[Dr. Drib]

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