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Loading... The Grand Duke's Financesby Frank Heller
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The novel opens with the titular nobleman coming to the end of his financial rope, makes an abrupt turn into a treasonous plot funded by a frustrated businessman, then finally introduces our (anti)hero, Phillip Collin, as he ingeniously thwarts a blackmailer and encounters a mysterious woman. The various plot strands begin to twine together, ultimately both complicated and resolved by derring-do, financial speculation, and romance.While I enjoyed The Grand Duke's Last Chance, I'm puzzled by the publisher and introduction writer describing it as a Golden Age mystery, when there's really no mystery to it. A better comparison would be to the "Ruritanian romance" (a la The Prisoner of Zenda) or E. Phillips Oppenheim's novels of espionage and intrigue. Sure, Golden Age mysteries may be better known to most readers than other early 20th century genre fiction, but this particular book does not "work" as a mystery, though it's quite enjoyable as an adventure novel (except for the seemingly obligatory ethnic stereotyping). This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Filip Collin, Swedish gentleman thief and swindler, becomes involved with a revolution on the island of Minorca. What starts off as a rather slow and somewhat confusing story - Is it history? Is it mystery? Is it political thriller? - soon becomes an amusing adventure story with some villains, a few heroes, and, of course, a mysterious maiden. I’d never heard about the author before and, being Swedish, I was naturally curious. Although a little dated, I am enough entertained that I will search out more of this author's books. Recommend for golden era fans. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. 3-3.5 StarsAn early 20th century mystery that's lighthearted and hilarious, even if the novel is a little dated. Think one part Hercule Poirot and one part Clue, with endearing characters and comical situations. A little bit slower pace in earlier chapters, but halfway through the book, the pace quickly speeds up. If you like cozy mysteries or Scandinavian mystery series, you may want to give this book a try. I'm glad I did. LibraryThing Early Reviewer This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. This was quite the wild ride. I do like Frank Heller as an author, though this took a very different journey than the last one of his that I read. This had more to do with politics and finance which was more challenging for me to follow. Quite a romp none the less. I would definitely recommend it. no reviews | add a review
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On the island of Minorca some things never change: the sun shines, the breeze ruffles the Mediterranean, and the Grand Dukes are eternally in debt. Grand Duke Ramon XX doesn't let his permanent state of near-bankruptcy interfere with the simple pleasures of life: a good lunch, a cigar and a glass of cognac. But trouble is on the horizon when the island is visited by a German businessman who will stop at nothing to get his hands on potential sulfur mines. At the same time, a moneylender in Paris threatens to expose a devastating secret, leaving Ramon on the verge of losing not only his beloved island, but his honor and reputation as well. It's not until he crosses paths with Mr Collin, gentleman thief and swindler, that a gleam of hope appears. But who is the mysterious and beautiful woman pretending to be Mr Collin's wife, and does she hold the key to solving the Grand Duke's financial problems once and for all? Frank Heller was the first internationally famous Swedish crime writer. The son of a clergyman, to avoid arrest after a financial fraud he left Sweden for the continent. In desperate straits after losing the swindled money in a casino in Monte Carlo, he tried his hand at writing novels with immediate success, and produced forty-three novels, short stories and travelogues before his death in 1947. "A first-rate mystery thriller...A novel every one will enjoy" - The Sketch "A story of national bankruptcy, revolution and high adventure in the curious Grand Duchy of Minorca and elsewhere...It is all wildly impossible but none the less amusing on that account." - Westminster Gazette. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumFrank Heller's book The Grand Duke's Last Chance was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)839.73Literature German and related languages Other Germanic literatures Swedish literature Swedish fictionRatingAverage:
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This review was written for Early Reviewers. ( )