See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.


Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
The Killing of Francie Lake
 
See larger image
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

The Killing of Francie Lake (Paperback)

by Julian Symons (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)


Available from these sellers.


4 used from $5.00
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover Order it used!
Paperback (Import) 5 used & new from $4.00

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Octavius Gaye, founder and creator of the hugely successful magazine empire, Plain Man Enterprises, saw himself as the original 'plain man'. The truth however was rather different and Gaye was an unscrupulous tycoon with a strangely captivating nature who surrounded himself by a series of weak-willed puppets that he manipulated to his heart's content. One such puppet was Francie Lake and as the plot unfolds, Symons reveals how and why Francie simply had to die.

About the Author
Julian Symons is primarily remembered as a master of the art of crime writing. However, in his eighty-two years he produced an enormously varied body of work. Social and military history, biography and criticism were all subjects he touched upon with remarkable success, and he held a distinguished reputation in each field. His novels were consistently highly individual and expertly crafted, raising him above other crime writers of his day. It is for this that he was awarded various prizes, and, in 1982, named as Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America - an honour accorded to only three other English writers before him: Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and Daphne Du Maurier. He succeeded Agatha Christie as the president of Britain's Detection Club, a position he held from 1976 to 1985, and in 1990 he was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writer

Product Details

  • Paperback: 230 pages
  • Publisher: House of Stratus (January 1, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1842329227
  • ISBN-13: 978-1842329221
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #644,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:    (0)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Rupert Murdock in the sixties, November 1, 2002
By Geert Daelemans (Leuven Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The successful magazine empire, Plain Man Enterprises, is all Octavius "Ocky" Gaye, better known as "The Plain Man" himself, cares about. He has built-up this empire from scratch and no-one is ever going to take it away from him. That is why all his employees are treated like mindless puppets. The only valid belief is the one shared by him and he roots out every possible difference of opinion with an almost inhuman ruthlessness. No law has ever been able to stop him doing this. But when one day his secretary Francis Lake is found murdered in her own house, the seemingly untouchable empire starts to collapse. As an unscrupulous ruler Ocky manages to keep the show running, but behind the scenes the police are discovering that the truth is creating a lot more victims.

The Killing of Francis Lake, first published in 1962, tells the story of a media colossus years before we got confronted with guys like Rupert Murdock. That is maybe the strongest point of this book. Although it considered being a detective novel, the story is so plain and simple that no-one will have any problems determining the real culprit. Knowing that Julian Symons, who died in 1994, is regarded as one of the finest post-war British crime writers, this book is rather disappointing. It must be said that the style and atmosphere has a rather authentic feel to it, but the plot is not strong enough to absorb the reader.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
Ad
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Look for Similar Items by Category


Plumbing Products in the Value Center

Home Improvement Value Center Plumbing Products
Turn it on for less with spectacular deals on brand-name faucets, showerheads, and more in the Home Improvement Value Center.

Shop the Value Center

 

Big Savings in Books

Bargain Books
Find great titles at fantastic prices in our Bargain Books Store.
 

Buy Three Books, Get a Fourth Free

4-for-3 Books
Order any four eligible books under $10 and get the lowest-price book free in our 4-for-3 Books Store. See more details.
 

Brighten Your Bathroom with Toilet Tattoos

Shop for Toilet Tattoos
Spruce up your toilet seat with removable, reusable, and hygienic seat covers from Toilet Tattoos.

Shop for Toilet Tattoos

 
Ad

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Free
Free by Chris Anderson
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
Glenn Beck's Common Sense

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates