The Dead Stay Dumb by James Hadley Chase

Out of the 5 or 6 novels I’ve read by James Hadley Chase, this one is my favorite so far.  I understand that this author turned to full-time writing after his very first novel was published (No Orchid for Miss Blandish) and since this is only his second novel, the quality is really quite remarkable.

Make no mistake, this is one hard-boiled crime story.  It’s a gangster novel through and through and is often violent and even brutal in its approach.  Dillon is a hardened criminal but never content with his level of power.  He works his way up the mobster ladder through deceit, double-cross, and murder.  And the more power he gets, the easier it is for him to take the easy way forward and simply eliminate his competition.

The story is rounded out with a handful of important characters that are associated with Dillon.  While most of them are also criminals, they tend to have at least some sort of redeeming quality that makes the reader root for them in hopes they will finally give Dillon what he deserves.   Many times, they actually feel like the main character of the story, particularly Myra, who becomes a gun moll for Dillon. 

This novel is certainly not for everyone.  It was written in the early 1940's so the violence and degradation is pretty mild by today’s standards.  Nevertheless, some characters’ stories are tragic, and you really get gut-punched a couple of times.  For me, it was a worthy reading experience even if I do feel the need to go read something akin to Winnie-the-Pooh next, just to provide balance to my outlook on life.