They Never Looked Inside: Difference between revisions
imported>Hayford Peirce (added a paragraph) |
imported>Hayford Peirce (added a paragraph about credibility) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
'''They Never Looked Inside''' is the second novel by the British mystery writer [[Michael Gilbert]]. It was published in England by [[Hodder and Stoughton]] in 1948 and in the United States by [[Harper & Brothers]] in 1949 as ''He Didn't Mind Danger''. It was Gilbert's first publication in the States. It is also the second novel to feature Gilbert's early recurring character, [[Inspector Hazlerigg]]. The events take place mostly in post-[[World War II]] London, in either 1945 and '46 or 1946 and '47—it is difficult to put an exact date on them. They are told by an omniscient third-person narrator but most of the scenes involve either Inspector Hazlerigg and the workings of the Metropolitan police department or the activities of a recently musted-out Army vetern, Major Angus McMann. It was the first of a number of novels Gilbert would write over his exceptionally long career in which organized gangs and criminal masterminds figure, both in London and less often in Europe. | '''They Never Looked Inside''' is the second novel by the British mystery writer [[Michael Gilbert]]. It was published in England by [[Hodder and Stoughton]] in 1948 and in the United States by [[Harper & Brothers]] in 1949 as ''He Didn't Mind Danger''. It was Gilbert's first publication in the States. It is also the second novel to feature Gilbert's early recurring character, [[Inspector Hazlerigg]]. The events take place mostly in post-[[World War II]] London, in either 1945 and '46 or 1946 and '47—it is difficult to put an exact date on them. They are told by an omniscient third-person narrator but most of the scenes involve either Inspector Hazlerigg and the workings of the Metropolitan police department or the activities of a recently musted-out Army vetern, Major Angus McMann. It was the first of a number of novels Gilbert would write over his exceptionally long career in which organized gangs and criminal masterminds figure, both in London and less often in Europe. | ||
==Reception== | |||
Upon its publication in the United States [[Anthony Boucher]], the mystery critic of the [[New York Times]], called it "a convincing and warmly realistic suspense story," and that it was "a first novel to make you look forward hopefully to more Michael Gilbert." <ref>''Criminals at Large'', 20 July 1949, ''The New York Times'' at [http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/07]</ref> A few years later, however, although still admiring it, he said it was "a [[Manning Coles]] novel of blithe adventure"<ref>''Criminals at Large'', 6 January 1952, ''The New York Times'' at [http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/01/06/93555599.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=ArticleEndCTA®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=121/10/issue.html]</ref> | Upon its publication in the United States [[Anthony Boucher]], the mystery critic of the [[New York Times]], called it "a convincing and warmly realistic suspense story," and that it was "a first novel to make you look forward hopefully to more Michael Gilbert." <ref>''Criminals at Large'', 20 July 1949, ''The New York Times'' at [http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/07]</ref> A few years later, however, although still admiring it, he said it was "a [[Manning Coles]] novel of blithe adventure"<ref>''Criminals at Large'', 6 January 1952, ''The New York Times'' at [http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/01/06/93555599.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=ArticleEndCTA®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=121/10/issue.html]</ref> | ||
==Style== | |||
It is, in actuality, a combination of both styles, as Gilbert, still a relatively inexperienced writer, had not yet found the voice he would later use successfully in most of his words, a spare, inornate style that was both urbane and straightforward, with a surprising amount of underlying grimness to it. | It is, in actuality, a combination of both styles, as Gilbert, still a relatively inexperienced writer, had not yet found the voice he would later use successfully in most of his words, a spare, inornate style that was both urbane and straightforward, with a surprising amount of underlying grimness to it. | ||
==Credibility== | |||
As in many crime or mystery stories, the likelihood of some of the events in the narrative cannot withstand prolonged scrutiny. In the case of ''They Never Looked Inside'', it strains credibility that "Mr. Brown", the mastermind who directs an enormous criminal enterprise, both in England and abroad, and has shown utter ruthlessness in dealing with both possible informers and police spies within his organization, going so far as to personally torture and kill the undercover policeman Sergeant Pollock, first captures, and then releases, Major McMann when it is obvious that McMann has been tracking one of his henchmen. Held in circumstances that make escape clearly impossible, McMann is not even interrogated by Mr. Brown; instead, he is simply released because a low-ranking member of the gang, who had served in the Army directly under McMann, vouches for him. Otherwise, the organization and ruthlessness of the gang seem grimly realistic and quite feasible. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 15:35, 27 September 2016
They Never Looked Inside is the second novel by the British mystery writer Michael Gilbert. It was published in England by Hodder and Stoughton in 1948 and in the United States by Harper & Brothers in 1949 as He Didn't Mind Danger. It was Gilbert's first publication in the States. It is also the second novel to feature Gilbert's early recurring character, Inspector Hazlerigg. The events take place mostly in post-World War II London, in either 1945 and '46 or 1946 and '47—it is difficult to put an exact date on them. They are told by an omniscient third-person narrator but most of the scenes involve either Inspector Hazlerigg and the workings of the Metropolitan police department or the activities of a recently musted-out Army vetern, Major Angus McMann. It was the first of a number of novels Gilbert would write over his exceptionally long career in which organized gangs and criminal masterminds figure, both in London and less often in Europe.
Reception
Upon its publication in the United States Anthony Boucher, the mystery critic of the New York Times, called it "a convincing and warmly realistic suspense story," and that it was "a first novel to make you look forward hopefully to more Michael Gilbert." [1] A few years later, however, although still admiring it, he said it was "a Manning Coles novel of blithe adventure"[2]
Style
It is, in actuality, a combination of both styles, as Gilbert, still a relatively inexperienced writer, had not yet found the voice he would later use successfully in most of his words, a spare, inornate style that was both urbane and straightforward, with a surprising amount of underlying grimness to it.
Credibility
As in many crime or mystery stories, the likelihood of some of the events in the narrative cannot withstand prolonged scrutiny. In the case of They Never Looked Inside, it strains credibility that "Mr. Brown", the mastermind who directs an enormous criminal enterprise, both in England and abroad, and has shown utter ruthlessness in dealing with both possible informers and police spies within his organization, going so far as to personally torture and kill the undercover policeman Sergeant Pollock, first captures, and then releases, Major McMann when it is obvious that McMann has been tracking one of his henchmen. Held in circumstances that make escape clearly impossible, McMann is not even interrogated by Mr. Brown; instead, he is simply released because a low-ranking member of the gang, who had served in the Army directly under McMann, vouches for him. Otherwise, the organization and ruthlessness of the gang seem grimly realistic and quite feasible.