Chase, James Hadley: 12 Chinamen And A Woman. v1.0 13 July 07
This is an interesting book with an interesting history. The title, as you may percieve, is offensive in its implications. An earlier title was even more offensive. [As an added bonus, I've included 6 different covers of this book at the end of the novel.]
However, Chase (the author) was a respected writer of mysteries. This book features detective Dave Fenner, who has a heart of gold and something extra for the bedroom....
This book is a continuing series of efforts to bring noir paperback mysteries to those who like to read these, whether as cultural artifacts and/or as entertainment.
Here's a quote from one source:
" Fenner is a typical hard-boiled private eye with an attitude that walks the line between wiseguy and sainthood. As such, he represents every male reader's ego, labido, and superego -- one always pulling at the other."
And from the same source:
"Here are all the ingredients of the perfect fastmoving novel: love, passion, violence, and suspense, skilfully blended by James Hadley Chase and served up piping hot with murder on the side. This thrill-packed trip through gangland will bring you face to face with such interesting characters as:
"TWELVE CHINAMEN IN A BOAT: Who hadn't seen a woman in six weeks and were rapidly approaching the pleasure-coast of Florida.
"GLORIE LEADLER: A bewitching blonde who seasoned her amorous escapades with the spice of life -- variety.
"DETECTIVE DAVE FENNER: Whose calloused Broadway heart developed an unsuspected tender emotion when Glorie paid a surprise visit to his bedroom.
"PIO CARLOS: A smooth young man from Cuba who thought that he had found a key to Glorie's heart, when he really held only the key to his own tomb.
"NIGHTINGALE: A wily nightbird who let a burly .45 do his talking for him.
"If you like your romance supercharged, with no sidetracks or local stops for a breather, climb aboard this Special by the author of "The Villain and the Virgin" and get set for romance and thrills unlimited."
I hope you enjoy it.
Don
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