False Faces by Louis Joseph Vance

False Faces: 

Further Adventures from the History of the Lone Wolf 

Louis Joseph Vance

1918

4/5 stars

Michael Lanyard is a former gentleman thief, known as "the Lone Wolf".  In the early days of the Great War, he suffers private loss of enormous magnitude, leaving him with a personal vendetta against all Germans in general, but one spy in particular.  When the Allies accept his proffered talents, Lanyard travels to the U.S., and becomes embroiled in danger, espionage, intrigue, and revenge while still at sea, which dogs his steps all the way to a final encounter in New York City.

This was a completely entertaining adventure.  Vance's stark depiction of the trenches made a gripping hook, and, despite being overly melodramatic at times, False Faces remained absorbing through the final scene.  Lanyard is a surprisingly well-drawn character -- still tempted by the illicit, but striving to remain a lawful gentleman in his actions, even when life is at stake.  The plot was fast-paced, never dull, and, though unbelievable, still intelligent.   I enjoyed the first in the series (The Lone Wolf, my review here), but found this second to be far superior.  I will certainly read more of the exploits of the Lone Wolf. 

The Whisper in the Gloom by Nicholas Blake

The Whisper in the Gloom
Nicholas Blake
1954
4/5 stars 

Twelve-year-old Bert, known as "the Brain" to his friends, is about to sail his toy boat in Kensington Gardens when a dying man thrusts a message into the hull. Two men try to take his boat, and realizing he is in danger, he attaches himself to a strolling stranger, who happens to be Nigel Strangeways. Strangeways helps him get away safely, but Bert runs off without giving his name or any details. Realizing that the dead man was murdered for the information he now has, and fearing to trust any adult, Bert and his fellow Martian Society members, Foxy and Copper, try to solve the mystery themselves. In the meantime, Nigel, making the connection between the unknown boy and the murder, tries to find the boy and help Scotland Yard find the reason behind the assignation. 

 This was not a typical Strangeways novel, as it is more adventure than mystery. The attentive reader will recognize the guilty party early on, and the rest of the story is a race to see who will find Bert first, Nigel or the bad guys, and if either Bert or Nigel will correctly interpret the coded message. The boys were nicely written and their part of the story was thoroughly enjoyable. Nigel's actions played a minor role, but still made a good tale. On the whole, this is one of the best of the series that I've read so far.

The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc

The Hollow Needle
Maurice Leblanc 
1909
4/5 stars

The cunning, highly skilled master thief, Arsène Lupin, matches wits with a preternaturally intelligent young man to be the first to solve the puzzle of the Hollow Needle -- a secret that has been passed down by royalty throughout generations.  

This adventure focuses more on the boy, Isidore Beautrelet, and his efforts at detection than it does on the charismatic Lupin or any crime he has committed. Beautrelet is a likable character and his observations make interesting reading.  There are a few twists to keep the reader engaged, and over all, with it's satisfying conclusion, the Hollow Needle is an entertaining read. 

The Duke Decides by Headon Hill

"The procession of three led by the stranger."

The Duke Decides
Headon Hill
1903 
4/5 stars

In this Edwardian novel of suspense, Charles Hanbury, a down-on-his-luck Englishman working as a clerk in an American shop, is approached by a criminal gang.  Desperately wanting the money to return to England, Hanbury agrees to be part of their plan.  When he later regrets his decision, his life is threatened and his friends band together in an attempt to rescue him from his folly.

The Duke Decides, though light reading, was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, with likable characters and enough suspense to pull the reader into the story. While the prose was average, the style was engaging and the plot was intriguing.  I'm disappointed that so few of Hill's books are available now.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

2012

4/5 stars

On the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick goes home to discover his wife, Amy, has disappeared, apparently in the midst of a struggle.  As the investigation progresses, he becomes the chief suspect, with no way to prove his innocence. 

Flynn is a talented writer, and creates a convincing sense of dread.  The story was told from two points of view, by fully credible characters in distinctly separate voices.  In fact, Nick and Amy were so believably unlikable that, eleven hours into a fifteen hour audio book, I nearly called it quits. I didn't care for the excessive vulgar language, either; it was so over-the-top that it was as if Flynn was simply trying to shock -- and I've heard "bitch" enough to do me a lifetime.  The story, though, kept me interested through out, and the ending was exactly what it should be.  Some of the surprises were not as unexpected as I think Flynn wanted, but overall, this domestic thriller was a satisfyingly unpleasant read.

September 2020 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung (1898) 2/5 stars  (my review here)

The Angel of His Presence by Grace Livingston Hill (1902)  3/5 stars

This short Christian book is light on plot and, as one of Hill's earliest, is not a fully developed novel.  It was still a pleasant quick read, though, and hints at Hill's style to come.

Audio Books Completed:

Cop to Corpse by Peter Lovesey (2012)  4/5 stars

A sniper is picking off police officers in the district.  When one of Bath's own is murdered, Inspector Diamond follows his instincts and investigates the crime from an unofficial angle.  I love Diamond; he is flawed, likable, and real.  As usual, Lovesey created a solid plot with good twists and a satisfactory ending.  I'm proud of figuring out an important part early on, but I was still kept guessing as the book progressed.  I certainly recommend this series to mystery lovers.

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves (2013)  4/5 stars

DI Vera Stanhope finds a murdered woman in the steam room of her gym, sparking an investigation that that appears to be tied in with the previous death of a child.  Vera Stanhope is a fantastic character, flawed and likable and real.  The well-written plot was twisty and involved, with a satisfying ending.  This series has become a solid favorite.

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths (2020) 3/5 stars (my review here)

Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett (2018)  3/5 stars

This is a light, historical cozy mystery with pleasant characters and a nice 1920's atmosphere.  The writing was good, but the mystery and solution were not particularly convincing.

The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves (2012)  4/5 stars

When DI Vera Stanhope's neighbor is implicated in a murder, Vera risks a conflict-of-interests to find the truth.  The investigation expands when another victim is found, and Vera seems to be involved in a case with literary touches.  The characters are nicely drawn, the prose is good, and there are many twists and false leads. Though a large coincidence played a major part, this is still another satisfying mystery by Cleeves.

Did Not Finish:

The Windfall by Diksha Basu

It began as a rather charming tale, but I became utterly repelled by the continual fixation on money -- then there was the body shaming, the idolization of the purely materialistic aspect of American culture, and some truly unlikable characters.  I'm really surprised at the rave reviews.

Emily Fox-Seton by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I generally enjoy light Edwardian novels,  and this was one of Burnett's most popular adult books and the type that I usually find delightful.  After reading the first quarter, though, I still didn't feel connected to the characters, and actually found Emily to be a bit weak and easily bullied.  

A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym

Her writing is fantastic, and this book was no different, but I just wasn't in the mood for a serious read.