I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Sabotage
by
John Creasey
spy thriller, vintage mystery in a Kindle edition that was published by Agora Books on September 27, 2016 and has 233 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Unbegotten, The Toff Goes On, Gideon and the Young Toughs and Other Stories, Introducing the Toff, The Peril Ahead, The Death Miser, Redhead, Carriers of Death, First Came a Murder, Death Round the Corner, Death by Night, A Kind of Prisoner, The Mark of the Crescent
Sixteenth in the Department Z vintage thriller series set in England and revolving around Gordon Craigie and his agents. Sabotage was originally published in 1941.
My Take
The whole plot was just too easy with Creasy going through the motions — using a third person global subjective point-of-view, as we’re getting a perspective from a number of characters on both sides — their thoughts and actions. Unfortunately, Creasy doesn’t make the devotion of the bad guys believable.
The agents in this are barely relatable. Sure, I can understand their frustration in having to wait for something to happen before they can act. What’s worse are the attacks that are laying men out right and left. Of course, part of the problem is all the “clues” they miss by only minutes. But Creasey doesn’t pull me in.
The commissioners are an unexpected mix of lords and commoners who made good.
While I did enjoy the easy read, Sabotage was lacking in any real tension even though it abounds in mystery, arson, gun battles, blackmail and threats, stalking, torture, and plenty of misdirection with red herrings galore. The prime minister certainly made it extremely easy for the agents.
That bit at the end with the bad guys and their business-like approach with no conscience at all did provide some sense of “ick”.
But hey, it’s all in the frame.
The Story
It’s a difficult case with food supplies being destroyed throughout the country, and Gordon Craigie and Department Z must uncover the saboteurs.
It first appeared to be accidental but the destruction is ramping up. And the circus is in town.
The Characters
Mike and Mark Errol are cousins who look alike. They’ve been agents of Department Z for two years.
Gordon Craigie is in charge and brilliant at organization. His agents include Bill Loftus, his second-in-command who moves fast when on the job; Ned Oundle is Loftus’ closest friend; Wally Davidson; the wealthy “Spats” Thornton; Carruthers “Carry”; and, Martin Best.
Diana Woodward is Loftus’ fiancée who is an American spy and currently in America.
Scotland Yard has . . .
. . . Superintendent Miller, who is the chief of Special Branch, and they’re hard at work. Sir William Fellowes is the assistant commissioner of police. Sergeant Adams is one of the officers.
The English Prime Minister is Graham Hersall. Smythe is his confidential secretary. Dr Bartlett is the best surgeon. Dr Little is frequently called upon to treat agents.
The country is divided up into sections with regional directors in charge, including Sir Thomas Arkeld in section thirty-seven; Sir Bruce Mortimer is the Director-General; Lord Brelling; Sir Augustus Gray; Sir John Sanderson; Daniel “Honest Dan” Fortescue; and, the supercilious Edward Whittaker, who is the Scottish regional director.
Anne and Grace are attendants at the Cherry Club.
The totally gorgeous Myra Berne, an actress who’s better than expected, has been carrying on with Arkeld. The thuggish Maximilian Golt is quite the operator from circuses to stage manager. “Bowler Hat” is the gun-toting fat man. Ned Barker has some disgusting interests. Luke is one of the gang. Skippy, a.k.a. the Shrimp, is “daddy” while Topsy is brilliant as his daughter. Dak is a dwarf.
Leroux is the concerned manager at the Landon hotel. Arthur Farrow is a night-waiter at the hotel. Guests include Martin K Rannigan, a semi-invalid American; Letaxa, a Greek negotiating a loan; and, the quarrelsome La Reine, a.k.a. Madame Yvonne de Bourcy who had married Jules de Bourcy, is a famous musical comedy actress known for her superb horsemanship.
The scary Kay is a dealer in antiquities.
Owen Llewellyn has a ward, Pam. Charles and the bitter Jim Braddon are but two of many secretaries.
The Cover and Title
The white cover of the background is the blueprint of a building with the primarily black tools used to create bombs including a wrapped bundle of sticks of dynamite scattered across the lower right. The series information is in purple with an angled label bordered in double purple lines on the right upper corner. The author’s name is flush left in purple at the top with the title immediately beneath it in black. Beneath that is an info blurb in purple about the number of books sold.
The title is the problem, Sabotage across the country.
