The Feathered Serpent

by Edgar Wallace

Reporter Peter Derwin suspects the card mysteriously left in the handbag of actress Ella Creed is a publicity stunt. But Joe Farmer, the boxing promoter, has received one too. Then, after leaving the house of millionaire philanthropist and African explorer Gregory Beale, Daphne Olroyd is followed. She is at her employers' offices when Leicester Crewe opens the front door. A dead man falls into the hall. In his hand is the card of The Feathered Serpent.

aka Inspector Wade

aka Inspector Wade And The Feathered Serpent

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

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1927

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

[Tristram Shandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gucumatz

What may sound just quaint to the uninitiated ear or refer to a Mesoamerican deity to those in the know, evokes nothing but terror in the minds of for people – the moody comedian Ella Creed, the mysterious Paula Staines, the lecherous Joe Farmer, and the shifty businessman Leister Crewe –, who all came into wealth at roughly the same time. When one of them, Joe Farmer, is shot dead in front of Crewe’s house, the others’ terror turns into panic, and the plucky newspaper reporter Bill Dewin finds himself in a strangely romantic murder case he would normally abstain from writing about – because warning notes with the picture of a feathered serpent on them, stories of dead men driving a taxi through London and similar figments of the imagination may be gleaned from the pages produced by hack writers of crime novels and they are normally distasteful to a rising reporter. However, involved in all this, there is a young damsel in distress, and it happens that Dewin has taken a fancy to her.

The Feathered Serpent is another fast-paced, suspense-driven novel from the indefatigable quill of Edgar Wallace, and if you want and have the time you can read it within a day because it doesn’t demand anything of its readers but time, and maybe the readiness to suspend belief. Nevertheless, this time, there are more loose ends than is usual with Edgar Wallace, and the ending comes rather quickly, but still the plot is indubitably quite entertaining (and, I fear, quickly forgotten).

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very satisfying mystery with the sensational hook of a Mayan feathered serpent symbol accompanying cryptic warnings to a seemingly random group of respectable people. The author has fun with this when his crime reporter hero continuously decries pulp-fictional elements like that as ridiculous.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reporter Peter Dewin first heard about the Feathered Serpent, he laughed. "When he heard of it again, he sneered." It sounded for all the world like something from a shilling shocker or from one of the thrilling plays on London's stages. And, to be fair, the story did start with the theater. Miss Ella Creed, well-known actress, receives a cardboard message with a crude drawing of a Feathered Serpent and the words "Lest you forget." It's an exact duplicate of a card received by her friend Leicester Crewe, a stockbroker, and Joe Farmer, a boxing promoter. She scoffs at it as a joke, but she isn't scoffing when she's waylaid by a masked man at her apartment's door. She faints and when she comes to, her jewelry (all paste, fortunately) is gone, and another Feathered Serpent card is hanging round her neck.

Dewin's editor sends him to get the story. And he's none too happy. He's sure that it's nothing more than a publicity stunt on the part the of actress. But as he dutifully searches for a story that will make his boss happy, he discovers that there is more to this Feathered Serpent business than meets the eye...and when Farmer is shot on Crewe's doorstep (just as he's coming to tell Crewe that he knows who the Feathered Serpent is), Dewin realizes that he's got a hot story on his hands. Behind the Feathered Serpent is a story of forgery, theft, false imprisonment, treachery, and revenge. But will Dewin and his friend, Inspector Clarke, be able to track down the Serpent before someone else is killed? Reports are that the killer is an ex-con by the name of William Lane. But William is dead--can a ghost kill?

Wallace was a prolific author of thrillers and he's definitely at the top of his game in this one. Lots of thrilling action with killer "ghosts," menacing men in masks, fainting women, kidnap attempts, a secret code, and a mysterious key all playing their parts. Dewin is an engaging character and if he doesn't make appearances in future Wallace books...well, then Wallace missed a shot at having a really good recurring character. This is an entertaining story with a good attempt at basic clue-dropping (not bad for an adventure/thriller). I did have a glimmer about the identity of the culprit, but I didn't get the whole picture--not quite enough clue-dropping for that. But a good, quick read. ★★★ and 1/2 (rounded up here)

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Rick Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major characters:
Peter Dewin, crime reporter
William Lane, is he dead or isn't he?
Ella Creed, self-absorbed actress
Joe Farmer, boxing promotor; estranged husband of Ella Creed
Leicester "Bobby" Crewe, stockbroker
Gregory Beale, archeologist/explorer
Daphne Olroyd, secretary first to Leicester Crewe, then to Gregory Beale
Harry Hugg, an ex-con
Paula Staines, an artist
Chief Inspector Clarke
Locale: London

Synopsis: Reporter Peter Dewin is assigned to cover the story of actress Ella Creed, who has received a warning card, with a drawing of a Feathered Serpent on it. As soon as he contacts Ella, her estranged husband - boxing promoter Joe Farmer - receives one also, followed by stockbroker Leicester Crewe. Everyone is mystified.

Joe Farmer calls Dewin, saying he knows who the Feathered Serpent is, and on his way to reveal the identity is shot dead.

The warnings are thought to come from ex-con William Lane, however, his prison mate Harry Hugg insists Lane is dead; and produces the death certificate showing he was hit by a car and killed.

Review:

Peter Dewin is a likable and believable reporter, he would have made a good series character. Love interest Daphne Olroyd is a good character also. Ella Creed is the girl-you-love-to-hate.

The motley collection of ex-cons (Harry Hugg, Harry the Barman, and Harry the Lug are three different people) is amusing although a few less Harry's would have made this clearer.

The victim, Joe Farmer, turns out to have died by an unusual weapon - skirting Knox's Commandment #4: (No hitherto undiscovered poisons may be used, nor any appliance which will need a long scientific explanation at the end.) The Commandments weren't written until 1929 so I will give Wallace a pass on this one.

An interesting dénouement: the last chapter is presented as a news story written by Dewin for his paper, and explains everything; which was quite involved with multiple identities. The murderer was a surprise, I had not seen that coming at all; nor did I see the truth about is-he-dead-or-not William Lane.

This was one of the better Wallaces I have read thus far.

[Andrew Clover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this in a junk shop because of the title. I'd had a friend who called himself The Feathered Serpent, and was intrigued what light this would cast on him. I quickly learned that...
- The Feathered Serpent is an Aztec deity ; in this book he's a deceptive, but powerful criminal.
- In 1928 it was guessed that Edgar Wallace had written one quarter of all books in London circulation: he was very successful; I wanted to know his secret.
- I learned his biography was perfect for crime-writing. Conceived at a theatrical party; born in 1875; fostered to an illiterate, impoverished family. He was said to write books in three days, in a 72 hour bender of improvising onto a wax record. I was hooked. I opened the book, and found...
- It has wonderful fluency, and narrative drive.
- Its start is in a theatre, as was Wallace's. The first scene shows a lovely actress leaving the stage to cheers; she then goes backstage and gets a chorus girl sacked. That felt authentic.
- There's a sense of verisimilitude about the underworld characters: the way they talk in the present tense - 'I goes down there...' - their various skills - forging, house-breaking... I thought: I should start working in a prison.
- The mystery is amplified by crimes left at the scene, depicting The Feathered Serpent, then raised still further when a character is kidnapped by a hooded figure. Who is The Feathered Serpent? That's a thing you want to know. I'm ready for more Edgar Wallace. I'm still not sure about this friend. Well, The Feathered Serpent is dualistic. He flies amongst Gods; he slithers amongst men...

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar Wallace was THE thriller writer in the early part of the twentieth century, and this and The Mind of JG Reeder demonstrate why. Breezy storytelling style (with not infrequent sloppiness) and a flair for creating an atmosphere of murky mystery work well. I enjoyed this, despite its occasional clunkiness. Wallace's personal attitudes would have gotten him "cancelled" in today's world, but his work stands up pretty well for hundred year old stuff.

[Carol Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorite Edgar Wallace stories. It seemed like he was trying too hard to create a mystery out of nothing. The Mayan serpent symbol was a real stretch -- a contrivance that didn't add any interest to the story for me. I usually really like Wallace, but not this time. It wasn't the worse mystery I've ever read, but unlike Wallace's usual books, this was ho-hum.

[Brian G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, if slightly obvious, thriller from the 1930's

tightly plotted and good characters make this book fun to read although the ending is not a surprise

4 stars (half a star extra for the old adverts in the back of the book)

[Adam Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is the Feathered Serpent? What does he have to do with the death of various members of London society? Why is William Lane dead and yet appears to be alive?

This is an enjoyable (if somewhat fast) romp through post World War I society.

[Iluzija O. Istini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
Ni likovi, ni radnja, ni zagonetke, a ni najvažnije, stil pisanja, mi nisu legli. Istina je da sam knjigu uzela za opustiti se i da nisam očekivala puno, ali sam ipak očekivala više.

Imam još jednu njegovu knjigu na polici, ali ako ona bude ista, ne vjerujem da ću ih tražiti još.

[Mr Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery novel but now very dated, the heroine is dripping wet and the hero frankly rather obnoxious. Would make a decent TV adaptation, but no doubt would be ruined by inappropriate casting of assorted token ethnic minority actors.

[Richie Bannister-Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good page turner. From start to finish it had me hooked. A definite Wallace classic

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review of other edition.

[Maud]

gelezen in ndls De Gevederde slang: typisch detective verhaal met veel personages en verrassend einde

[Tim Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgar Wallace writes in a style that is pure New York. It is a shock to discover you are in England.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes me back to my teenage years. Edgar Wallace was my step-up from The Saint and before that Biggles. Real "Boys Own" stuff with some outrageous coincidences but quite readable.

[Larry Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar Wallace has a fertile imagination when it comes to exploring the depravity of the human species. Like most of his books that I've read so far, this tale is a bit convoluted but still rather gripping. I actually had less trouble than normal keeping track of all the various characters, but I've learned that it pays to take notes whilst reading Wallace. Fortunately, with a kindle doing so is a breeze.

So, we have ace reporter, Peter Dewin. He is following the trail of some crimes or potential crimes marked by the leaving of a card with a drawing of a feathered serpent on it. Some folks are getting these cards, and although they deny any understanding of the figure, they are none-the-less terrorized by having received said cards. One is Ella Creed, a famous actress. Another Leicester Crewe, a stock trader. Then there's Joe Farmer, who is a boxing promoter and someone who used to run a pub. Finally, we have Paula Staines, a woman who does very fine black and white drawings. What could be the connection, if any, between them, and why are they getting the feathered serpent cards? Are they warnings of some kind.

Well, to learn more about feathered serpents, Dewin tracks down Gregory Beale, who is an archeologist/philanthropist, lately returned from a decade in Central America, or so he intimates anyway. Apparently, feathered serpents feature strongly in the mythology of the Maya and Aztec cultures. Beale has just hired Daphne Olroyd to be his private secretary. She had previously worked for Leicester Crewe. Dewin had met Ms. Olroyd at a restaurant and had almost immediately fallen in love with her. So, how does that all work out?

Oh yeah, there is a mysterious William Lane, who was alleged to have been released from prison recently, but who apparently was killed by a car in an accident outside a house he and two of his companions were in the process of burgling. But, one of the former companions thinks he has seen Lane. Is it a ghost, or did Lane not die, despite there being a death certificate attesting that he had? How does that work?

And so forth. It's an entertaining yarn with which to while away these dreary days of waiting for spring through endless dank days of drizzle.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quaint and old-fashioned, with a hugely complex plot about secret societies and counterfeit money. It's delightful because of its multiple layers and twists. Wallace, according to the back cover, wrote 175 novels, 24 plays and there have been 160 films based on his novels. He died in Hollywood in 1932 while working on the screenplay for King Kong.

[Redderationem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entro in questo giallo scritta 90 anni fa ponendomi qualche riserva. Temendo qualche immotivato esotismo calato fra fotogrammi in bianco e nero, anche a causa di una parziale delusione con l'ultimo volume del medesimo autore recuperato qualche tempo fa. Invece Wallace si dimostra in questo caso una vera macchina da guerra nel costruire trame e intrecci in poche pagine.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly short book, but with a vastly complex plot and it's great fun. People begin receiving warnings from someone calling themselves "The feathered serpent" than one is murdered, of course the police are helpless and it's left to a handsome young reporter to sort things out.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old fashioned murder mystery from the same late 1920's/early 1930's milleu as Dick Barton. Worth a read from an historical point of view.