The Paw in the Bottle

by James Hadley Chase

HARD, RUTHLESS, AMORAL . . . that was Julie Holland - a good-time girl who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. And when the chance came to play a major role in a furs robbery she jumped at it. Luck smiled on her for even when everything went wrong with the plot and the gang-leader was arrested for a murder of which he was innocent, Julie still emerged from it with a thousand a year and a Mayfair flat.
But she was not satisfied yet — and the inevitable fate of the over-greedy awaited her.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

René Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.

In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.

During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.

Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent thriller by James Hadley Chase. As the parable that gives the book its title tells you, it is a story about greed. It is also about trust, loyalty, betrayal, class conflict, and other things. The book was originally published in 1949, but somehow it feels as if it were written in an earlier era. It is a story that takes place in London and has a British character about it. It is the story of a young girl who worked in a West End cafe where all the thieves, connivers, and other charlatans used to gather. One of them involves her in a robbery scheme where she is to play the part of a maid in a rich household and observe and find out how to open a safe. The story is about how she is convinced and perhaps connived into taking part in the scheme and the consequences of it. The question perhaps for the reader is whether Julie is a greedy, no-good, woman who will stop at nothing to get what she wants or is she just a poor innocent swept up in schemes and romanced and blackmailed and tricked into doing things.

[Paul Lothane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose this book is about greed - transcendent greed. Julie's dreams come true despite daunting obstacles, but she is still not satisfied. She is very young and more or less magically she gets a fine place to stay, a fantastic (relatively) allowance, and more than enough lovely clothes...but she is still not satisfied. She wants more and more, and it ends in tragedy for her. Her "conscience" seems always allied to wanting it all, and yet still whining for more. She is clearly ruthless in her own way, and calculating. The interaction between her, Harry Gleb, Blanche and Howard is quite interesting. Theo, the cruel sadistic gangster also gets his just deserts in the end; quite a good read...

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vapid Julie Holland serves as the protagonist of this rather average London-based crime story. It is an ordinary story, utterly predictable at each step from the very beginning. An acceptable enough read, but it is not up to the moments of excitement and intensity of other Chase novels.

There is another aspect of the book to think of, however. While The Paw in the Bottle is a routine piece of fiction, its worth, looking back over the decades, is as a sociological one. This book, like several just before it, No Business of Mine, Trusted Like a Fox, and More Deadly Than the Male, focuses on postwar London and the effects of culture on turning isolated members of the working class into what Marx would call the lumpen element, the spivs, conmen, blackmailers, thieves, pimps, prostitutes, and murderers. There are plenty of actual historical studies of sociology that undertake this, such as the work of Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams, but those studies seem sentimental compared to the grittiness Chase describes. Obviously, this aspect of his fiction, a sociological depiction, was not something Chase intended at the time. But it is obvious to the reader of today. In a way, it makes it more valuable than as a work of fiction.

[Momo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is very confusing
i am at ch15 so many characters and so many things are going on
i am stupid of not making annotation from start. Now I am getting confused between characters
sigh. i don't wanna read it again but it was interesting at start
i wish that scientist part never came in this book it feels useless
why james why you are shifting scenes so much simultanousely in patallel its hard for me to understand and take in so much

lol that Tony Case and lenses case was so funny, hats off to his mind with weak body

Harry was lucky, who knew when to stop doing bad deeds before greed came and run unlike julie
i have finished book and it as so good

[Κώστας · Rating 5 out of 5]

ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο. 426.
Τίτλος : Η ΠΑΓΙΔΑ
Συγγραφέας: JAMES CHASE
Μετάφραση: ΤΑΣΣΩ ΚΑΒΒΑΔΙΑ

Η διάπλαση των χαρακτήρων του ολοκληρώνεται σε λιγότερο από μισή σελίδα ενός μικρού βίπερ και είναι απόλυτα πλήρης. Όταν άλλοι συγγραφείς φλυαρούν πελαγοδρομώντας για ολόκληρα κεφάλαια.
Ο άνθρωπος (James H. Chase 1906-1985) είναι φαινόμενο. Είναι. Δεν υπάρχει "ήταν" διότι εξακολουθεί να είναι.

Τζούλι.
Ο δικαστής ανηλίκων της είχε πει:
"Άκουσες ποτέ πώς πιάνουν τις μαϊμούδες στη Βραζιλία Τζούλι; θα σου πω εγώ. Βάζουν ένα καρύδι μέσα σε μιά μπουκάλα και δένουν τη μπουκάλα σε ένα δέντρο. Αλλά το στόμιο της μπουκάλας είναι πολύ μικρό για να χωρέσει το χέρι της μαϊμούς. Θα φαντάζεσαι ίσως ότι η μαϊμού θα προτιμήσει να αφήσει το καρύδι και να το βάλει στα πόδια. Κι όμως όχι! Κάνει ακριβώς το αντίθετο. Είναι τόσο άπληστη που δεν μπορεί να αφήσει το καρύδι κι έτσι την πιάνουν. Να θυμάσαι πάντα αυτή την ιστορία Τζούλι. Η απληστία είναι πολύ επικίνδυνο πράγμα. Αν ενδώσεις σε αυτή, αργά ή γρήγορα θα πιαστείς στην παγίδα".
Από τότε όμως είχαν περάσει πολλά χρόνια. Η ζωή είχε κάνει την Τζούλι αδίστακτη. Και άπληστη. Και είχε ξεχάσει την ιστορία που της είχε πει ο δικαστής όταν ήταν μικρό κοριτσάκι και είχε κλέψει για πρώτη φορά.

Χάρρυ.
Ο Χάρρυ είχε μιά έντονη προσωπικότητα. Το κεφάτο χαμόγελό του σε έκανε να χαμογελάς. Το γέλιο του ήταν μεταδοτικό, η αυτοπεποίθησή του πολύ μεγάλη. Ήταν γεμάτος ορμή και ζωντάνια, πάντα καλοντυμένος, είχε μαύρα κατσαρά μαλλιά, ένα λεπτό μουστάκι, πράσινα μάτια που γυάλιζαν από καλοσυνάτη ειρωνεία και, παρόλο που ήταν σκληρός, ανήθικος, επιπόλαιος, θρασύς και εγωιστής, δεν μπορούσες να μην τον συμπαθήσεις. Πάντα χαμογελούσε και πάντα ήταν έτοιμος να πεί ή να κάνει κάποιο αστείο, να σου δανείσει μιά λίρα, να παίξει σε κάποιο τυχερό παιχνίδι ή να σε κεράσει ένα ποτό. Ήξερε τις περισσότερες πόρτες της περιοχής, όλα τα γκαρσόνια σε όλα τα καφενεία, τους γλεντζέδες και τους παράνομους και όλοι τον συμπαθούσαν. Ήταν ο κλασικός τύπος του Λονδρέζου απατεώνα και δεν τον ένοιαζε αν ο κόσμος το ήξερε. Τραβούσε τις γυναίκες όπως ο μαγνήτης τις καρφίτσες. Οι γυναίκες κατά τη γνώμη του ήταν σαχλές αλλά όταν δεν είχες τίποτα καλύτερο να κάνεις σου πρόσφεραν διασκέδαση.

Τζούλυ και Χάρρυ
Η συμπεριφορά της Τζούλυ τον παραξένεψε. Τούτη η κοπέλα ήταν διαφορετική. Του φερόταν φιλικά κι όμως τα μάτια της είχαν μια ειρωνική έκφραση που τον ενοχλούσε. Έδειχνε πως είχε καταλάβει τους σκοπούς του και πως δεν επρόκειτο να τον πάρει στα σοβαρά. Μπορούσε να της φέρεται ευγενικά και να της κάνει κοπλιμέντα αλλά αυτό δεν θα οδηγούσε πουθενά. Αυτή η στάση της Τζούλυ ερέθιζε τον Χάρρυ γι αυτό κι ερχόταν κάθε τόσο στο μαγαζί για να μιλήσει λίγο μαζί της ή για να της φέρει ένα ζευγάρι μεταξωτές κάλτσες ή ένα κουτί σοκολάτες προσπαθώντας με κάθε τρόπο να γκρεμίσει το φραγμό που η ίδια είχε υψώσει ανάμεσά τους για να τον κρατήσει σε κάποια απόσταση. Πολλές φορές της είχε ζητήσει ναβγουν μαζί αλλά η Τζούλυ είχε αρνηθεί. Δεν ήθελε να διακινδυνέψει να την αφήσει στα κρύα του λουτρού. Είχε μεγάλη πείρα και ήξερε πως, όσο περισσότερο τον άφηνε να περιμένει τόσο πιό θερμός θα ήταν μαζί της όταν εκείνη υποχωρούσε.
Στο μεταξύ τον Χάρρυ τον στεναχωρούσε η επιμονή της να μη θέλει να γίνουν φίλοι. Θα έπρεπε, κατά κάποιο τρόπο να προλάβει κάθε δική της αντίρρηση και σκέφτηκε ότι θα έπρεπε να φροντίσει ώστε να χάσει τη θέση της στο μαγαζί πριν της κάνει την πρότασή του. Όσο είχε δουλειά και τακτικό μεροκάματο ήταν ανεξάρτητη. Ο Χάρρυ σιχαινόταν τις ανεξάρτητες γυναίκες και ήταν σίγουρος πως η ανεξαρτησία της Τζούλυ ήταν που τους χώριζε.
Γι αυτό, σαν πρώτο βήμα, θα φρόντιζε να την μπλέξει έτσι ώστε να την έχει στο χέρι. Πώς όμως θα τα κατάφερνε; Η Τζούλυ τα πήγαινε περίφημα με τον καταστηματάρχη που αυτό φάνταζε αδύνατο. " Δε βαριέσαι, κάτι θα βρεθεί", σκέφτηκε.
Και , πράγματι, κάτι βρέθηκε, όχι όμως με τον τρόπο που το φανταζόταν αυτός...

Η συνέχεια στο ΒΙΠΕΡ Νο. 426.
Τίτλος : Η ΠΑΓΙΔΑ
Συγγραφέας: JAMES CHASE
Μετάφραση: ΤΑΣΣΩ ΚΑΒΒΑΔΙΑ

Ήταν ένα μικρό απόσπασμα της μίας σελίδας περίπου με μονάχα την παρουσίαση δύο χαρακτήρων. Φυσικά υπάρχουν κι άλλα επίσης κεντρικά πρόσωπα ενώ η υπόθεση είναι καθαρά αστυνομική και όχι κοινωνικό ψυχογράφημα.

Όταν έγραφα αυτό το απόσπασμα, ήμουν ακόμα στην αρχή. Δυο κεντρικοί χαρακτήρες ξεπροβάλλουν τόσο αληθινοί και ολοζώντανοι εμπρός στον αναγνώστη. Φυσικά ήξερα οτι θα υπάρξουν κι άλλοι χαρακτήρες στην πορεία. Αλλά ποτέ δεν φαντάστηκα την εμφάνιση μιας πανίσχυρης προσωπικότητας που δίνει μια πελωωώρια μυστηριακή ατμόσφαιρα σε όλο το βιβλίο.

Τα σπασε ο πρύτανης!!!! Ο ορισμός του τι σημαίνουν 5 αστέρια! Το απόλυτο ανάγνωσμα!
Ο Τσαίηζ έχει την ικανότητα να διηγείται πάντα συναρπαστικές ιστορίες, γεμάτες δράση, ένταση και μυστήριο. Ιστορίες που αρέσουν σε όλους.

Όλοι εναντίον όλων μέσα στην μεγάλη και σφιχτή αγκαλιά του θηρευτή.

- Για πες μου Τζούλυ, τι νομίζεις πώς θα σου έδινε χαρά;
- Τα χρήματα. γιατί θα μπορούσα να αγοράζω όμορφα φορέματα, να πηγαίνω στα καμπαρέ, στα ακριβά ρεστωράν, νάχω δικό μου καινούργιο αυτοκίνητο, να μπορώ να αγοράζω ότι μου αρέσει.
- Καλό μου παιδί, να ήξερες πόσο έξω πέφτεις. Τη χαρά μας τη δίνουν τα όμορφα βιβλία, τα λουλούδια, η μουσική, τα απλά πράγματα της ζωής.

[Harsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really beautiful novel based on a very simple concept - greed. For me personally getting through the first 10 pages were a little bit harder as compared to rest coz everything happens so fast and you don't really get what is going on until page 12 or so. I specifically loved that metaphor of the monkey's paw in the bottle while talking about greed. It has a lot of elements put together in the and is definitely a must try thriller. Characterization was on point and with every twist each character is given a new aspect. The element of mystery was carried out perfectly till the very last page.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a sordid tale involving pretty half formed characters with some dubious twists I sure did breeze through it with a smile on my face.

[Madikeri Abu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read after almost 30 years. First published in 1949 this James Hadley Chase novel is about excessive greed and its consequences. The Paw In The Bottle is about the monkey not letting go off the nut in the bottle, even at the risk of being captured. An all time good read.

[Mark Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description about the monkey not letting go of the peanut, and therefore, freeing his paw from the bottle is a brilliant way to describe the story plot of this 1949 classic masterpiece, the maestro was simply a genius.....

[Sumit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a small read. I thought it will be light but it picked towards the end and I was really cheering and hating some characters. Good plot, engaging and helped me kill my evenings which would have been so bland otherwise.

Wesley is the guy. Julie..oh Julie why?

[Giri Dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

No doubt an interesting story and well told. No mention of insurance for fire of lab. Similarly, thw girl could've waited for Harry before opening the safe.  Ending dramatic but unconvincing.

[jaroiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spíš než o detektivku jde o román s mírně detektivní zápletkou. Zajímavá změť nesympatických postav. Zase něco jiného než další knihy autora. Bavilo mě to, ale nijak zvlášť mě nepotěšilo.

[Lupna Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a very important message, greed can be very dangerous; or rather, extreme greed IS very dangerous. It makes one think a lot.

It is natural to be ambitious, have certain goals, but extraordinary greed is another thing entirely. Your dreams are (temporarily) achieved but you want more and more... and more. You just cannot be satisfied. That is the problem with Julie, the "heroine" in this book.

Granted, she had a tough upbringing, but there are countless women around the world (especially in Africa) here who grew up in poverty but still managed to become decent people. Julie here is motivated always by self interest and greed, including her relationships with men. She wanted (or tolerated) Harry for what he could do for her. To her delight, she met a rich man who bought her fine expensive clothes, got a comfy flat for her, but still she wanted more and more ... quite pathetic and irritating really.

I suggest that with positive religion, Julie's fate would have been different. She would not have had such warped values, she would not have been so greedy, and in the wrong way. She would not have been so obsessed with using and manipulating men - but unfortunately she got everything wrong. A lesson for us all.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was published in 1949, but you absolutely won't feel that this masterpiece is more than 70 years old! I love the title of this book, it stuck in my head forever as soon as I saw it on the cover of the book I bought then, decades ago...
Without a woman, rarely anywhere, any story arises and develops. Sometimes, unfortunately, her role cannot be called good and pleasant. As here in this book, where one woman – Judy – always wanted a lot of money. She had a chance to become an employee of a dubious institution – she took advantage. And then she was offered even more for the really hard work of the governess, however, there was something to find out... Then in that house, the hostess's husband made her an even more tempting offer and she could not reject him. That's how it all came to an unenviable end. This is a Mega-interesting and enlightening story.

[Ramzi Zaindeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this but it’s not short of JHC’s thrill ride. There’s this one particular paragraph in the book that really got me, it’s nothing dramatic or eloquent, nevertheless a pretty strong message,

‘We all do things we shouldn’t do. Regretting is the worst part. I regret things, too. I know how you feel. We’re so sure of ourselves when we’re doing wrong and it’s only afterwards we see how stupid we have been.’

[Joydeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best.

[Kunal Aneja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good old pulpy thriller. An average plot with entertaining, flawed, backstabbing characters and zinger dialogues. Great fun.

[John Avlakiotis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αρκετα καλο.

[Mark Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description about the monkey not letting go of the nut is a brilliant way to describe the story line for this title, the maestro was a genius.....

[Haha1 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plytké a čiernobiele. Nachádza sa tu žena-kráska ako postava, ktorá pre svoje previnenia musí fatálne zomrieť. Záver nevhodný, rozprávanie príbehu naivné, zápletka zjavná. Za mňa nie.

[Emmanuel Wallart · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best James Hadley Chase. To read absolutly.