Mystery and Crime Wallace, Edgar: The Dark Eyes of London. v1. 31st Jan 2010

[HarryT]

Classic 1924 crime fiction Wallace's best period.

Larry Holt is a Scotland Yard inspector: Diana Ward is the new secretary assigned to his office. The two hit it off immediately: and Diana's background in nursing the blind becomes important when a man is dragged out of the Thames with a message scrawled on his shirtfront and a roll of paper with Braille markings in his pocket. Soon the two investigators are making their way through the mysterious underworld of London's blind, including the savage Big Jake and the shady Reverend John Dearborn, a prolific if unappreciated playwright. There is a good deal of humour in Larry's dealings with the jewel thief Flash Fred, and Diana shows herself to be a brave and resourceful partner. The book veers into stagy melodrama at the end, but this is redeemed by Wallace's depiction of the two vain brothers whose mutual admiration fuels the whole murderous plot. Wallace was expertly describing psychopaths long before the term was invented.

Highly recommended.

Enjoy!

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