The Hand of Power

Edgar Wallace

The name, Edgar Wallace, threads through early twentieth century crime fiction like a stream that turns out to be a lot deeper and wider than you thought. During the 1920s and 30s, it was said that one of every four books read in England was written by Wallace, who ultimately produced 173 books and 17 plays. The Hand of Power is a tale about the sale of a desk designed by a butler who murdered his wife. This book has all the aspects of good mysteries from around 1930 a beautiful woman, a young man infatuated with her, a secret society, an evil man, lots of twists of plot, and a surprise ending. It takes place in London and elsewhere in England and on an ocean liner. Highly recommended for people who like to treat a mystery story as a solvable riddle.

The India-Rubber Men

Edgar Wallace

The India-Rubber Men is a gripping thriller of Londons River Police, whose swift launches patrol the Thames and guard the ships that lie in port. Inspector John Wade is given the toughest job of his life when he is assigned the task of running to earth a gang of gunmen in rubber gas-masks, rubber gloves and crepe rubber shoes, who rob banks and jewelers, and even commit murder under the very eyes of the police, and get away with it. Through it all runs the Thames, and there is even time for a little excursion out of London to its upper reaches in Oxfordshire. A classic Wallace, stitching together his favorite themes with enough humor and vigor to keep the reader intrigued till the very end.

The Iron Grip

Edgar Wallace

1929 short story collection by Edgar Wallace revolving around the demobbed soldier (WWI) Jack Wireless Bryce and his engagement by the law firm Hemmer & Hemmer. Operating on the fringes of lawlessness, Bryce uses his brains and brawn to protect a range of the firms more vulnerable and downright gullible clients. His new career as a detective creates a compelling tale of adventure. Most of his adventures involve rescuing various damsels in distress from the clutches of men who are far from gentle. The tales are told with real zip, with a dash of grit and humor. Eventually, however, he is overpowered caught in the tender grip of love from which he has no desire to escape.

The Joker

Edgar Wallace

Mr. Stratford Harlow, the colossus of British Finance, was a gentleman with no particular call to hurry. By every standard he was a member of the leisured classes, and to his opportunities for lingering, he added the desire of one who was pertinently curious. The most commonplace phenomena interested Mr. Harlow. He had all the requisite qualities of an observer; his enjoyment was without the handicap of sentimentality, a weakness which is fatal to accurate judgement. Between Stratford Harlow and James Carlton, whom Harlow described as Scotland Yards most unscrupulous man, there was never open warfare until the murder of Mrs. Gibbons...

The Just Men of Cordova

Edgar Wallace

There are crimes for which no punishment is adequate, offences that the written law cannot redress. The three friends, Pioccart, Manfred and Gonsalez, may be enjoying the exotic, Spanish city of Cordova with its heat and Moorish influences, but they are still committed to employing their intellect and cunning to dispense justice. In The Just Men of Cordova, written in 1917, the just men move into the treacherous, aristocratic world of gambling, horse-racing and high finance. It seems that police services, even governments, have no power to control this world, where blackmail, poison and murder are commonplace. The just men, working outside the law, take it upon themselves to clean things up in their own way.

The Keepers of the Kings Peace

Edgar Wallace

The Keepers of the Kings Peace is another entry in Edgar Wallaces eminently popular Sanders of the River series based on British attempts to bring their administration to darkest Africa. An elite crew of officers is charged with getting to the bottom of a female shamans seemingly miraculous powers, but bumbling new addition Bones keeps getting in the way. Will they be able to stave off a mass rebellion before its too late? Always with tongue in cheek, Edgar Wallace nevertheless provides insights into the period of history at the same time. Wonderful characters, enthralling stories, never a dull moment. These stories are as good as any of the Sanders of the River stories.

The Lady Called Nita

Edgar Wallace

Few people today would recognize the name Edgar Wallace but before his death in 1933 he was a literary force to be reckoned with. He was both prolific and popular and his books reportedly sold at the rate of 5,000 a day. This enjoyable collection includes eight mystery stories by Edgar Wallace: The Lady Called Nita, The Man Who Married His Cook, Mr. Sigees Relations, The Knight Who Could Not Kneel, Her Fathers Daughter, The Dramatic Butler, Diana Helps, Con-Lacto Is Strength. These stories are fast-paced with some surprising twists, well written and great to read. Highly recommended for people who like to treat a mystery story as a solvable riddle.

The Lady of Ascot

Edgar Wallace

She could not yet be called a woman, but she was no longer a child under any circumstances. Curiosity spreads in the small village of Ascot when a wealthy Countess settles there. Even the private investigator John Morlay is enraptured by the young and beautiful Marie Fioli. When he is surprisingly hired by former nanny Maries Beschutzer, he sees a chance to get closer to the Countess. But his mission serves a completely different purpose... As the novel is rather short and quite fast-paced with a lot of scenery-changes and adventures, this nice. The Lady of Ascot is one of the most successful book of the 30s, the golden age of mysteries. Recommended for Edgar Wallace fans and fans of old-time, classic crime thrillers.