenlock’s yacht.
The Éclat Hotel is a popular spot. The Carilon Club appears to be an unofficial club for Department Z agents. The Assistant Postmaster General has a daughter, Felicity du Corle. Sommers Lee-Knight is on his honeymoon and let his house to Gazzoni.
New York City
Superintendent O’Halloran is with the New York PD. The Courier is run by George Warren, the editor.
Redhead, the deadly swine, is the nickname for a truly evil crime boss of whom everyone is in deadly terror.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a devilish combination of black background and the red of the author's name at the top, the ubiquitous slanted label in the top right corner with the series info, an info blurb under the title, and the stripes of the British flag in the middle right and those of the American flag in the lower left. That title under the author's name and the stars in the American flag are the only white.
The title is succinct. It is all about that vile Redhead.
December 31, 2019
So that’s it, is it? We trod on Redhead’s corns and he’s after us. And all the police in New York daren’t – ’
‘It ain’t daren’t!’ interrupted Warren, taking a grip on himself. ‘It’s can’t. They think it’s him, but they can’t be sure – and if they were they wouldn’t know who it was, apart from just the name: Redhead. That’s all you can get from squealers with the gangs, just Redhead, and it’s enough to make a man order his box if Redhead’s put him on the spot.’ He crashed one great hand into a vast palm. ‘I reckon O’Halloran thought you’d really said all those things, Storm, and a man who’d do that asks for trouble. I reckon he wants to get you out of the country fast, because if anything happened to you there’d be a stink with your little island, and we don’t want that in U.S.A.’ He pushed back his chair and stood up, pointing the tip of his cigar towards Storm. ‘Son, you don’t know things over here. You don’t know Redhead, and I reckon you want a peck at him. Well, forget it! I wouldn’t print your story for all the gold in China! It’d sign your death warrant. Swallow your pride and get out of here while you can. Don’t go first class. Travel third, like a couple of bohunks, and don’t show your noses out on the first class deck until you’ve reached Cherbourg.' He shot out a hand, gripping Storm’s.
The authorities of New York were making as sure as humanly possible that no ‘accident’ stopped them from getting safely back to their native land. The two men felt stunned that such precautions were being taken; the deadly danger in which they stood, now that they were definitely put on the spot by the deadly Redhead, struck more forcefully through the hush-hush actions of the police than through the attack on the Long Island Road.
Redhead...was callous, inhuman, utterly ruthless.
‘It ain’t daren’t!’ interrupted Warren, taking a grip on himself. ‘It’s can’t. They think it’s him, but they can’t be sure – and if they were they wouldn’t know who it was, apart from just the name: Redhead. That’s all you can get from squealers with the gangs, just Redhead, and it’s enough to make a man order his box if Redhead’s put him on the spot.’ He crashed one great hand into a vast palm. ‘I reckon O’Halloran thought you’d really said all those things, Storm, and a man who’d do that asks for trouble. I reckon he wants to get you out of the country fast, because if anything happened to you there’d be a stink with your little island, and we don’t want that in U.S.A.’ He pushed back his chair and stood up, pointing the tip of his cigar towards Storm. ‘Son, you don’t know things over here. You don’t know Redhead, and I reckon you want a peck at him. Well, forget it! I wouldn’t print your story for all the gold in China! It’d sign your death warrant. Swallow your pride and get out of here while you can. Don’t go first class. Travel third, like a couple of bohunks, and don’t show your noses out on the first class deck until you’ve reached Cherbourg.' He shot out a hand, gripping Storm’s.
The authorities of New York were making as sure as humanly possible that no ‘accident’ stopped them from getting safely back to their native land. The two men felt stunned that such precautions were being taken; the deadly danger in which they stood, now that they were definitely put on the spot by the deadly Redhead, struck more forcefully through the hush-hush actions of the police than through the attack on the Long Island Road.
Redhead...was callous, inhuman, utterly ruthless.
September 27, 2017
I would like to thank the John Creasey Estate for a review copy of Redhead, the second in the Department Z series.
Martin "Windy" Storm and Robert "Grimy" Grimm, amateur boxers, are misquoted in a New York tabloid and awaken the ire of the worst gangster in America, Redhead. Hustled out of New York they meet a murderous redhead on the crossing. Is it the same man? No matter as on reaching England they find more trouble than they could ever have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed Redhead which is a strong adventure novel with a great shootout and an even better twist at the end. This is a novel of resourceful young men determined to do their best for their country, enthusiastic amateurs if you will, rather than Department Z professionals who only have a watching brief, allowing Windy to run the show (which he does well).
Written in 1933 the novel is full of the mores of the day including some shiver inducing casual racism and sexism but if you ignore that it is a ripping yarn. It is a very visual novel with plenty of guns, explosions and feats of derring do but also very exciting and, at times, tense as you wonder how they'll escape their latest fix with the emphasis on how as there is never any doubt they will.
It is interesting to watch the start of the thriller genre and Redhead has it all, albeit in broad brush strokes. Handsome, decent heroes, suitably nasty baddies (with some exceptions), loads of action, a twisty plot and a hint of romance. What more could you ask for? It is an easy, compelling read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Martin "Windy" Storm and Robert "Grimy" Grimm, amateur boxers, are misquoted in a New York tabloid and awaken the ire of the worst gangster in America, Redhead. Hustled out of New York they meet a murderous redhead on the crossing. Is it the same man? No matter as on reaching England they find more trouble than they could ever have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed Redhead which is a strong adventure novel with a great shootout and an even better twist at the end. This is a novel of resourceful young men determined to do their best for their country, enthusiastic amateurs if you will, rather than Department Z professionals who only have a watching brief, allowing Windy to run the show (which he does well).
Written in 1933 the novel is full of the mores of the day including some shiver inducing casual racism and sexism but if you ignore that it is a ripping yarn. It is a very visual novel with plenty of guns, explosions and feats of derring do but also very exciting and, at times, tense as you wonder how they'll escape their latest fix with the emphasis on how as there is never any doubt they will.
It is interesting to watch the start of the thriller genre and Redhead has it all, albeit in broad brush strokes. Handsome, decent heroes, suitably nasty baddies (with some exceptions), loads of action, a twisty plot and a hint of romance. What more could you ask for? It is an easy, compelling read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 2, 2018
I originally read Creasey's Toff series way back in the 70's -- but was offered a pdf version of this book by a publisher and this pair of almost cousins is just as good, fast paced, quick moving, enough twists to keep you on you toes and keep you reading fast! Creasey delivers a terrific story about gangs, guns and girls in an era defined by violence but tempered by a man of great honor and courage.
April 26, 2018
I am picking up these John Creasey books as they become available on Kindle. I have read so many of them as a youngster and am reading them again as a pleasant diversion. I would have given 5* to this but there is so much that is obviously out of date and these days seems naive. I just love the stories of this series and all the other Creasey series. Pure nostalgia for the books that engendered my love for crime/mystery/action books.
March 31, 2019
A time capsule of crime fiction. Surprised no one said "you dirty rat!"
Casual racism common to the years between World wars? Lands with a thud.
Lots of action and double crosses.
Casual racism common to the years between World wars? Lands with a thud.
Lots of action and double crosses.
August 21, 2016
I had read most of the later Department Z books and was happy to find the earlier ones have been re-released. This has the same weaknesses as most of the others: very little characterization, national and racial stereotypes. Everyone has guns. And also the same strength - enough suspense to keep me interested.
January 25, 2017
Guns! Gangsters! Dames! What else do you need? Written in the 30s, there are a certain amount of casual ethnic slurs and cultural assumptions which are a bit jarring. That's the price for seeing the historical basis of the modern thriller. My only complaint is the occasional attempt to write in dialect, which is a personal bete noir. Fun, exciting, twisty and satisfying at the end.
Want to read
November 4, 2018Synopsis: Martin Storm’s visit to New York was great until his car was shot at! Back home, no safety either. How did he become involved with the mob?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews