Bruce Sanders - Deadly Jade - Herbert Jenkins - 1947?
`Bruce Sanders` was one of a number of pen-names used by Leonard Gribble, a writer best remembered for his many true crime and crime fiction titles.
Set in the immediate post-war period, stylistically this seems very much like something from between the wars.
Initially I was unsure if I was going to warm to this tale of the experiences of central character Simon and his business partner/ex-wife Hilda. However, the story improves with the introduction of two very strong characters, sassy modern girl Carol and her admirer, the charismatic Charles `The Duke` Bastion, reputed to be a figure from the world of organised crime.
These two act as catalysts for a string of events held together by an intriguing, if occasionally muddled, plot.
If the book has a weakness, it`s that it`s `neither fish nor fowl`. There is no puzzle that the reader can have any hope of solving, and neither is it a thriller in the usual sense.
While there is action (two murders, one attempted murder and an accidental death) , these events are not recounted in the book, but become apparent when a body is discovered, or, more frequently, when one character simply tells another about it.
This does result in a certain loss of momentum as the book proceeds, particularly since there is a great deal more conversation than action.
The role of Simon seems to be that he is constantly baffled, misled or mistaken, probably in order to ensure that the more intelligent Carol and Duke are shown to good effect, but in scenes where they are elsewhere, their absence is certainly felt.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed this book, but it is not going to be to everyone`s taste.
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