The Collected Raffles Stories by E.W. Hornung

This volume collects all of the AJ Raffles short stories written by the original author, E.W. Hornung, combining the works previously published in Raffles: "The Amateur Cracksman" (1899), “The Black Mask” (1901), and "A Thief in the Night" (1905). The only thing missing is the 1909 novel, "Mr. Justice Raffles". So, a total of 26 short stories included as well as an in-depth introduction written by Clive Bloom.

For the uninitiated, Raffles is  "the classic gentleman thief". The character defines the archetype of the gentleman criminal who has a code of honor, steals only from the rich, and is drawn to burglary for the sport as much as for the money. By day he is a well-known amateur cricket player, a useful tool to distract from his other profession. He is accompanied in his thieving practices by  Harry "Bunny" Manders who “writes” the stories much like Watson “writes” the Sherlock Holmes stories. The comparisons don’t stop there considering that the author, E.W. Hornung was the brother-in-law to Arthur Conan Doyle. There are a number of similar plot devices and character quirks that are similar as well.

While I enjoyed the characters of both Raffles and Bunny, the stories are clearly from another time. They are heavy on Bunny’s observations and full of description. The action, particularly the thievery, Raffles' disguises, etc. is subdued compared to today’s style and thus can be difficult to stick with. I keep coming across references to the character of Raffles in other books so I’m glad I’ve read them. I would be interested to read some more recent stories or crossovers by other authors if I can find any.

The Immigrants by Howard Fast

This first novel in the 6-book “Lavette Family” series begins in 1889 with fisherman Joseph Lavette and his wife Anna completing their Atlantic sea voyage and arriving at Ellis Island. But most of the story features their son, Dan Lavette and takes place in California between 1906 and the early 1930s.

Dan begins as a fisherman like his father but loses both parents in the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Even though taken in by friends of the family, he grows up quickly and uses his talents to grow an empire, eventually including cargo ships during WWI and later ocean liners, hotels, department stores, land acquisition, and even the rapidly expanding early airline industry. Risk, it seems is its own reward. This is a story of building great riches, great power, and complex relationships. Huge gains and big losses against a backdrop of world war, prohibition, and stock market crashes. A cornucopia of characters contribute to the overall story with a number of sub plots and story arcs but ultimately this is Dan’s story as he learns what is truly important in life. 

The author, Howard Fast was, himself, the son of immigrants and much of his early life seems partly to parallel that of Dan Lavette’s early struggle to succeed. This series of books comes fairly late in his prolific career and it reflects his love of history as well as an accomplished professional style that is both informed and entirely readable. In some ways this reminds me of the novels of Jeffrey Archer or perhaps Harold Robbins' The Carpetbaggers. This one kept me turning the pages wanting to see what happened next and now I am most anxious to pursue the next books in the series.

The Bridge by Manfred Gregor

Near the end of WWII, a desperate Nazi party attempted to shore up the German army by forming the ‘Volkssturm’, a national militia of those not already serving in the military. Many 16-year-old boys, who were members of the Hitler Youth, were strategically placed at key locations to prevent the Allied advance. Seven such boys are the focus of this novel, all childhood friends, rounded up in a small village and ordered to defend a bridge at all costs from the oncoming Americans who are only twenty miles away. 

I haven’t read many WWII novels from the German point of view but this one makes it clear that people are people, no matter their nationality. While these boys want to follow orders, their fears are as real as anybody else’s. With the advantage of history we know these young men are likely doomed and indeed, the novel unfolds in much the same way as the Battle of the Alamo. The author includes flashbacks for each of the boys so we get to know them pretty well. They become individuals with personalities, flaws, and dreams. That makes it all the harder when they eventually fall one by one.  The battle action is intense and the boys put up a good fight, establishing machine gun nests, surprise traps, and even using bazookas to take out a couple of American tanks. When they are reinforced by another group of Volkssturm, this time a group of ten men all over 60 years old, those men take one look at the situation and promptly desert, knowing the war is in reality already over.

The author is Gregor Dorfmeister, writing under the pen name of Manfred Gregor. This novel, published by Avon in 1958, is largely autobiographical as the author was himself a 16-year-old member of the Volkssturm, assigned to defend a bridge against American tanks. He survived to tell the tale but the experience of seeing Americans as well as his own buddies killed in combat turned him into an anti-war pacifist. This is reflected in the novel which highlights the futility of the bridge defense effort. If you’re looking for a realistic portrayal of a last stand scenario in WW2, this is a good one.

Swamp Tease by Edward Kempton

I got this 1960 Avon paperback in one of those $5 grab bags filled with about 50 books. I took one look at the title and the cover art, read the verbiage on the back cover…and knew I absolutely had to read it.

It’s the story of four people who are living near Lake Okeechobee in Florida. 31-year old Mae is a never-married homely spinster who desires nothing so much as to get married and live happily ever after. Her sister, 18-year old Sue, is a pretty blonde with a penchant for teasing the boys. Their father has just passed away leaving a run-down truckers café with a heavy mortgage as their only means of making a living. Enter Strick, a handsome vagrant who the girls hire as a handyman and who takes advantage of the situation in more ways than one. Sue’s boyfriend Johnny rounds out the foursome and despite his initial dumb hick personality turns out to be the only one with a solid set of thinking skills. I won’t spoil it for you, but you can probably guess what will eventually happen here.

This is a crime novel. Many paperbacks published during this era used eye-catching titles and cover art to attract male buyers but inside they often turn out to be pretty good crime or mystery yarns. This one kept me turning the pages although the plot was largely predictable and there was a bit too much stupidity on the part of all the major characters for my taste. Still, the writing was decent, and the ending (taking place in the midst of a hurricane, no less) was a nicely paced edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. 

I could find nothing on the author, but I feel like it’s too well written to be the only one ever scribed by “Edward Kempton”. Much more likely to be a pseudonym so I’m hoping somebody out there can educate me in this regard. (No entry in Hawk's Authors' Pseudonyms II). Judging by all the other reviews I see out there…I’m the only person to have ever read this book. I’m granting it 4 out of 5 stars because it was quite a lot better than I expected.

The Mystic Mullah (Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

First published in 1935, the 23rd Doc Savage novel (as originally published – number 9 in the Bantam paperback order) opens with two mysterious strangers from the fabled Asian Kingdom of Tanan arriving in New York City, seeking Doc Savage's aid. They are being hunted by some sort of supernatural “soul slaves” on behalf of an entity known as the Mystic Mullah. They need Doc’s help to save their country.

The Mystic Mullah itself seems to be a mysterious and monstrous floating face which can speak and warn of dire threats. It uses strange ghostly “soul slaves” that look like floating snakes to attack, causing horrible burns or snapping necks. It’s a creepy foe to be sure but we readers know Doc will get to the bottom of it and discover who is behind the mysterious moniker of the Mystic Mullah. Lots of action permeates the novel. We have Doc’s machine pistols, Russian spies, Doc’s skin-bleaching trick, Doc in disguise, and plenty of fisticuffs. All five of Doc’s aides are present for this one, and all of them get captured at one point or another. We also get to see the team travel to Asia and the Kingdom of Tanan. It's always a treat to see them in action in an exotic locale.

Interestingly, pulp writer Richard Sale started ghost writing this novel based on an outline by Lester Dent but removed himself from the project after receiving criticism from Dent. So Lester Dent wrote it himself. Many fans believe, consequently, that Dent worked extra hard on it to make sure it was a good one. Could be. I certainly enjoyed it and would rank it among the top 20 Doc Savage novels.

The Long Lavender Look (Travis McGee) by John D. MacDonald

The 12th book in the Travis McGee series is, perhaps, my favorite so far.  That’s saying something. 

 Travis and his pal Meyer are driving home from a wedding in Travis’ Rolls Royce “pickup” he’s named Miss Agnes.  Late at night in rural, backwater Cypress County of Florida, a brief flash of a young woman darts into the road causing Travis to lose control and end up upside down and underwater in a drainage canal. Meyer is able to fish him out safely, but Miss Agnes will need to be towed out.  But as they’re walking to the nearest “town” somebody shoots at them, believing them to be a couple of henchmen of a notorious local casino robber. This case of mistaken identity keeps on going as Travis is framed for murder and arrested by the local sheriff.

While the main plot involves Travis’ personal investigation to clear his name by finding what happened to the real robbers and murderers, there a number of subplots and deviations as well.  But it’s a tightly packed narrative and fascinating to see unwind.  Perhaps one of the saddest scenes in the entire Travis McGee series occurs in this book and involves the lovable, if odd, Betsy Kapp.  The story can be pretty convoluted but it all comes together in the final chapters. Travis himself is heavily impacted by the events in the book and by the end, there can be nothing sweeter in the world than to get back home to slip F-18 and The Busted Flush houseboat.

Thankfully, for me, he still has nine more adventures to come.

Renegade by Ramsay Thorne (Lou Cameron)

Prolific author Lou Cameron wrote all the Renegade novels under the pseudonym “Ramsay Thorne”. These books are similar in many ways to the “Longarm” books, a character and series he created and for which he wrote over 50 books.

The first book in the Renegade series, originally published in 1979, opens with Lieutenant Richard Walker in an Army jail somewhere in the desert southwest, not far from the Mexico border, awaiting the hangman’s noose. His crime was one of compassion for some prisoners that were getting a raw deal so he let them escape. Walker also manages to escape, putting him on the run and leading him into one adventure after another as he makes his way down to Mexico and earning the moniker, “Captain Gringo”. We also meet Gaston Verrier, an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire who is now a soldier of fortune and a heavy influence on Walker’s choices. Indeed, he will be a continuing co-character throughout the series, providing much of the humor along the way.

These books are often marketed as “westerns” but most of the series takes place in Central America and are basically mercenary stories. They do, however, earn the “adult” western notation due to graphic sex scenes mixed in along with a heap-load of violent action. I will be reading more…

What's Wrong With Valerie? by D.A. Fowler

Valerie has had a tough time of it.  She’s recently buried her grandmother after taking care of her during her final three years and now she is living alone on the modest inheritance, with no income and trying to become a writer.  She also sees monsters.  Little yellow-eyed monsters that come out at night, oozing underneath the bottom of doors in her house. Oh, and they feed on human flesh.  So believes Valerie.  To appease them, Valerie must provide them with fresh human meat.  The easiest way seems to be renting out a room in her house, find unique ways to kill the renters, and stash the bodies for easy access.  If a renter isn’t available, others who make the fatal mistake of visiting Valerie will do just as well.

Sounds like a rather simplistic horror novel that might be churned out by a hack writer in the 1940s for a half cent per word.  But it’s not like that at all. This book was originally published in 1991 and is an odd combination of dark horror and comedic horror.  It’s fair to say that I was never always sure when I should be chuckling at the latest horrific scene, or disgusted. Much of the activity that Valerie engages in is utterly horrible. Not just the murders to supply the monsters with fresh meat, but also scenes of Valerie heaping mental abuse on two vulnerable young girls.

But all that is balanced with Valerie’s own perspective which is one of dogged determination to keep feeding the monsters while trying to keep one step ahead of suspicion. She even communicates with those she has killed via her word processor to get advice on how to handle whatever crisis has just developed.  She’s an engaging character and I found myself simultaneously rooting for her in her next “project” while also feeling sorry for her and hoping she gets caught and confined to an institution. In fact, throughout the novel we readers must wonder if she truly is bonkers or if, perhaps, this is all real.  

This is an easy-to-read novel, a page-turner if you will.  It’s not meant to be realistic per se, as is obvious in the way Valerie gets away with everything for so long. The one investigating cop isn’t all that competent for most of the novel, content to believe what is easiest.  Friends, family and neighbors tend to ignore the obvious as well. But that all lends itself to the plot and Valerie’s outlook.  The end could have gone so many different ways but turned out to be something other than what I was expecting.

Assignment Suicide (Sam Durell series) by Edward S. Aarons

I've been told that it does not matter in what order these books are read.  They are all stand-alone stories and so I took a risk and skipped number 2 (I don't have a copy of that one) and went right to number 3.  It seems fine to do so.  Even book number one didn't seem like the first in a series.

In this one, CIA operative Sam Durell parachutes into Russia to help prevent a rogue member of the Politburo, known as "Comrade Z", from launching one of Russia's first ICBMs toward the US.  Sam Durell has a mere handful of days to stop this event which will happen on May Day.  The book was first published in 1958 and it is interesting to see the perspectives between the US and Russia at that time.  Also of interest is the similarities to Ian Fleming's Bond books which first began appearing in 1952.

This novel was much as I expected.  Lots of spy action without much spy craft.  There is the usual good guys and bad guys and the occasional misconstrued identity.  And, of course, there is the obligatory Bond, er Durell girl.  The mystery part surrounds the identity of just who is Comrade Z.  There is a nice climax at the end to wrap up the story.

I enjoyed the first two Sam Durell books I've read so will keep on with them.  They are quick reads so serve well as a break between weightier material.

Silver Wings and Leather Jackets by C.T. Westcott

Eagleheart is a trilogy of books, written by C.T. Westcott but framed as the autobiography of Colonel Will Bicko, the only person to win three Congressional Medals of Honor and the most highly decorated fighting man in the history of the United States Federal Air Command (USFAC). This first book in the trilogy was published in 1989 and depicts “future” events after a Limited Nuclear Exchange that takes place in 2006. The US has combined all its armed forces into the single USFAC, the better to face foreign enemies, roving post nuclear war bandit gangs, and the new race of gross radioactive mutants that have evolved.

That description sounds like some kind of action movie-of-the-week starring Tom Cruise or Michael Fassbender but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Will Bicko is an anti-hero of the first order. A rogue, a scoundrel and very often a self-centered prick. He’s also hilariously witty, mostly with dark abrasive humor and even has a certain nobleness about him. His outlook on the post-nuclear war environment rings true and serves well to pull the reader onto his side. In many ways, this is a brilliant parody of the men’s action adventure genre.

This novel covers Will’s life from seventeen years of age up through his early twenties. When his ace pilot father dies in the line of duty Will is left with his inheritance: a secret (and stolen) harrier jet. However, the will stipulates that he won’t get it until after he has graduated from the USFAC Academy at Quantico. Such a disciplined environment doesn’t play to Will’s strengths so it is not surprising that his mouth gets him in serious trouble with upperclassmen and he soon gets tossed out. He chooses to seek out an old friend of his father, learns to fly, and takes his snotty attitude with him in a nice revenge mission against a major bandit gang and his father’s traitorous wingman.

Readers will find themselves reading this novel closely, absorbing the author’s adept use of clever prose and dialog. Even scenes of brutal carnage or graphic torture are lessened through Will’s humorous response. Supporting characters are also fun and unpredictable. The novel culminates in an exciting climax and will absolutely entice readers into the rest of the trilogy.

Flashing Swords! 2 (Lin Carter - editor)

From the 1960’s on into the 1980’s, a group of fantasy authors participated in a somewhat loosely organized association they called “Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America” or SAGA. It was an informal group begun by Lin Carter and meant to promote the appreciation of the sword and sorcery sub-genre of fantasy fiction. This book collects four long stories by the group’s members, all of which depict their own on-going series characters:

1) “The Rug and the Bull” by L. Sprague de Camp features a Pusadian tale

2) “The Jade Man’s Eyes” by Michael Moorcock features his anti-hero, Elric

3) “Toads of Grimmerdale” by Andre Norton, a Witch World story

4) “Ghoul’s Garden” by John Jakes, a Brak the Barbarian entry

All four stories were good ones even though I hadn’t read any of the larger works by several of these authors. I suppose if I had read some Witch World before, for example, I might have appreciated the characters, the settings, the lore, etc. even more. But as it was they all worked sufficiently for those readers who have no prior anchor points. My favorite of them all was the Brak story, perhaps because I have read those. These are iconic series and characters and I enjoyed the chance to sample those that were new to me.