Customer Reviews

The Saint and Mr. Teal

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The Saint, returning to England via France after his round against Prince Rudolf and the entire German police force, has counteracted Claud Eustace Teal's ambition to arrest him immediately by a method that (let it be admitted) is not really cricket, and which draws upon him the disapproval of his lady; but which is effective nonetheless.

In Paris he has heard the last words of the victim of a murder that he was too late to witness. But this is enough draw the killer's attention to him, involving him in the first of the three adventures related here. The mainspring of the story is a scientific invention that was implausible even by the standards of 1933; but if those with a knowledge of atomic physics can put it temporarily aside, they will still find an enjoyable yarn.

The next story finds Simon helping Chief Inspector Teal for once, combatting an outbreak of gangsterism in London, and in the final one he deals in a fairly drastic way with two purveyors of something possibly even more unpleasant.

All of these novelettes, especially the last two, are rather grimmer and more serious than the general run of Saint stories, despite several comic interludes. But then, who wants a non-stop diet of froth?

P.S. For a list of -- and discussion of -- all Charteris's Saint books, see my So You'd Like To... Guide.