Arthur Crook, travelling to London, comes across a couple at a Railway restroom and immediately suspects that something is amiss. It certainly is. Janice Grey, had in her young days married Pat Wylie after a chance encounter outside a phone booth (and phones play an important role in the story). However, when she realized that he was part of a gang that specialized in breaking in and looting jewellery shops, she leaves him and starts another life in St. Benyons. Only Pat finds her after another break-in which has left a watchman dead and is forcibly taking her to London when they encounter Crook.
Pat does not realize, however, that the gang he works for now wants him dead as they see him as the weak link. In train, when Jan goes to the toilet, Pat is quickly eliminated and it is only Crook coming unexpectedly that saves Jan from the same fate. On reaching London, Jan goes underground but there are two groups looking for her: Pat’s gang and the Police, after finding Pat’s body. Will Arthur Crook be able to reach her before they do?
This book is more a thriller than a mystery. Gilbert keeps one interested in the fate of Jan. It is in the last quarter of the book that the book flags a little but even then there is a beautiful sleight of hand that had me fooled. We also come to know about a horrifying experience that Crook had undergone as a boy of seventeen when fighting in the first world war. All in all, I enjoyed reading a Gilbert after a long time and am glad to end the #1962 Club with this book.
*
First Line: In the Quiet Room a shot rang out.
Publication Details: 1962. London: White Lion, 1971
Series: Arthur Crook #45
Pages: 192
a hot cup of pleasure 
That’s the thing about a thriller, isn’t it, Neeru? It’s always so much better if it keeps your attention without a lot of gore, and all the better if it has a clever twist or two. This one does sound engaging, and I’m glad you liked it overall.
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Yes, definitely thrillers have to be engaging and this one was. Gilbert hardly ever disappoints:)
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This one sounds very good and I love mysteries connected to trains. It is hard to find a copy of though. Which is fine, I suppose since I already have too many books to read.
Since this is a later book in the series, do you think that this book is as good as the earlier ones, or better? All of the books in this series that I have were published between 1940 and 1956 (and I have only read two of them).
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Tracy, your comment made me realise that I forgot to mention the source. It’s Open Library so if you are keen to read the book you could borrow it from there. I prefer her earlier Arthur Crook books to the later ones. The earlier ones are wonderful mysteries which keep you guessing. I am so envious that you have her books from the forties and fifties. I will wait for your reviews.
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I’ve read a number of Anthony Gilbert books. I much prefer the early books which had more mystery elements than the later book. You’re right about the thriller aspects of the later novels. I don’t know if that was Anthony Gilbert’s idea…or his editors.
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I too prefer the books which are more mysteries than thrillers, George. Over all, however, I just love Gilbert;)
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I like Anthony Gilbert but I really like Michael Gilbert’s stories about Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens!
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Sorry George, for the late reply. I have read one Michael Gilbert but don’t remember/ know anything abt Messers Calder and Behrens.
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Neeru, Calder & Behrens are master spies who engage in a lot of tricky missions. I highly recommend their stories if you’re in the mood for some espionage antics!
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From their names it seems that their antics would be fun-filled. I will have a look.
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Great find for 1962 – sounds excellent!
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I really enjoyed it Kaggsy though it is not much different from the other Gilberts of the same period. Perhaps because I was reading Gilbert after a very long time.
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