Richard Williams (19)

Credited to `Richard Williams`, this story was in fact the work of Stephen Frances, better known as Hank Jansen.

In the first part of this book, the central character is the marvellously-named Harry Snogg, a professional detective story writer, author of the hard-boiled Ryley Steele series of crime novels.

He is also as impressionable as wet putty, so when he stumbles upon an ongoing bank robbery by chance, it isn`t long before he becomes Ryley Steele - in his mind, if not to anyone else ! show more

Soon Sexton Blake is involved, and growing more than a little weary of hapless Harry`s attempts at sleuthing.

The first part of the story is concerned largely with Harry/Ryley, the second is more concerned with Blake. While the first part has it`s touches of humour and the odd writerly flourish ("The first hint of approaching night blunted the brightness of day"), the second is more terse, the action more hard-hitting.

It`s interesting how Mr Williams/Jansen seems to have adapted himself well to writing SBLs - had I read this `blindfold` (so to speak), I would have assumed it was the work of W Howard Baker. Jansen was the author of another `Richard Williams` Blake tale, the Iron Box, and that also fits seamlessly into the genre.

I`ve read this several times, which is why my copy`s falling apart, and always enjoyed it. If you`re looking for a blend of humour, action, crime and detection, this is very likely the one for you. show less