I have not been reading as much this month as compared to recently, or more accurately, I have not been finishing as many books as usual.

Various irrelevant reasons...but of those I have not yet finished, none of them fall into the (rare) category of books that I do not want to finish. So that might mean there is a (on first blush) an unrealistic number of books listed for future months, but if one remembers that they relate to books finished in that month. hopefully explains that if in fact it occurs.

But as to this book.

I came across Victor Canning , the author, in some recent wider reading and I was very pleased to be able to pick up a couple of examples at one of my favourite second hand bookshops in Brisbane, which included this book which is said to be the first in the 4 book series featuring a private detective, Rex Carver.

It was first published in the mid 1960s. Unsurprisingly, it being a mystery/thriller, it involves international (European focussed) intrigue, with many different government organisations being very interested in the activities of Rex Carver, a London based private investigator, who finds himself involved in something larger than life.

It includes some of the 1960s tropes of agents falling for those they are following etc, but is not at all racing by current standards.

I would compare it to the Buchan books from an earlier period, and suggest they are a 1960s version of the same. And in saying that, I enjoyed the many Buchan novels. Even if neither would be held out by many as being high literature (but I dont always want that!)

There is a nice depiction of Carver's (professional) relationship with his PA, Wilkins; a realistic depiction of travel across Europe in the 1960s; a somewhat outlandisdish plot underpinning the whole book, but not ridiculous (if one can accept the plot behind that of The Day of the Jackal or The Eagle has Landed).

Perhaps a little dated, but I will look for the follow up novels.

Big Ship

23 October 2022 ( )

1965 thriller, the first of four featuring private eye Rex Carver. Carver accepts what is presented as a straightforward job of tracing a young woman, and ends up chasing around Europe in a murky plot where he's working for at least three different masters who may or may not be on different sides, and include at least one official intelligence organisation. Definitely a product of its time, in more ways than one, but good fun and well worth a read. ( )