Riding the Snake by Stephen J. Cannell

“Riding the snake”, at least in this novel, refers to the efforts of Chinese immigrants to seek better lives by engaging in the lengthy process to illegally enter and live in the United States.  Unfortunately, the process is managed by the notorious criminal Triad organization and as such, is fraught with peril for those who make the risky and desperate attempt to make the ride.  

Wheeler Cassidy, a wealthy playboy type with no ambition but pursuing lower golf scores, looser women, and ever more alcohol, has his life permanently altered when his near perfect do-no-wrong politically connected brother dies from a heart attack. Or was he murdered? Wheeler is joined by Tanisha Williams, a black street-smart LAPD detective from the Asian crimes Task Force in an effort to determine just what is behind the death and it isn’t long before the pair are on the trail of international criminals, the Chinese underworld, and having to fight against expectations and their own people along the way.  For them, “riding the snake” has a different meaning but still fraught with just as much peril.

Stephen Cannell, is of course, well known as one of the most successful Hollywood television script writers and producers over the past fifty years. That could have been a red flag for me because television and novels are two different mediums and success in one certainly doesn’t always translate to success in the other.  But I’ve read Mr. Cannell before and he usually produces fun-to-read novels.  There are similarities to his TV shows; his novels are always well-paced, meaning there is a time for action, a time for romance, and a time for reflection.  It’s a bit formulaic but it’s a formula designed for satisfying entertainment and, once again, it works well here.  The characters were interesting and the plot was a good one. I felt invested in the outcome. I definitely learned more about Chinese life in general, Hong Kong, and about the last couple of decades of Chinese history than I knew before going into this book. In the end, it was another satisfying read from Mr. Cannell.

The Masked Master Mind by George F. Worts

Gilbert Dollow, a young man in his early 20’s is not content with his lot as a lifeguard on the beach of the small town of Maple Hollow. He envies the life of old Constable Dench who seems to command the respect of the townspeople, young and old. But there was only one constable in this small town and so Gilbert must look elsewhere, all the way to Steel City. If he can get there, become a member of their police force, his future would be fulfilled.

One problem: Gilbert isn't the smartest cookie in the tin. Gullible, yes. Likeable even. But just a little short in the smarts department. But luck…now that was something else. Luck tended to shine her light on him all day long. He knew if he wanted to gain a position on the Steel City police force, he would need to earn his way. Thankfully, his astounding luck led him to find and capture a well-known counterfeiter, even though he had thought he was snagging a bigamist whose wanted poster he had recently seen. He was on his way at last.

Annie May Prine has her eye on capturing Gilbert’s heart although he seems immune to her charms. When Gilbert rides the success of his recent capture of the notorious counterfeiter all the way to Steel City, Annie May chases after him, knowing he’d be like a lost puppy in the big city without her. Indeed, Gilbert’s naiveté leads him to all sorts of trouble and being made fun of and the big city police force wants nothing to do with him. That is, until his incredible luck plays out again and he manages to capture a whole ring of criminals. When he accidentally repeats this with yet more bad guys, this time having fallen into some black paint that disguises his features, the Police Commissioner realizes he can use this young man. Thus, the “Man in the Black Mask” AKA the “Masked Master Mind” comes into being.

Despite the ongoing success-by-luck that Gilbert enjoys, he comes to believe he is being taken advantage of, just another form of being made fun of. He decides his dream was not meant to be and instead would prefer to settle down with Annie May back in little Maple Hollow, if only he could remember what she looks like. He searches for her across the big city while she searches for him. Surely, they will find one another, won’t they? These moments give the story an extra layer of sweet desperation and gives readers a greater stake in the outcome.

This pulp novel was first published serially across five issues of Argosy All-Story Weekly magazine in 1926. It’s a delightful story filled with humor and fun pulpy action with an underdog protagonist who you can’t help but root for. The author, George F. Worts, was a favorite of Argosy readers, with an easy-going style and a flair for humorous situations. He also wrote detective fiction under the pen name, Loring Brent, featuring the character, Gillian Hazeltine, among many other pulp series.

A non-traditional masked vigilante story to be sure, but one that I highly recommend.

Too Many Cooks (Nero Wolfe #5) by Rex Stout

The fifth novel in the Nero Wolfe series finds Wolfe and his secretary/chauffer Archie Goodwin on a rare trip away from the brownstone on West 35th Street in New York City. Beyond his detective work, Wolfe is also something of a foodie. Given his girth and exuberance for eating, this is not surprising. Here, his culinary know-how earns him an invitation to a gathering of fifteen of the world’s most famous chefs. And of course, there will be a murder. This time, it’s one of the attendees, an irascible man who is literally stabbed in the back, likely by one of his peers. 

A side note: The story is set in 1938, a time of less-than-palatable racism. It can be an uncomfortable reading experience from today’s perspective, but readers must recognize the times for what they were. I’ve heard more than once that these novels, in general, are racist but I think it’s important to differentiate an accurate depiction of the era from purposeful prejudicial writing. In fact, the author, Rex Stout works to demonstrate how wrong these prejudices truly are, as evidenced by this comment from Nero Wolfe:

    “The ideal human agreement is one in which distinctions of race and color and religion are totally disregarded; anyone helping to preserve those distinctions is postponing that ideal…"

I’ve been wanting to read more of this series ever since I read book number one, Fer-de-Lance. I thought that one was OK but felt it was probably not the best of what the series had to offer. I searched through various top-10 lists and found that this one, Too Many Cooks was listed on every single one. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has made me a fan of Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and of course Rex Stout. The mystery elements were excellent, as expected, and those who enjoy brilliant detectives should like it too. Happily, there is a nice amount of humor sprinkled throughout, as well.

And so, another lengthy series has been added to my ever-growing TBR list… Sigh.

The Green Hornet Chronicles, edited by Joe Gentile and Win Scott Eckert

Contrary to a lot of readers of this book, I was not a Green Hornet fan growing up.  The 60s TV series was before my time and even though I’ve been on a sort of retro kick for the past several years, the character never really entered my orbit.  But a few months ago I listened to a few of the old Green Hornet radio show broadcasts of the late 1930s and really started to get into it.

This book collects a number of stories written by contemporary authors that pay homage to the Green Hornet mythos.  Edited by Joe Gentile and Win Scott Eckert, these stories are based on the TV show version, with most of the tales taking place in that decade.  Authors include such luminaries as James Reasoner, Win Scott Eckert, Will Murray, and Greg Cox as well as a whole host of others that tackle the character from different angles. There are 18 stories packed in this one volume. Also included is an essay by Harlan Ellison himself explaining the start of a Green Hornet story that he abandoned, and the reasons why.  And finally, we get a nice intro by Van Williams, (the TV actor who played him) and an interview with Dean Jeffries, the man who designed the Black Beauty, (Green Hornet’s car) for the show.

I now feel like I know Britt Reid (editor of the Daily Sentinel and Green Hornet), Kato (masked chauffeur/bodyguard/enforcer, who was also Reid's valet), Britt Reid's secretary Lenore "Casey" Case, reporter Mike Axford, and others.  I tend to get sucked into these sorts of characters and like to experience them in all forms of media, so I’ve already purchased the original two serials from the early 1940s and plan to start watching the TV series at some point too.  Oh, and I also will soon be diving into The Green Hornet: Still at Large, (edited by these same two gentlemen) as well. Sigh…just not enough time in the day.

The Devil in the Marshalsea (Tom Hawkins #1) by Antonia Hodgson

London, 1727…on the eve of the coronation of George II.  Young Tom Hawkins, refusing to follow in his father’s footsteps as a clergyman, has instead been seeking out a life as a gambler, a rake, and a chaser of women.  But when he finds himself in debt, he must wager big in order to keep himself outside of debtor’s prison.  Surprisingly, he wins that big gamble but on the way back to his rooms, he is mugged and is thusly tossed into the “Marshalsea”.

Life in debtor’s prison is just as harsh and cruel as what Dickens describes.  The gaol is divided into two sections.  For those with enough influence with family and friends on the outside to provide enough money to keep them afloat, they can stay on the “Master’s” side and provide a cut to the overseers.  For those less lucky, there is the “Commons” side where life is short and about as miserable as can be imagined. "Process must be followed Mr. Hawkins. You can’t just throw men into prison and let them rot.  That would be cruel. They must have their time in court. Their case must be heard, their creditors must be called to account…Then they can rot.”  Running the whole thing is a governor of sorts, and along with a myriad of innkeepers, barkeeps, brothel owners, etc. their only real interest is how much profit they can make off the misfortune of the inmates.

And like in almost any prison in the world, even today, “If you wish to survive in this gaol…in this world then you must make people believe you are the most ruthless, calculating, treacherous man they know. They must believe you are capable of anything—the worst imaginable outrages.  If your enemies learn that you are weak, they will destroy you.  That is the way of the world.”  Men die every day in the Marshalsea but when our young gambler’s roommate is murdered in the middle of the night in their locked room, all signs point to Hawkins himself as the killer.  He must solve the mystery of the real killer before time runs out or he will be executed.

I really enjoy these sorts of historical mystery novels.  In addition to a nice murder mystery element, adventure, intrigue, and betrayal, there is a lot of good history here as well, not the least of which is how debtor’s prisons worked in the 1720s.  It’s always been a strange concept for me to wrap my brain around anyway…how can you expect somebody who is in debt to be able to work themselves out of debt and gain their freedom when they are locked up?  Thanks to the excellent research by the author, this novel was an eye opener for me in that regard, especially the free enterprise system that thrived within the prison walls.  So much so that many of the prisoners stayed on voluntarily after they had found a way to pay off their debts, just to keep on raking in the profits.

This is the first book in a series.  I had already read and enjoyed the second book, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, so I wanted to go back and get this first one under my belt as well.  While I still recommend they be read in order, either of the first two can be read as a stand-alone novel and I have heard the same of the third, which I will, in due course, pursue as well.

Easy Company and the Medicine Gun (Easy Company #2) by John Wesley Howard (Stephen Winston)

Stephen Winston takes over the reins from Lou Cameron to pen this second book in the 31-book Easy Company series. He would go on to write at least five more.

Less than a year after the events of Little Bighorn, Easy Company continues its mission of maintaining a shaky peace in the region. They are receiving new recruits due to some recent attrition and this novel’s plot centers around those characters although the regulars also get in on some good action.  I get the feeling there might be a lot of new recruits necessary for this company of mounted infantry, (don’t dare call them cavalry) based on the body count in this outing alone.

A Gatling gun (known as a medicine gun to the Indians because of its ability to deal out rapid “big medicine”) has been stolen before it can complete its journey to a reservation in the North. The crew has been slaughtered and it appears the notorious Racing Elk and his band are responsible. As new clues come to light, different groups of Easy Company, including the new recruits hit the trail in pursuit, each experiencing their own separate types of adventure.

I’m not sure if it’s because of a different author from book one or if it’s due to the demands of the publisher but this entry kicks up the adult content a notch or two. Some of it is quite imaginative. But the other parts are equally imaginative, including the gunfights, camp politics, and the new characters’ backgrounds. It all makes for another solid entry in the series. Book three is written by Kenneth Bjorgum, another author in the stable behind the “John Wesley Howard” pseudonym. I’m curious to see what his style will bring to these characters.

The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis (Camulod Chronicles #6) by Jack Whyte

This is the sixth and final novel in the main “Camulod Chronicles” series which tells the story of Arthur, Merlyn, and the rest from a historically realistic and scientifically plausible way. (There are three other books still to come in the series but they are companion pieces to this main set).

This book sees the culmination of all of the fascinating history that has led up to the final crowning of Arthur, making him the king of kings in England.  But it begins when Arthur is still only around 14 years old with Merlyn continuing with his education.  While Arthur is technically the reason for this entire series, it is once again, not really about him.  Once again, Merlyn relates the events from a first person perspective and follow along with his extraordinary life.  There are some slowish parts in the first half of the book, mostly surrounding discussions of the influx of Christianity, but they are necessary to the way the final chapters unfold.  Merlyn undergoes his own metamorphosis in this book, becoming the more traditional version of the sorcerer we think of today.  Of course, just like the rest of this series, it isn’t actual magic but rather his intelligent use of natural chemicals and techniques that allows him to be seen as performing acts of great sorcery and thus his reputation as a sorcerer is born.

A very satisfying conclusion to one of my all-time favorite “historical-fantasy” series.  I look forward to turning now to the companion novels, which I understand describe many of the same events but from different perspectives.

The Yellow Hoard (The Avenger #2) by Kenneth Robeson (Paul Ernst)

This second novel in The Avenger series, originally published in October, 1939, continues the early adventures of Richard “Dick” Benson in his efforts to fight crime, especially criminal organizations that are similar to the one who was responsible for the death of his wife and young daughter.  Here, he and his two associates, chase after a group who has discovered that an archaeological find will lead them to a huge secret Aztec treasure hoard of gold which they plan to use to further their nefarious goals.

The author behind the Kenneth Robeson name is Paul Ernst, once again, and he delivered a solid second installment of the series.  The plot was fun if rather simple and straightforward.  It does its job as a follow-on to the origin story told in the first book, Justice, Inc. and serves as a good example of the kind of adventure that readers could expect in the stories to come.  It is probably best remembered for the introduction of the character, Nellie Grey, as the latest recruit to Benson’s stable of crime fighters.  Her small, pretty, and seemingly fragile physique disguises a mastery of jiu-jitsu and other martial arts.  She is a welcome addition to the group, and quite remarkable considering the male-dominated era in which this series was written (1939-1942).

Under a Veiled Moon (Inspector Corravan #2) by Karen Odden

1878

Inspector Michael Corravan, a senior officer at Scotland Yard now finds himself as acting superintendent at Wapping River Police for the past three months. As a man born in Ireland, orphaned at an early age and raised by the Irish Doyle family, it’s a tough time for him. He’s caught in the middle, working for the English crown while fighting down his disgust at the very active prejudice he sees against his own people across England.

But Corravan is nothing if not dogged in his police duties so when a body is discovered near the docks and found to be likely something more than an accident, he sets out to investigate. But soon his work is overwhelmed by a catastrophe upon the Thames. The pleasure steamer named the Princess Alice is struck by the massive Bywell Castle, an iron-hulled collier, resulting in the loss of most of the 600 passengers. All police are sucked into the effort to search for survivors and handle relief efforts. Local newspapers start reporting rumors and innuendos about the Irish Republican Brotherhood being responsible. A single case of possible murder appears to have turned into a complex case of mass murder for political purposes.

Karen Odden has once again written a wonderful, historically accurate novel of murder, intrigue, and deadly peril. For the first few chapters I wondered what she might have in mind for us readers as we get to peel the proverbial onion back on a society prone to prejudice and political activism. Sure, there was a what appeared to be a murder case and surely Inspector Corravan would investigate and uncover the truth of the matter. But then the whole plot took a deep turn into unexpected territory. The sinking of the Princess Alice is a historical event and many of the characters involved with her destiny and that we read about here are actual historical characters. This incident remains the greatest loss of life of any British inland waterway shipping accident in history. The author uses this tragedy and creates a masterful story of political intrigue around it, forcing Inspector Corravan to solve what amounts to one of the very first incidents of terrorism ever, even when it means working with sordid figures of the seedy London underbelly. And to think I thought this would be just a simple murder mystery.

I’ve read a couple of other novels by Karen Odden and have always come away impressed. She has a knack for creating complex plots and yet keeping them entirely readable. The settings, society, and true-to-life history reflect her in depth research. But, as in all good stories, the characters make the novel and here, Karen Odden has pulled out all the stops. Inspector Corravan is a superb character, filled with human foibles to balance out his honorable intentions. We get to see a lot of his adopted family and their destinies, heavily influenced by a decision he made long ago. Indeed, one of the central themes of the novel is how one learns to live with prior regretful choices.

This is the second of the Inspector Corravan novels and I will add that I have yet to read the first one. However, at no time did I feel like I was missing anything. The author provides any backstory needed so I was quite comfortable throughout. Of course, I do feel the need to go back now and read that first one (“Down a Dark River”), not to fill in anything about this one but simply to revel in the experience of reading a Karen Odden novel.

The Mad Scientist Affair (The Man From U.N.C.L.E. #5) by John T. Phillifent

Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin are assigned to an unusual case in Ireland.  This time, instead of stopping the diabolical plot of a mad scientist, they are to see to it that he carries out his plans, whatever they are, in case it's good, and keep THRUSH from getting their hands on the experiments.  The scientist is a brewer of premium beer but, alas, he has discovered new synthetic substances based on chemical processes.  One use is to enhance indiscretion and recklessness, much like a new form of beer.  Solo himself is drugged with this and learns just how dangerous it could be if loosed upon an unsuspecting population.  But even more serious is the second form of the synthetic which can spread rapidly in water and turn into a solid jelly-like substance.  It seems the scientist and THRUSH have plans to let it loose in key salt water areas on a massive scale and thus paralyze shipping lanes, choke rivers, cut off power plants, etc.  Diabolical indeed! 

The fifth entry of this series is the first of three by English writer John T. Phillifent (also wrote #19 and 20).  This author is probably better known by his pseudonym, John Rackham, a science fiction and fantasy author of some note.  He is also an electrical engineer and scientist by training and this knowledge is put to good use here.  The science behind these fictional synthetic substances may not pass an expert evaluation but was sufficient to sound plausible to my mind.  But he doesn’t scrimp on the action or other expectations of an U.N.C.L.E. story either.  The addition of the scientist’s two beautiful daughters, one blonde and angelic, one raven-haired and devilish, was a nice touch.  Although I will say the blonde was a little inconsistent, changing from a brilliant scientist in her own right, to a helpless chatty Cathy in the middle, and finally to an action hero at the end.  

It’s all in good fun though and as long as you’re not expecting the heights of literary accomplishment, it’s a fun time.

Jewel of the Java Sea by Dan Cushman

Frisco Dougherty has been hanging around the islands of the South China Sea, from Singapore to Manilla and to the coast of India ever since the war ended. He’s been hunting for over fifteen years, hunting diamonds, hoping to gain his fortune and enough dough to get him back home to San Francisco. And now he’s found one. A diamond that’s been oddly cut, not so large as he’d hoped but certainly of superior quality. And even better, it appears to be just the start of a group of diamonds, all available for a man filled with enough cunning and bravado to acquire them one way or another.

This is a classic 1950’s-era South Pacific adventure novel. The plot is filled with rogues and villains out to steal that which Frisco has legitimately stolen first. Frisco has allies but he’s never certain he can entirely trust them. Among them is a beautiful native girl named Anna as well as a Cockney named Jaske, a Chinese merchant, and an American going by the name Deering. From some he can gain clues to how to acquire the rest of the diamonds and from others he can make deals to his own advantage. But just who will help and who will hinder remains an open-ended question.

Author Dan Cushman has written a number of novels that take place in the South Pacific as well as the Congo and the Yukon, all based on his own adventurous life and experiences. Later he turned his hand to writing western/historical novels featuring Native Americans and Montana history. He is probably best known for his novel, “Stay Away, Joe” which was turned into a film starring Elvis Presley.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I was in the mood for a good rollicking adventure yarn and this one fit the bill nicely. I managed to learn a little more about the regions where the story takes place as well as some nice details about the provenance of some famous diamonds that found their way through this area. But at its heart, this is a solid novel of back-stabbing, conniving adventurers intent on gaining riches the old-fashioned way. Trading, dealing, stealing, and murdering, all on the way to a satisfying ending.