Review: In a Vanishing Room

In a Vanishing Room by Robert Colby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Half of a Ace Double from 1961 telling the story of Paul Norris, a down-on-his-luck business man, traveling to NYC for a job interview when unbeknownst to him a highly valued receipt is planted on him. A woman, forewarned that Norris is carrying the receipt, meets him at the airport and hapless Norris, hoping to score, inadvertently gets involved in a criminal smuggling conspiracy. Failing to score, Norris decides to take advantage of the situation by trying to take a cut of the valuable cargo and then gets himself involved way over his head. Norris is very believable character, motivated by sex and money, and turns out to be less hapless than I had initially assumed. The short novel is a taut rollercoaster of chases and twists and turns. Highly recommended.

The ebook is available from Wildside Press and Amazon.

Review: The Quaking Widow

The Quaking Widow by Robert Colby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The widow is an attractive young woman whose recently deceased husband left her an impregnable box containing unknown objects of incalculable value to be sold in Florida for $200,000. A hefty chunk of change for 1956. Narrator Burt Keating gets involved for a little romance and a cut of the sale and soon finds out that there are dangerous complications since ruthless criminals will do anything to get that box. I loved the 1950s Florida locations - lost forever to development, and the exceptional plotting where attempts to hide and open the mysterious box takes center stage. Some cat-and-mouse action and a couple of heart-stopping twists round out this superb thriller. Robert Colby is one of my favorite writers and this is one of his best. Highly recommended.

The Ace Double is tough to find. Affordable ebooks are available.

Review: Lament for Julie

Lament for Julie by Robert Colby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A past love triangle finds Julie married to Steadman, with Corwin the odd man out. Tough guy Corwin holds no grudge and they remain close friends. Steadman goes to sea and when he returns he finds that wife Julie has been killed in a suspicious hit-and-run. Steadman starts investigating and ends up dead in an apparent suicide. Corwin assumes that they have both been murdered and comes back to town for answers and vengeance. Corwin turns out to be a proto-vigilante type, driven and violent, who suspects and then ingratiates himself with the rich and corrupt Vollmer family that runs the town, and then proceeds to get laid and kick some serious ass. A propulsive plot with several interesting characters and plenty of sex and violence are my low-brow expectations for a great book and this one covers all the bases. Recommended.

Available as an inexpensive ebook from Wildside Press

Review: The Captain Must Die

The Captain Must Die by Robert Colby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A 1959 Fawcett Gold Medal revenge caper classic telling the story of three court-martialed Army deserters, recently released after twelve years in Leavenworth, who decide to seek vengeance on their former captain who they blame for their imprisonment. Gregg, the captain, is now a businessman who hoards money in a secret room while trying to keep his distressingly ruined marriage with the lovely Madge intact. The three felons, led by psychopath Brick, devise a plan to torment and rob the captain with disturbing and surprising results. A tightly plotted gem, grim and dark with a fascinating cast of damaged characters. I’ve been reading a lot of Colby’s work recently. He’s a fine writer and this the best book that I’ve read by him thus far.

Buy the ebook from Wildside Press.

Review: Murder Mistress

Murder Mistress by Robert Colby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A superb take on the heist theme telling the tale of Scott Daniels, an unemployed TV announcer with an alcohol problem who accidentally finds clues to a bank robbery and decides to investigate in order to claim the reward money. While Scott and his wife Myra start collecting clues to solve the crime, the clever couple who have absconded with all of the hold-up money struggle to keep stiffed partner, the brutish Roy, from getting his share. The set up and caper is told in flashbacks and in nice detail. Well plotted and expertly paced. Another page turner and highly recommended for anyone that enjoys a good heist story.

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Review: Kim

Kim by Robert Colby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fine private eye novel from the golden age of paperback P.I.s featuring the first person narrative of former cop Rod Striker, more lecherous than the typical P.I. and his assistant Myra Bailey, who narrates an excellent and thrilling chapter herself, which I thought was a nice touch. The short novel is well plotted and provides a few nice surprises. Striker and Myra are interesting characters and I would like to read more about them, although I can't find any mentions of them being part of a series. It's unfortunate that non-series detective novels seem bound for obscurity. This is a good one.

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