English writer who worked under a pseudonym James Headley Chasewithout exaggeration, the whole world knows. The author of 93 novels is one of the most popular authors among fans of the detective genre. After spending most of his life in the UK, the writer described in almost all his works the events that took place in the USA with typical characters of the popular American fiction of that time: gansters, fatal beauties and, of course, charming private detectives.
To achieve greater persuasiveness, Chase used American slang dictionaries, detailed maps, encyclopedias, various reference books, as well as newspaper clippings in which he talked about high-profile crimes in the United States.
Chase had a unique literary style, which many call a detective action. To this day, his novels are in great demand and have a huge number of fans around the world.
We bring to your attention the 10 best books by James Hadley Chase: a list of the most striking works of the detective genre from a talented writer.
10. Better Stay Poor
Typical loser Dave Calvin did not want to put up with the fate and meager income of an ordinary bank employee and he waited a long time for the opportunity to hit the jackpot. His dreams were like the dreams of the owner of the boarding house Keith, who all her life longed to live in a big way, not caring for her daily bread.
When a suitable opportunity presented itself to them, the heroes of the novel “Better to stay poor”Decided to start implementing a thoroughly thought-out bank robbery plan. However, at the most inopportune moment, it becomes clear that Kit - is suffering from alcoholism, so everything begins to go according to plan ...
9. Hid from the place of impact
Going to go on a romantic meeting with the wife of his boss, Chester Scott is the protagonist of the detective novel “Hid from the place of impact”- absolutely could not think that this evening he would become the main suspect in the high-profile murder that aroused the whole district.
To prove his innocence, he decides to start his own private investigation of this terrible crime. The evidence leads him to a standstill, and Chester begins to realize that everything is much more complicated here ...
8. You will be alone in your grave
In the novel by J. H. Chase “You will be alone in your grave”A powerful businessman from the United States, John Franklin Cerf, once discovered in the things of his young wife, former fashion models, certain objects that make her suspect of kleptomania. John also suspects that his wife was a victim of extortionists.
In order to understand what is really going on and what his wife is like, Surf turns to private investigator Vick Malloy for help ...
7. You are dead without money
In the detective novel “You're dead without money“Because of a car accident, the famous film actor Don Elliott defrauded a profitable contract and was finally buried in debt. Now, for the sake of easy and quick money, he is ready to do anything.
And, by a strange coincidence, a familiar antique dealer offers him this opportunity: for a quarter of a million dollars, he needs to steal valuable brands. This adventure is to the liking of Elliot, but one cannot cope with such a thing. By a happy coincidence, he meets people who, just as he wants to earn money and have long been waiting for the real deal ...
6. Mission to Siena
Don Micklem - the protagonist of the novel “Mission to Siena”Arrives in Italy in connection with the mysterious murder of one of his friends. There is practically no intrigue in the novel about the identity of the killer: from the very beginning of the book, it becomes clear to the reader that this bloody crime is the work of an Italian named Turtle, and the main question is only how to find him and who exactly is hiding under this strange nickname.
An interesting feature of this exciting work is that its many episodes are based on various kinds of betrayal in the ranks of the enemy, sometimes quite expected, and sometimes completely unexpected. Thanks to such twists in the plot, the main characters get some bonus in the form of random luck.
5. Coffin from Hong Kong
The protagonist of James Hadley Chase’s novelCoffin from hong kong”- Private Investigator Nelson Rayyan. Once he received a task from a certain John Hardwick, which was to monitor his wife, while he was away from home for some time.
After hours of unsuccessful waiting, the detective realizes that there is no one in the house, and completely different people live at the address indicated by Hardwick. Puzzled, the hero goes back to his office and, oh, horror, discovers there the dead body of a charming Asian.
Naturally, the police begin to suspect Ryan who has nothing to do with the murder ...
4. There will be no witnesses
Gangster police detective called “There will be no witnesses”Will not allow anyone to break away from reading for a long time, because the plot of this novel is developing very dynamically (just in the style of Chase). And all this is possible even when the identity of the killer appears before the reader at the beginning of the book.
At the same time, a real ganster hunt for an innocent girl, an accidental witness to the crime, captures the attention. At the same time, the police are doing everything possible to save her life.
We can say that the American mafia and its inner life are the central character of the novel. And the image of a hired killer here turned out to be more vivid and colorful than ever, however, James Headley Chase is a real virtuoso in terms of creating such characters.
The plot is dynamic, and the denouement as always unpredictable. By the way, earlier this work was published in Russian under the title "Shroud for witnesses».
3. Extra trump in the sleeve
In the novel “Extra trump in the sleeve”A virtuoso of constructing intricate detective stories, a master of unexpected twists, an excellent expert in human psychology, an expert in detective affairs, surpassed himself.
The very first pages of this famous work of James Hadley Chase will plunge even the most sophisticated lover of detective stories into a world full of incredible adventures and amazing puzzles.
2. Requiem for a killer
The protagonist of the action-packed novel “Requiem for a killer”Returned from the war. Having “got acquainted” with the reality of peaceful life, he realizes that during his absence the USA was inundated with members of the hippy fashionable movement in the 60s.
Once, together with a fellow traveler, he stops the car— “Mustang” with a trailer driven by a charming girl. A man gets behind the wheel, and a stranger at this time moves into the trailer. After a certain time, it becomes clear that the girl somehow mysteriously left the trailer, and instead of her lies the lifeless body of the gangster ...
1. The whole world in your pocket
Leaving the prison, the main character of the novel by J. Chase “The whole world in your pocket”- the notorious criminal Frank Morgan decided to finish his last business and leave his former life. This time he decided to deprive salaries of workers of a scientific institution. As a result, together with his accomplices, he began to work out the "accident" on the route of an armored car, stuffed to the top with dollars ...
The reader from the first lines of this work will witness the planning and implementation of the daring crime plan. The central characters of the novel need to hijack an armored car, open a safe with millions, and then they will have this whole world in their pocket ....