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Philip St. Ives #1
The Brass Go-Between
Asked to deliver a quarter of a million dollars to whomever has stolen a prized African shield from a Washington museum, Philip St. Ives soon finds himself involved in a dangerous game. Reprint. PW.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
67 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Ross Thomas
58 books170 followersRoss Thomas was an American writer of crime fiction. He is best known for his witty thrillers that expose the mechanisms of professional politics. He also wrote several novels under the pseudonym Oliver Bleeck about professional go-between Philip St. Ives.
Thomas served in the Philippines during World War II. He worked as a public relations specialist, reporter, union spokesman, and political strategist in the USA, Bonn (Germany), and Nigeria before becoming a writer.
His debut novel, The Cold War Swap, was written in only six weeks and won a 1967 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Briarpatch earned the 1985 Edgar for Best Novel. In 2002 he was honored with the inaugural Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award, one of only two authors to earn the award after their death (the other was 87th Precinct author Evan Hunter in 2006).
He died of lung cancer two months before his 70th birthday.
Thomas served in the Philippines during World War II. He worked as a public relations specialist, reporter, union spokesman, and political strategist in the USA, Bonn (Germany), and Nigeria before becoming a writer.
His debut novel, The Cold War Swap, was written in only six weeks and won a 1967 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Briarpatch earned the 1985 Edgar for Best Novel. In 2002 he was honored with the inaugural Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award, one of only two authors to earn the award after their death (the other was 87th Precinct author Evan Hunter in 2006).
He died of lung cancer two months before his 70th birthday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 28, 2023
Well, this was a pleasant diversion and a pretty decently plotted story. Ross Thomas wrote the Philip St. Ives series, apparently under a pseudonym, but it's still Ross Thomas at the pen. And that means a fun time spent between the book covers.
In Philip St. Ives, we have sort of a reluctant hero, a protagonist that would just as soon remain out of the spotlight as he serves as a go-between in order to recover stolen goods or people. He has a strong moral compass and is distinctly honest, averse to bribery and double crossing those who have placed trust (and a commission) in him for his efforts.
The story here is far-fetched, but that's besides the point. Suspend critical thinking and just ride along as St. Ives does his level best to recover a symbolic African warrior’s shield on behalf of a Washington, DC museum. Since it is a priceless item, the museum is willing to facilitate the extorted ransom, via St. Ives, in order to insure its return. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, if you believe it will go down that easily, I've got some ocean front property I'd like to sell to you.
Of course, when he goes to deliver the money, St. Ives winds up knee-deep in a more complex situation than he anticipated. How it is resolved is quite a stretch, but it's all in good fun and a nice way to spend a few evenings. 3.5 stars rounded up.
In Philip St. Ives, we have sort of a reluctant hero, a protagonist that would just as soon remain out of the spotlight as he serves as a go-between in order to recover stolen goods or people. He has a strong moral compass and is distinctly honest, averse to bribery and double crossing those who have placed trust (and a commission) in him for his efforts.
The story here is far-fetched, but that's besides the point. Suspend critical thinking and just ride along as St. Ives does his level best to recover a symbolic African warrior’s shield on behalf of a Washington, DC museum. Since it is a priceless item, the museum is willing to facilitate the extorted ransom, via St. Ives, in order to insure its return. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, if you believe it will go down that easily, I've got some ocean front property I'd like to sell to you.
Of course, when he goes to deliver the money, St. Ives winds up knee-deep in a more complex situation than he anticipated. How it is resolved is quite a stretch, but it's all in good fun and a nice way to spend a few evenings. 3.5 stars rounded up.
March 6, 2024
I heard that this is supposedly not up to par with his other books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even his mediocre books are better than most other authors, in my opinion. It was interesting, easy to follow, with some good dialog and interesting characters. The ending was surprising, but not really, considering the author.
It was an enjoyable listen as an audiobook, easy to follow and pretty well done, I think. If you're an audiobook lover, it would be a good one to listen to, especially if you haven't read any Ross Thomas books before; it might draw you in.
It was an enjoyable listen as an audiobook, easy to follow and pretty well done, I think. If you're an audiobook lover, it would be a good one to listen to, especially if you haven't read any Ross Thomas books before; it might draw you in.
May 28, 2019
The Philip St. Ives series was written by Ross Thomas under the Oliver Bleeck pseudonym. I can't decide, after reading this first in the series, whether St. Ives more resembles Archie Goodwin or Dortmunder or even Stanley Hastings, probably a combination of each.
St. Ives has developed a reputation for being an honest go-between, that is, he delivers money to kidnappers, ransom demands; an intermediary who can be trusted not to rip off either party. So when a famous antique African shield is stolen from a museum and the thieves request $250,000 in small bills for its return, St, Ives is a logical choice to deliver the money.
Being an exceedingly cautious man, he decides to check out a few things, especially after the body of the security guard is found. Then the man's wife commits suicide, then we learn the museum director's husband was killed in a car accident four weeks earlier, a crooked cop who tried to horn in on the deal with St. Ives is murdered, and things get a bit complicated. Of course since they were written in the sixties, everyone needed to use a pay phone and hotel rooms were $16 a night and $250,000 was a heck of a lot of money.
It' s a good story with the conversation so reminiscent of some of my favorite characters that I will most certainly read the rest of the books in the series.
St. Ives has developed a reputation for being an honest go-between, that is, he delivers money to kidnappers, ransom demands; an intermediary who can be trusted not to rip off either party. So when a famous antique African shield is stolen from a museum and the thieves request $250,000 in small bills for its return, St, Ives is a logical choice to deliver the money.
Being an exceedingly cautious man, he decides to check out a few things, especially after the body of the security guard is found. Then the man's wife commits suicide, then we learn the museum director's husband was killed in a car accident four weeks earlier, a crooked cop who tried to horn in on the deal with St. Ives is murdered, and things get a bit complicated. Of course since they were written in the sixties, everyone needed to use a pay phone and hotel rooms were $16 a night and $250,000 was a heck of a lot of money.
It' s a good story with the conversation so reminiscent of some of my favorite characters that I will most certainly read the rest of the books in the series.
February 8, 2015
I wonder what readers thought when the first Oliver Bleeck novel showed up. If they had read any of Ross Thomas's earlier novels, especially THE SEERSUCKER WHIPSAW, would they have said, hey, this is Ross Thomas? The themes, political observations, and cynical asides are of a piece with Ross Thomas. When Ruth Rendell writes as Barbara Vine the same darkness is there but it has a smaller focus: Vine writes novels about psychology, Rendell novels of crime and society. THE BRASS GO-BETWEEN introduced the character of Philip St. Ives, but he could function as a character in any of Thomas's other novels. Perhaps, like Donald E. Westlake, he just need to add a pen name to get more books into the marketplace. In any case, this is an enjoyable heist novel, with the focus on returning the booty not boosting it. It involves African politics and Good-Ole-American corruption. One wonders if a professional Go-Between, who arranges ransoms between criminal and victim, could make much of a living in our economy, but St. Ives does just that with his principles intact.
April 17, 2011
I always enjoy suspense thrillers written in the sixties and this was no exception. Nice, crisp storytelling with a sensibly cautious hero and enough action and twists to keep the pages turning.
February 11, 2019
Ross Thomas war sehr produktiv in seinem schriftstellerischen Leben und so entstanden nicht nur einige Standalones, sondern auch mehrere Krimireihen. Neben den beiden Duos Artie Wu und Quincy Durant sowie McCorkle und Padillo dreht sich eine Reihe um den ehemaligen Journalisten Philip St. Ives. Diese veröffentlichte er ursprünglich unter dem Pseudonym Oliver Bleeck. Der Alexander Verlag hat nun 2015 den ersten von fünf Fällen um den arbeitslosen Reporter neu aufgelegt, im Jahre 2016 dann auch schon den zweiten Teil „Protokoll einer Entführung“. Wie gut, dass der schon in meinem gut sortierten SUB auf mich wartet, denn nach „Der Messingdeal“ kann ich auf jeden Fall sagen, dass ich diese Reihe weiter verfolgen werde.
Philip St. Ives ist und war ein guter, ein sehr guter Reporter bei einer New Yorker Zeitung, die allerdings, kurz nachdem er zwischen einem Dieb und dem Beraubten vermittelte und eine großartige Reportage darüber verfasst hatte, dicht machte. St. Ives, nun also arbeitsloser Journalist, wurde zum Mittelsmann, da der damalige Dieb mit der Vermittlung äußerst zufrieden war und St. Ives empfahl wanden sich immer mehr Kriminelle an St. Ives, bzw. an Myron Greene, den Anwalt, der damals den Beraubten vertrat und mittlerweile auch St. Ives Anwalt ist, um bei Erpressung, Diebstahl oder auch Entführung zu vermitteln. St. Ives, der sonst nichts zu tun hat, als Pokerrunden abzuhalten und seine Kontakte warm zu halten, muss nun aber trotzdem seinen Lebensstil pflegen, inklusive Unterhaltszahlungen an seine Ex-Frau.
Warum eignet sich also St. Ives als guter Mittelsmann? Ganz einfach: es ist ihm egal. Er ist völlig neutral und kümmert sich nicht. Er ermittelt nicht, er hilft der Polizei nicht, er wickelt einfach die Übergabe ab. Die Betrogenen und Beraubten händigen ihm das geforderte Geld aus, der Dieb oder Entführer schickt ihn auf eine Reise zur Übergabe, die Polizei ermittelt, mischt sich aber in die Übergabe nicht ein. St. Ives ist vertrauenswürdig. Für die Bestohlenen, als auch für die Kriminellen. Er unterrichtet die Polizei über alles, aber er verrät den Dieb nicht. Er ist der ideale Verbindungsmann, ein Vermittler von Geldkoffern. Von der geforderten Geldsumme erhält er 10 Prozent vom Opfer der Tat, derweil sein Anwalt 10 Prozent von diesem Anteil bekommt und sich um alle geschäftlichen Belange kümmert.
Im vorliegenden ersten Teil der Reihe geht es um ein Messingschild, 31 Kilo schwer, fast einen Meter Durchmesser. Dieser wurde aus dem Washingtoner Coulter Museum am Eröffnungstag einer Ausstellung um afrikanische Kunst gestohlen. Der Messingwert ist zu vernachlässigen, doch der kulturelle Wert, vor allem für die beiden Staaten Jandola und Kamporeen, die zuvor ein Staat waren und sich nun heftigst bekriegen, ist immens. Das Schild symbolisiert Kraft, Stärke und Autorität und wird von den Menschen der beiden Staaten verehrt. Jandola ist im Besitz des Schildes und hat dieses für die Ausstellung zur Verfügung gestellt, welche nun in Washington gastiert. Da das Museum gut geschützt ist, muss der Job von einem Insider ausgeführt oder unterstützt worden sein und tatsächlich findet man schon bald darauf die Leiche eines Wachmannes des Museums. Die Diebe des Schildes verlangen nach St. Ives als Vermittler und 250.000 Dollar in gebrauchten Zehner und Zwanzigern.
Es scheint mir ein Muster zu sein, dass Thomas Helden zumeist sehr kühl und rational sind. Das ist bei St. Ives nicht anders. Nichtsdestotrotz kommt er nicht ganz darum, einige Informationen einzuholen, denn auch als Vermittler möchte er nur ungern sein Leben lassen, wenn er das Messingschild zurückholt. Die mehr und mehr auftauchenden Leichen verstärken sein Gefühl, dass das ein krumme Vermittlung ist und mehr dahinter steckt, als man auf den ersten Blick ahnt. Und so finden dann doch einige Ermittlungen statt, auch wenn St. Ives immer wieder darauf beharrt, das nicht zu tun und die Polizei keineswegs unterstützen will.
Neben den Reichen und Berühmten, die dem Museum vorstehen, der Museumsdirektorin, die kalt und unnahbar scheint, aber ihren Mann erst durch einen Unfall verloren hat, korrupten und zu gut angezogenen Bullen, die gar nichts mit dem Fall zu tun haben, loyalen, aber armen Bullen, welche die Diebe schnappen wollen, gibt es noch Mr. Mbwate und Mr. Ulado, zwei Männer aus Kamporeen, die es zwar letztendlich schaffen, St. Ives Herz zu erweichen, aber eben nur soweit, dass er, nachdem der Austausch fast stattgefunden hat, sich von der Gerechtigkeit leiten lässt, auch wenn er sich fast schon sicher ist, einer Lüge aufgesessen zu sein. Und worum geht es eigentlich? Natürlich, worum sonst: um Macht, Geld und ein wenig Politik.
„Wenn es also nicht um Geld gegangen ist, warum haben Sie es dann gemacht – ich meine, ein Mann wie Sie?“
[…]
„Für Zuckerwatte und hungernde Kinder vielleicht“, sagte ich. „Oder für kranke Kätzchen und verlaufene Hündchen.“
(S. 267)
Fazit:
Ein neutraler Mittelsmann, der mit einem Schulterzucken vermittelt, aber dann gezwungenermaßen ermittelt, um sein Leben nicht zu riskieren und dabei ein klitzekleines Stückchen seines Herzens entdeckt. Ein ungewöhnlicher Protagonist im Ross Thomas Figurenensemble, aber thematisch bleibt der Autor sich treu. Und der Spannung, der bleibt er auch treu. Gelungen!
Philip St. Ives ist und war ein guter, ein sehr guter Reporter bei einer New Yorker Zeitung, die allerdings, kurz nachdem er zwischen einem Dieb und dem Beraubten vermittelte und eine großartige Reportage darüber verfasst hatte, dicht machte. St. Ives, nun also arbeitsloser Journalist, wurde zum Mittelsmann, da der damalige Dieb mit der Vermittlung äußerst zufrieden war und St. Ives empfahl wanden sich immer mehr Kriminelle an St. Ives, bzw. an Myron Greene, den Anwalt, der damals den Beraubten vertrat und mittlerweile auch St. Ives Anwalt ist, um bei Erpressung, Diebstahl oder auch Entführung zu vermitteln. St. Ives, der sonst nichts zu tun hat, als Pokerrunden abzuhalten und seine Kontakte warm zu halten, muss nun aber trotzdem seinen Lebensstil pflegen, inklusive Unterhaltszahlungen an seine Ex-Frau.
Warum eignet sich also St. Ives als guter Mittelsmann? Ganz einfach: es ist ihm egal. Er ist völlig neutral und kümmert sich nicht. Er ermittelt nicht, er hilft der Polizei nicht, er wickelt einfach die Übergabe ab. Die Betrogenen und Beraubten händigen ihm das geforderte Geld aus, der Dieb oder Entführer schickt ihn auf eine Reise zur Übergabe, die Polizei ermittelt, mischt sich aber in die Übergabe nicht ein. St. Ives ist vertrauenswürdig. Für die Bestohlenen, als auch für die Kriminellen. Er unterrichtet die Polizei über alles, aber er verrät den Dieb nicht. Er ist der ideale Verbindungsmann, ein Vermittler von Geldkoffern. Von der geforderten Geldsumme erhält er 10 Prozent vom Opfer der Tat, derweil sein Anwalt 10 Prozent von diesem Anteil bekommt und sich um alle geschäftlichen Belange kümmert.
Im vorliegenden ersten Teil der Reihe geht es um ein Messingschild, 31 Kilo schwer, fast einen Meter Durchmesser. Dieser wurde aus dem Washingtoner Coulter Museum am Eröffnungstag einer Ausstellung um afrikanische Kunst gestohlen. Der Messingwert ist zu vernachlässigen, doch der kulturelle Wert, vor allem für die beiden Staaten Jandola und Kamporeen, die zuvor ein Staat waren und sich nun heftigst bekriegen, ist immens. Das Schild symbolisiert Kraft, Stärke und Autorität und wird von den Menschen der beiden Staaten verehrt. Jandola ist im Besitz des Schildes und hat dieses für die Ausstellung zur Verfügung gestellt, welche nun in Washington gastiert. Da das Museum gut geschützt ist, muss der Job von einem Insider ausgeführt oder unterstützt worden sein und tatsächlich findet man schon bald darauf die Leiche eines Wachmannes des Museums. Die Diebe des Schildes verlangen nach St. Ives als Vermittler und 250.000 Dollar in gebrauchten Zehner und Zwanzigern.
Es scheint mir ein Muster zu sein, dass Thomas Helden zumeist sehr kühl und rational sind. Das ist bei St. Ives nicht anders. Nichtsdestotrotz kommt er nicht ganz darum, einige Informationen einzuholen, denn auch als Vermittler möchte er nur ungern sein Leben lassen, wenn er das Messingschild zurückholt. Die mehr und mehr auftauchenden Leichen verstärken sein Gefühl, dass das ein krumme Vermittlung ist und mehr dahinter steckt, als man auf den ersten Blick ahnt. Und so finden dann doch einige Ermittlungen statt, auch wenn St. Ives immer wieder darauf beharrt, das nicht zu tun und die Polizei keineswegs unterstützen will.
Neben den Reichen und Berühmten, die dem Museum vorstehen, der Museumsdirektorin, die kalt und unnahbar scheint, aber ihren Mann erst durch einen Unfall verloren hat, korrupten und zu gut angezogenen Bullen, die gar nichts mit dem Fall zu tun haben, loyalen, aber armen Bullen, welche die Diebe schnappen wollen, gibt es noch Mr. Mbwate und Mr. Ulado, zwei Männer aus Kamporeen, die es zwar letztendlich schaffen, St. Ives Herz zu erweichen, aber eben nur soweit, dass er, nachdem der Austausch fast stattgefunden hat, sich von der Gerechtigkeit leiten lässt, auch wenn er sich fast schon sicher ist, einer Lüge aufgesessen zu sein. Und worum geht es eigentlich? Natürlich, worum sonst: um Macht, Geld und ein wenig Politik.
„Wenn es also nicht um Geld gegangen ist, warum haben Sie es dann gemacht – ich meine, ein Mann wie Sie?“
[…]
„Für Zuckerwatte und hungernde Kinder vielleicht“, sagte ich. „Oder für kranke Kätzchen und verlaufene Hündchen.“
(S. 267)
Fazit:
Ein neutraler Mittelsmann, der mit einem Schulterzucken vermittelt, aber dann gezwungenermaßen ermittelt, um sein Leben nicht zu riskieren und dabei ein klitzekleines Stückchen seines Herzens entdeckt. Ein ungewöhnlicher Protagonist im Ross Thomas Figurenensemble, aber thematisch bleibt der Autor sich treu. Und der Spannung, der bleibt er auch treu. Gelungen!
October 22, 2024
I have just learned belatedly of Ross Thomas in the past year. I plan to make my way through all his books in the years ahead. Fortunately, The Philip St. Ives Mysteries, with Thomas’ nom du plume ✍️ Oliver Bleeck, has been made available as kindle bargain ebooks. The Brass Go-Between is book 1 of 5 in the series.
The book’s antihero is one Philip St. Ives, who takes pains to deny the St., and plays a professional middle man in the recovery of people or items taken, and not likely to recovered, except through the exchange of funds outside the purview of law enforcement.
To say St. Ives is cynical or hard boiled would certainly be apt, but there also is the personal code of honor, some might say dishonor, that guides his behavior and professional decisions. This case involves the museum heist of a medieval African shield of legendary powers. St. Ives takes the case, but as the bodies pile up, the police lurk for answers, and the international and humanitarian aspects of the shield’s recovery become clear, St. Ives must consider his involvement and his code of decision making.
No spoilers, but a hint at his views on life: “I’m a sucker for cotton candy. Spun sugar. Just like I’m a sucker for stories about hungry, kids and lost puppies and sick kittens. But after a while you get tired of listening to the stories, just like you get tired of eating cotton candy. I’m tired of your stories so I’m going to do something about it.” And again as the conclusion to his decision, “Then if it wasn’t for money, why did you go ahead and do it, I mean, a guy like you?” I looked at him for a while before answering. He seemed to be in no hurry. “Cotton candy and hungry kids, perhaps,” I said. “Or sick kittens and lost puppies.”
A guy like St. Ives, he takes a little warming up to, but liking the hard boiled type, I look forward to more in St. Ives series, by one of America’s best ever writers of mystery and international intrigue.
It’s hard to be almost 73, and not be a tad cynical, so there is comfort for this reader in the genre that tackles the topic head on, or at least side ways.
The book’s antihero is one Philip St. Ives, who takes pains to deny the St., and plays a professional middle man in the recovery of people or items taken, and not likely to recovered, except through the exchange of funds outside the purview of law enforcement.
To say St. Ives is cynical or hard boiled would certainly be apt, but there also is the personal code of honor, some might say dishonor, that guides his behavior and professional decisions. This case involves the museum heist of a medieval African shield of legendary powers. St. Ives takes the case, but as the bodies pile up, the police lurk for answers, and the international and humanitarian aspects of the shield’s recovery become clear, St. Ives must consider his involvement and his code of decision making.
No spoilers, but a hint at his views on life: “I’m a sucker for cotton candy. Spun sugar. Just like I’m a sucker for stories about hungry, kids and lost puppies and sick kittens. But after a while you get tired of listening to the stories, just like you get tired of eating cotton candy. I’m tired of your stories so I’m going to do something about it.” And again as the conclusion to his decision, “Then if it wasn’t for money, why did you go ahead and do it, I mean, a guy like you?” I looked at him for a while before answering. He seemed to be in no hurry. “Cotton candy and hungry kids, perhaps,” I said. “Or sick kittens and lost puppies.”
A guy like St. Ives, he takes a little warming up to, but liking the hard boiled type, I look forward to more in St. Ives series, by one of America’s best ever writers of mystery and international intrigue.
It’s hard to be almost 73, and not be a tad cynical, so there is comfort for this reader in the genre that tackles the topic head on, or at least side ways.
September 14, 2019
This year I've been working my way through all of Ross Thomas' old thrillers. I've already done his other two series -- sometime spies Mac MacCorkle and Mike Padillo, then soldiers of fortune Artie Wu and Quincy Durant -- so I figured I'd tackle his third one about professional go-between Philip St. Ives, which he wrote under the pen name "Oliver Bleeck."
I should have started with the St. Ives series. Holy cow is this first one good.
St. Ives is a former New York newspaper columnist who, after losing his job, winds up becoming a professional go-between helping to recover stolen goods or kidnapped people. His previous job put him in contact with people all over the city, high-toned wheeler dealers and low-life crooks and everyone in between. Like Travis McGee, he's a sort of salvage consultant who collects his fee as a percentage of the ransom.
In this novel, the first in the series, St. Ives is hired by a museum to hand over the ransom for a priceless African artifact, an ancient warrior's shield with mythic properties that are important to two warring factions in a rebellion going on in its homeland. He soon realizes that there's a lot more going on than a simple theft, in part because so many people involved in the case wind up dead.
As usual with a Thomas thriller, you get sharp dialogue, vivid characterization and cynical twists in the plot. The ending didn't go at all the way I thought it would, and that's always a plus. Can't wait to get to the second book in the series!
I should have started with the St. Ives series. Holy cow is this first one good.
St. Ives is a former New York newspaper columnist who, after losing his job, winds up becoming a professional go-between helping to recover stolen goods or kidnapped people. His previous job put him in contact with people all over the city, high-toned wheeler dealers and low-life crooks and everyone in between. Like Travis McGee, he's a sort of salvage consultant who collects his fee as a percentage of the ransom.
In this novel, the first in the series, St. Ives is hired by a museum to hand over the ransom for a priceless African artifact, an ancient warrior's shield with mythic properties that are important to two warring factions in a rebellion going on in its homeland. He soon realizes that there's a lot more going on than a simple theft, in part because so many people involved in the case wind up dead.
As usual with a Thomas thriller, you get sharp dialogue, vivid characterization and cynical twists in the plot. The ending didn't go at all the way I thought it would, and that's always a plus. Can't wait to get to the second book in the series!
January 16, 2018
Philip St. Ives is a former reporter who now makes a living as a go-between exchanging money to bring kidnapping victims or stolen goods back to their rightful place. He freely admits to being cowardly and his days as a newspaperman have made him cynical in ways that make for fine humor. Here the item is an antique shield that means a great deal to people in Africa. When the item is stolen from a Washington DC art exhibit, St. Ives is brought in to help get the item back. He eventually gets caught between the gallery patron, a crooked NY cop, motivated DC cops, and a couple of African military guys. It all proves how hard it is to make an easy living.
June 7, 2018
Ross Thomas can do a lot better. But this is a pretty good intro of Philip St. Ives, one of his heroes that dance around corruption but never actually fall.
It’s good. Not his best. It suffers from a lack of real female characters, which is a typical failing.
There were some twists, but nothing unique.
Recommended for Thomas fans only.
It’s good. Not his best. It suffers from a lack of real female characters, which is a typical failing.
There were some twists, but nothing unique.
Recommended for Thomas fans only.
November 3, 2020
I dunno. I guess I'm just sort of out of ways to say that even Ross Thomas's worst book is awfully good, and this is not his worst book.
March 20, 2014
(Audible) It's hard for me to resist Ross Thomas. I've liked these books since I first read them 20 years ago! There's snappy dialog - and always more trouble coming down the street and in the door! This is the perfect kind of book for a good audible experience.
August 19, 2023
Ross Thomas (1926-1995) wrote a bunch of first-rate thrillers. They were funny, well plotted and exciting. They were usually set in the world of politics and international intrigue. Several of the best of them follow the adventures of Artie Wu, Quincy Durant and Maurice "Otherguy" Overby, three accomplished conmen.
Thomas, under the pseudonym "Oliver Bleeck", wrote five books about Philip St. Ives, a professional go-between. If an insurance company wants to buy back insured jewelry from the thieves, St. Ives does the switch. If a kidnapper wants to collect a ransom from the victim's family, St. Ives drops off the money and gets the kidnapee. It is a niche job, but he has developed a reputation among lawyers, insurers and law enforcement. His fee is 10% of the payoff and he does not guarantee return of the stolen goods or person.
I was a big fan of Thomas' books. I remember getting "The Fools in Town are on Our Side" from the library when it was published in 1970. I was in high school. The title hooked me. I read most of his other books as they came out.
Somehow, I got the idea that I would not enjoy the St. Ives books. It could be that the name is so snotty. I picked up the paperbacks over the years, but never read them.
Of course, I was wrong. I just read the first two and they are excellent. In this one, a brass shield which is the mystical symbol of power in a small African nation is the star attraction in an international exhibition of African art. It gets stolen from a Washington DC art museum. The museum receives a demand for $250,000 to return it. (This was written in 1969. I find it helpful to think $5 million when they say $250,000.)
The thieves also insist that St. Ives does the switch. St Ives, who is the narrator, is dubious but he needs the money to pay his ex-wife.
Bleeck/Thomas fills the books with great stories, wisecracks and characters. St. Ives' lawyer/manger is Myron Green. He is a nervous big firm corporate lawyer who loves the thrill of vicariously being involved with crimes. St. Ives lives in New York City. He has a monthly poker game which includes a crooked cop, a mob guy and a Broadway actor. They all get involved.
The plot is satisfyingly complicated. A representative from a rebel group in Africa gets involved with the search for the shield. Witnesses and participants in the crime start to get killed. St Ives is getting pressured and threatened from every side and we get a full helping of double crosses. The ending is appropriately cynical.
These days thrillers tend to go 400 pages or so and be full of stuffing and fluff. This is 180 pages long and gets the job done. I think the days of lean well told thrillers is gone. A shame.
Thomas, under the pseudonym "Oliver Bleeck", wrote five books about Philip St. Ives, a professional go-between. If an insurance company wants to buy back insured jewelry from the thieves, St. Ives does the switch. If a kidnapper wants to collect a ransom from the victim's family, St. Ives drops off the money and gets the kidnapee. It is a niche job, but he has developed a reputation among lawyers, insurers and law enforcement. His fee is 10% of the payoff and he does not guarantee return of the stolen goods or person.
I was a big fan of Thomas' books. I remember getting "The Fools in Town are on Our Side" from the library when it was published in 1970. I was in high school. The title hooked me. I read most of his other books as they came out.
Somehow, I got the idea that I would not enjoy the St. Ives books. It could be that the name is so snotty. I picked up the paperbacks over the years, but never read them.
Of course, I was wrong. I just read the first two and they are excellent. In this one, a brass shield which is the mystical symbol of power in a small African nation is the star attraction in an international exhibition of African art. It gets stolen from a Washington DC art museum. The museum receives a demand for $250,000 to return it. (This was written in 1969. I find it helpful to think $5 million when they say $250,000.)
The thieves also insist that St. Ives does the switch. St Ives, who is the narrator, is dubious but he needs the money to pay his ex-wife.
Bleeck/Thomas fills the books with great stories, wisecracks and characters. St. Ives' lawyer/manger is Myron Green. He is a nervous big firm corporate lawyer who loves the thrill of vicariously being involved with crimes. St. Ives lives in New York City. He has a monthly poker game which includes a crooked cop, a mob guy and a Broadway actor. They all get involved.
The plot is satisfyingly complicated. A representative from a rebel group in Africa gets involved with the search for the shield. Witnesses and participants in the crime start to get killed. St Ives is getting pressured and threatened from every side and we get a full helping of double crosses. The ending is appropriately cynical.
These days thrillers tend to go 400 pages or so and be full of stuffing and fluff. This is 180 pages long and gets the job done. I think the days of lean well told thrillers is gone. A shame.
February 23, 2023
Ross Thomas was a prolific author who wrote a number of relatively hard-boiled crime novels over a nearly thirty-year run, starting in 1966 with The Cold War Swap. Beginning in 1969, he wrote a series of five novels under the pen name Oliver Bleeck. The series featured a protagonist named Philip St. Ives who had previously been a journalist. He now works as a professional go-between, facilitating the return of kidnap victims or stolen items. The Brass G0-Between is the first in that series.
The Oliver Bleeck novels are lighter in tone than the books that Thomas wrote under his own name. Without overdrawing the comparisons, they might remind a reader of Donald Westlake's Dortmunder series or perhaps Lawrence Block's Tanner series. As this book opens, someone has stolen a very valuable African shield from a Washington museum. The thieves want $250,000 for its return and the museum engages St. Ives to make the exchange.
As always happens in these novels, this situation goes sideways very quickly. The bodies start dropping and St. Ives is forced to navigate his way through an increasingly dangerous situation. Now that the possession of the shield is up for grabs, several competing factions are determined to to get it, no matter the cost in blood or money, and Philip St. Ives is up to his neck in the middle of it all.
This was a fun read although it was impossible to take any of it very seriously. Thus far I would say that the "Oliver Bleeck" novels are not on a par with the "Ross Thomas" books, but I will certainly read more of them.
The Oliver Bleeck novels are lighter in tone than the books that Thomas wrote under his own name. Without overdrawing the comparisons, they might remind a reader of Donald Westlake's Dortmunder series or perhaps Lawrence Block's Tanner series. As this book opens, someone has stolen a very valuable African shield from a Washington museum. The thieves want $250,000 for its return and the museum engages St. Ives to make the exchange.
As always happens in these novels, this situation goes sideways very quickly. The bodies start dropping and St. Ives is forced to navigate his way through an increasingly dangerous situation. Now that the possession of the shield is up for grabs, several competing factions are determined to to get it, no matter the cost in blood or money, and Philip St. Ives is up to his neck in the middle of it all.
This was a fun read although it was impossible to take any of it very seriously. Thus far I would say that the "Oliver Bleeck" novels are not on a par with the "Ross Thomas" books, but I will certainly read more of them.
August 21, 2021
Former newspaper columnist Philip St. Ives agrees to act as intermediary between the Coulter Museum in Washington, DC, and the thieves who've stolen a priceless brass shield from said institution. Unfortunately the shield is claimed by two African nations, Jandola and Komporeen, the latter having sent secret agents to America to retrieve the shield themselves. Add a reclusive billionaire oilman, Coulter Museum director Mrs. Frances Wingo, a corrupt cop; two more DC cops and the hapless thieves themselves, and St. Ives' difficulties become apparent. This classic caper novel was a Mystery Guild selection in 1969.
January 5, 2021
Ross Thomas wrote this under a pseudonym and tried to alter his writing style a bit, mostly to his detriment (many long sentences with many commas make for a trudge). Fortunately, he gives up pretty quickly and the reader is left with a classic Ross Thomas plot and excellent characters. The politics in this one are a little more evident than in some of his other works and the whole thing is slick and overall a joy to read. I will probably finish the other four Phillip St. Ives books this month.
December 25, 2025
I can’t believe I didn’t read this 15 years ago, but this is the sort of Ross Thomas novel that hits all the high/level intrigue points along with some clever cynicism. I think it’s the first Philip st. Ives novel, focusing on the trials and tribulations of being a criminal go-between in the case of high-end art espionage and international politics.
May 31, 2017
Ross Thomas wrote his St Ives series under the pseudonym Oliver Bleeck and as more than one person has pointed out they are bleak. In this one, no one wins and when St Ives gives in to his conscience he is, of course, betrayed. Nice skullduggery though with an art theft as the trigger.
June 12, 2018
Just a go-between ?
A bit more than that, all in all. Usual Russ Thomas story...gets got interest and keeps you hooked. God guys and bad guys all after the same object but for different reasons, well, not really. In the end there were very few of the good ones. Interesting.
A bit more than that, all in all. Usual Russ Thomas story...gets got interest and keeps you hooked. God guys and bad guys all after the same object but for different reasons, well, not really. In the end there were very few of the good ones. Interesting.
July 13, 2018
Like all of Ross Thomas' books, this one offers a complicated plot and a slew of nefarious characters. It is an easy read, and a page-turner, but without the pizazz of Thomas' best. If only Thomas had written more Artie Wu novels!
February 28, 2023
Good. Unusually for a crime thriller, it's pretty funny. I wasn't entirely happy about the resolution or final twist. For such an intelligent author, the plot could have been tighter and more satisfying. I do plan to continue on with the series, though.
November 24, 2019
Very average pulp noir sans sex and sans interesting characters.
February 21, 2020
The writing crackles but it's a little dated. Ultimately somewhat bleak.
April 29, 2020
Comical at times and whimsical and violent caper tale with seasonings of Donald L. Westlake added. Phillip St. Ives is a 'go-between' and is hire to deliver ransom and then get the goods. This is when the people who have had something stolen just want it back and no police involvement. This job requires him to deliver $250,000 to get back a stolen sacred African Tribal battle shield that was on display at a Washington DC museum. Lots of layers are peeled back as this doesn't seem to be what it appears to be and the conclusion defines the word 'cynicism'.
June 12, 2023
A quick and breezy crime story. Not a ton of substance, but entertaining overall.
July 7, 2024
A hard-boiled, casually racist story from 1969 with that “cities are seedy” vibe common to films from the era such as The French Connection and the Seven-Ups.
May 22, 2025
Not bad for the first in a series. A bit clunky at times, but not bad.
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December 28, 2025The 50 Prompt Eighth Doctor Reading Challenge - Historical Adventures - 30) A Story That Features A Famous Painting, Artefact Or Museum
August 15, 2020
This is the 5th Ross Thomas (aka Oliver Bleeck) novel I’ve read. 4 have been 5+ stars (the other 3 stars). Very few authors are this creative & intelligent with their story lines and, best of all, their dialogue.
I’m on to the 6th one.
I’m on to the 6th one.
January 29, 2021
Interesting approach to a crime novel, our main character is a professional go-between. Kidnappers or thieves tell whoever they are trying to get a ransom from to use St. Ives as he has a reputation of playing it down the middle. In this, the first of the series, he gets pulled into the theft of a piece of African art from a museum, of course there are hidden motives, double crosses, and tying it all together is Thomas’s sharp dialogue. It’s a fun book, different than most crime novels, in the main characters motivation but still very solid.
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