THE BLACK SEAM

 

THE BLACK SEAM

A George “Magpie” Collins Mystery

By Len Driscoll

Glowing Eyes Media

110 pages

 

In this second Magpie Collins novel, the post-World War II gumshoe is hired by a psychiatrist named Eleanor Whitman who is being blackmailed. Whitman, in treating the son of a wealthy mining tycoon, Charles Ashford, is employing experimental techniques that might be considered both unorthodox and illegal. Her patient, young Robert Ashford had been dealing with severe post-traumatic syndrome after a mining operation he was supervising collapsed and killed five men. Enough so that he committed suicide unable to live with his part in the tragedy. 

Collins, in the course of his investigation, learns that Robert, while under Whitman’s care, had begun to suspect the actual cave-in had been orchestrated by his own father to silence those miners complaining about the lack of safety features in particular tunnels. To that end, Ashford senior, concerned his son’s accusation might become public, coerced Whitman to alter the lad’s mental health and derail his suspicions. 

It’s a tangled web woven by a soulless man unwilling to relinquish his power and prestige, even at the cost of his own son’s life. Once again, Collins wonderfully displays the Australian settings to perfection, dramatizing the frontier atmosphere of the outlying hills away from metropolitan cities such as Sydney. The story is suspenseful, well plotted with some truly memorable characters. At the heart of which is Magpie’s own obsession with truth and justice daring to challenge the powerful regardless of the cost. Once again Len Driscoll has given us a really good tale well worth your attention and support.

DUST AND SHADOW

 

DUST AND SHADOW

By Lyndsay Faye

Simon & Schuster Paperbacks

322 pages

 

This is another one of those Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper what-if adventures of which there have been several. Several were actual developed as films. Lyndsay Faye does a really great job with this fantastical plot in that her interpretation of Holmes and Watson is spot on. It’s obvious she knows the Doyle characters well and is comfortable putting them through the paces. We particularly liked watching the Great Detective in a more active hunter’s role aside from his strict detective process. Then there is Watson’s own daring exploits while an injured Holmes is incapacitated giving us a new slant on this veteran old war horse. 

Add to this Mary Ann Monk, an independent young woman employed at one of the dingy workhouses well versed in the ways of the Whitechapel community. Holmes, in recognizing her intelligence and daring, quickly recruits her much to the delight of this reviewer. She is a bold, fresh character. One we certainly wouldn’t mind seeing again. 

“Dust and Shadow” is an excellent Holmes adventure and we keep our fingers crossed Ms. Faye has a few more on the way.

MAQ 13 - FATAL FEMMES!

 

MEN’S ADVENTURE QUARTERLY Issue # 13

Fatal Femmes Issue

Edited by Robert Deis & Bill Cunningham

Guest Contributors Terrance Layhew & Eric Compton

Subtropic Productions, LLC.

154 pgs

 

If you’re the superstitious type, then the number 13 might make you feel a wee bit cautious in regards to this issue of MAQ. Whereas if you are a genuine Men’s Adventure Magazine fanatic, it only portents a volume chock-full of literary and visual goodies. As always, editors Deis and Cunningham have assembled a wonderful collection of stories, this time featuring the deadlier of the species; dames. We’re given a half-dozen story gems showcasing these lethal ladies.  

All of these enjoyable, but the best is the novella “Vendetta on the Street of Lonely Frauleins,” written by Mario Puzo under the pen-name of Mario Cleri. The story totally captured those old 1960s spy melodrama ala TV’s “The Man From Uncle,” complete with unique hidden guns and poison tipped hypos. The protagonist, one sexy Scarlett Tracy should have had lots more adventures in our humble opinion. 

All in all, from the articles to the fiction, MAQ # 13 is another solid entry. It even has a little bit of “old” pulp history in regard to Paul Chadwick, the creator of the Golden Age hero, Secret Agent X. That, like the rest of the package was much fun indeed. Here’s hoping issue # 14 is just over the horizon.