Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer of detective, gangster, adventure and sci-fi novels, plays and stories.
As his books are not readily available now, a variety of titles was made available by Book Club member, Jo. Thank you Jo.
During his life he wrote 175 novels, 24 plays and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920’s, one of Wallace’s publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of “King Kong” writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story “King Kong” (1933) credited to him and Draycot Dell.
After he died, his works fell out of print. This is thought to be because despite this enormous output there was no one work or series that was a standout and no truly iconic character just his name recognition.
(Rosemary, Helen & Judy A)
Rosemary: The Ringer published in 1925
Rosemary enjoyed the story although it was hard work reading with the small print and yellowing pages. She thought it was a bit like watching an old fashioned ‘who dun it’.
The Ringer is the story of an assassin who killed for personal vengeance and who Scotland Yard found difficult to catch because of the disguises he used.
Theresa: Again the Ringer published in 1929
The book is a series of short stories all featuring Henry Arthur Milton (aka The Ringer) among the many other characters.
Theresa thought they were well written, humorous and showed that Wallace had a good command of the English language for the times.
There were chases, bad people, revenge (often in strange ways), vigilantes but no conclusions!
She found them a bit tedious but continued with the book.
Lyn: Room 13 published 1923
Lyn found this a very entertaining book; the characters were well described, and she definitely liked some more than others. The story moved at a good pace, but at times it seemed the characters were able to extricate themselves from some tight situations in a somewhat improbable way. (Deus x machina).
However, this did not detract from her enjoyment.
The story features J G Reeder, a mild-mannered civil servant who is a brilliant detective.
Judy J: The Man at the Carlton published in 1931
The man staying at the Carlton Hotel in London is Captain Tim Jordan Chief of the Rhodesian CID.
Several robberies of banks have occurred in Scotland and northern England. None of the stolen money has been found and although the gang members are known to police, they have been unable to catch them. But as the gang members turn on each other and bodies appear regularly Jordan can piece all the odd clues together.
The language was quaint and polite, but with so many twists and turns it was difficult to follow the story line, until it all ended happily.
Kris: The Feathered Serpent published in 1927
Kris described the book as a bit overly dramatic at times, but it had romance, intrigue, murder and a few twists.
The reporter, Peter Derwin was always on the lookout for a good story when he heard about a mysterious card of a feathered serpent left in the handbag of actress Ella Creed.
The feather serpent is a prominent supernatural deity found in many Aztec and Mayan religions. He thought it was a publicity stunt. But Peter and a few other people had received the cards. All are terrified and linked in some way.
Kris found it easy to read despite the small print and enjoyed reading something a bit different.
Pamela: The Mind of J G Reeder published in 1925
The book is a collection of short stories which make good light reading. The main character is a non-descript, short and a not attractive man. He has the mind of a criminal and was very good at catching murderers.
The stories were quite well written with each featuring a different way of murdering, an especially interesting one was using chips of marble.
Pamela found the book reasonably entertaining although some of the stories were not convincing.
Sheila: The Square Emerald published in 1926
Sheila enjoyed the book especially the old-fashioned way of using the language.
The book is about the first woman detective allowed in Scotland Yard. Her godfather was the Head of Detectives.
The chase was on to find where the emerald was and if it was real.
Sheila commented there was no sex in the story, although the butler was a transvestite. But this turned out to be central to the story.
Judy De la T: The Council of Justice published in 1908
Judy also commented that there was no sex or swearing, so very different from today’s books.
The story tells of the battle between The Four Just Men and the Red Hundred who were anarchists trying to destroy the structure of London representing the Free World.
It is a sequel to the 1905 novel The Four Just Men and continues the adventures of the heroes featured there. It was followed by four further sequels.
Leslie: White Face published in 1930
A murder occurs in foggy, nighttime London with several witnesses. Many minor clues are found but it was hard to see the connection of some.
A reporter, friendly with Scotland Yard, assists in the search for a killer known as White face. No one has ever seen his face even though a number of unsolved murders have been attributed to him.
Many secrets are kept by witnesses, the locals, the reporter and even the Police.
Many assumptions are made, fragile women prone to hysterics, fainting, blushing and embarrassed by sordid and crude details. Mysterious men and shady characters add to the atmosphere before all is solved.
Lesley described the book as a product of its time.
Jo: The Indian Rubber Man published in 1929
A gang of burglars, bank-robbers and thieves is plaguing the River Thames in London. Their disguises of rubber masks and rubber gloves giving them the name “The Indian-rubber Men”.
Johnny Wade, the most fearless of the River Detectives is assigned to the job of hunting down the gang.
Jo has read and collected these books for many years, and still enjoys the stories.
Joan: Again the Three Just Men published in 1928
This is a book of short stories, with some good ones and some not so good.
The Just Men are now an exclusive detective agency bringing those to justice that ‘got away with it’ in the eyes of the law.
Joan thought the language was fascinating and it was easy to picture London and characters from the descriptions. She really enjoyed the book especially as it was something different to read.
Diann: The Door with Seven Locks published in 1926
Diann tried hard with this book but was unable to read much because of the small print, messy storyline and too many characters. Certainly not her kind of book.
Rosemary W: The Man Who Invented King Kong published in 2023
Rosemary is intending to read this biography of Wallace.
Ed: The Golden Hades published in 1929
This detective novel is set in the London of the 1920s and the story follows private investigator John Grierson as he delves into the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy businessman.
Many twists and turns and cleverly placed clues keep up the interest.
An actor lends some money, thinking it is only stage money. But it turns out to be counterfeit and the currency of a gang of vicious swindlers who killed and defrauded to get what they wanted.
This money brought terror and death to everyone who handled it – money branded with the mark of The Golden Hades.
Ed really enjoyed it.
Judy A: The Joke (aka The Colossus) published in 1926
A smart, rich criminal, well-liked by all his alleged victims, but gets away, seemingly having hurt no one in the process. For most of the book Judy couldn’t figure out what the plot line was. There’s a rich guy and a Detective named Jim Carlton and a nice heroine named Aileen Rivers.
Judy was going to give up but was glad she stayed to the end because there was a quite clever role reversal twist that she didn’t see coming.
Prue: The Valley of the Ghosts published in 1922
The novel was originally published in four installments before the book edition appeared.
A police pathologist is sent to a town to pick up a criminal. But then a murder occurred followed by several more. The criminal is released and helped solve the murders.
Prue said there were many characters, twists and turns and anyone could be the murderer.
She described the writing as tight and easy to follow. She really enjoyed it and will read more.
Kerrie: The Missing Million published in 1923
As Kerrie read the book, she created a mind map of the characters to enhance her enjoyment and understanding.
The detective is an ex-serviceman, and the mystery is that no one is murdered but many commit suicide. All have been under enormous pressure so have no way out but to suicide. A million pounds is central to all this.
All is eventually resolved, true love conquers all and the women forgive the way they have been treated. The clue was always there, but it was well hidden.
Kerrie said it was a good read but she probably wouldn’t read any more by the author.
Tam: When the Gangs Came to London published in 1932
In the story, American gangs involved in money laundering come to London. They are also involved in black mailing and extortion of rich people. If they don’t pay up, they get killed.
An American detective comes to start dealing with the situation and eventually solving the problem.
As in other books the heroic women are all beautiful and vulnerable. The men are handsome and very clever. But Tam still enjoyed the book.
