No Orchids for Miss Blandish was crime author James Hadley Chase's first novel, and an experiment in adapting American hard-boiled crime fiction by a British author. Inspired by James Cain and The Postman Always Rings Twice, it worked so well that it launched the former salesman's writing career. He went on to write over eighty novels sold worldwide with a huge American, Asian and European following.
Exciting, hard-hitting and gruesome by turn, Jeff Harding's thrilling narration injects new energy to this fast-paced crime classic. Written in 1939, the book also inspired an essay on the mood of post-War Britain by George Orwell, Raffles and Miss Blandish (1944), noting the enthusiasm for violent, bloody fiction. No Orchids for Miss Blandish delivers on both counts. American heiress Miss Blandish is kidnapped by a gang of inept criminals trying their hand at big-time crime, whose plans are foiled when a rival mob, led by the sadist Slim Grisson, set their sights on the glamorous million-dollar hostage. Meanwhile, Private Detective Dave Fenner is hired to rescue her. Fenner is no stranger to the criminal underworld. If corruption and violence are necessary, Fenner will do what it takes to get the job done. Behind the scenes, Slim becomes obsessed with his hostage, lashing out at anyone who attempts to wrestle Miss Blandish from his charge. When Fenner makes his move, Slim won't give her up without a fight.
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"Rene Brabazon Raymond" his one of the hard boiled thriller his incridible a human can give a story like reality wow! Is suprise and thanks to Dave fenner the private investigator for saving the Blandish girl" " — Al-ameen (5 out of 5 stars)
"Rene Brabazon Raymond" his one of the hard boiled thriller his incridible a human can give a story like reality wow! Is suprise and thanks to Dave fenner the private investigator for saving the Blandish girl" "
" A dark, sick read for those who love noir - I can see why the movie was considered shocking, if it's anything like the book. It's coming to DVD in February, I'm told, so you can bet I'm Netflix-ing it. "
" Chase wrote this without having visited the USA (he was a Brit) and used travel guides for geography. Research and professionalism, who needs them? "
" I heard everyone was reading bootleg copies of this in air raid shelters during the Blitz, so I sought it out. But when I finally read it, I was a bit disappointed; and not just because it's rather tame, more so because I don't think it compares with the American books it was supposed to imitate. I think I'd have needed something a little stronger and better written to have kept my mind off the sound of bombs coming over. Of cultural rather than literary interest. "
" Amazing....chase never dissapoints! "
" This is one of the books from the 501 Must-Read Books book. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of a good Bogart movie. "
" Rene Brabazon Raymond" his one of the hard boiled thriller his incridible a human can give a story like reality wow! Is suprise and thanks to Dave fenner the private investigator for saving the Blandish girl" "
" Good pulp with a devastating final page. "
" James Hadley Chase remains one of my favorite writers. I love this book. "
" British pulp noir doesn't get any better than this. "
" I began reading James Hadley Chase during the late sixties and early seventies. I enjoyed them back then. I am tempted to return "
" this was a good read. i liked it very much. i had a very nice old edition with a pin up girl on the front cover and old 50s adds inside. "
" Intense and gripping! Unputdownable! "
" First Chase novel. This is one of the most brutal novels I've read. I loved the thrill towards the end. The rest were just some horrible setup to achieve that climax. "
" loved it totally...I am huge fan of JHC.. "
" much better than i expected.a short quick read. "
" kidnaping a person is one thing,faking it is another thing and keeping the captor under control is something else. "
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