Wednesday, May 19, 2021

THE THREE TAPS - Ronald Knox


 










Mr Mottram is found dead in a locked room with a gun shot wound to the face and a fatal knife wound to his heart.

Miles Bredon & his wife investigate.

Knox is very funny and exceptionally literate, I'd wager that Hammet modeled  "The Thin Man "on these two. Both couples wise cracking while solving the mystery .  It appears Knox got there first with this  published in 1927 , the The Thin Man published in 1934.

Good fun


GREENMANTLE- John Buchan


 










Its 1915 and Richard Hannay is taken from the trenches in France to embark on an undercover mission to " save the world ".

One of the great adventure yarns, I think its better than it's predecessor "The 39 Steps".

Been read many times , will get read some more.

STRIDING FOLLY - Dorothy L. Sayers


 










Three short stories from Sayers featuring Lord Peter.  Entertaining , but light weight when compared to her novels.

FIELD GRAY - Philip Kerr












Time to start a re-read of the Bernie Gunther series, one of the best historical sets written.

Bernie is kidnapped from the waters off Cuba by the US and taken back to Germany to be tried as a war criminal.  He re-counts events from over a 25 year period,  his dealings with the atrocity that was Nazi Germany.

A great great series

TO CATCH A SPY - Tim Tate

  I love seeing politicians made to look foolish, but in this case they did it themselves.  I knew Thatcher was arrogant & I've been...