From flying through the skies to writing novels. The case of the Royal Air Force pilot, James Hadley Chase (most recognized pseudonym of Rene Babrazon Raymond), repeated the casuistry of another literary pilot as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry which in turn would also be replicated in the case of Frederick forsyth.
One of those curiosities that make the history of literature something more interesting than the typical generational labels with which the evolution of letters is studied as a matter.
Beyond the pioneer Exupèry, his little great masterpiece, in the case of the other two pilots, Chase and Forsyth, the thing was oriented more to dark themes, to similar genres such as espionage and suspense.
In the case of Chase, his prolific production (although no less prolific is the still current Forsyth), it offers a bit of everything between black and criminal, thriller, espionage and any other plot of intrigue that was put before him. Stories in which those journeys through the underworld, under conscience and morals, offer a raw and succulent glimpse of the future of our world.
3 best James Hadley Chase novels
The abduction of miss Blandish
The budding writer is always full of concerns, of stories outlined from the ignorance of the exact method to materialize them on paper. But the will always ends up bringing order out of the chaos of the plot maker.
And so Chase achieved great recognition with his first novel. This kidnapping has a very lively, frenetic rhythm, with undoubted hooks with the pulpier American literature that in the year of publication of this debut, it already had some maturity from the comic to the novel. Composed of scenes with a cinematic rhythm, the plot is atomized between very diverse characters from the underworld, that organized criminal world that sprinkles every aspect of a corrupt society. The victim, young Blandish, is taken hostage for the ruthless Grisson brothers to get money and that dark glory of the anthology loser.
In her abduction, Miss Blandish will meet that other side of the world less friendly. The resolution of his abduction will connect with many other scenarios of that decadent and perverse world from which Tarantino himself would drink to compose his films.
Lay her down on the lilies
Chase's fascination with the American crime novel loaded him with certain debts in his profane character. From the distant United Kingdom it was not always understood that this Chase insisted on imitating Hammett.
But the profusion of his work ended up giving him that final recognition. In fact, the essential arguments of a genre are nobody's. So welcome inspiration from wherever it comes. In this novel everything revolves around the death of Janet Crosby, one of those murders so well executed that they appear as a natural death. The problem is that as someone bothers to find out more about the matter, they end up perishing in a sinister chain that ends up revealing that something else happened with Janet.
The last intrepid to want to know is Vic Malloy, who cannot give up the money in the case offered. The last to investigate may end up discovering a cake of gigantic proportions ...
The forbidden fruit
The boss's daughter arrives in Rome to disturb Ed Dawson's life. Until then, the press correspondent had led a peaceful and relaxed life at his destination from New York to Rome.
But her boss takes advantage of the contingency to put her daughter in his custody when she decides to travel to the Italian capital to complete her training in architecture in the Eternal City. With the typical mistrust of the task that goes beyond the usual functions of an employee, Ed prepares to attend to Daddy's girl in what can help her, keeping her away from possible dangers if necessary.
And yes, the dangers end up coming and Dawson's life will take a 180º turn that will have him in the middle of a hurricane in which he will meet the less friendly side of Rome. Mafias, imminent dangers and a corpse that ends up locating him in a black scene in which he will have to move with lead feet not only to save the girl but also to prevent his skin from being handed over to the highest bidder.
