Wallace, Edgar - The Dark Eyes of London (1924)

A classic book from Wallace's best period. Larry Holt is a Scotland Yard inspector: Diana Ward is the new secretary assigned to his office. The two hit it off immediately: and Diana's background in nursing the blind becomes important when a man is dragged out of the Thames with a message scrawled on his shirtfront and a roll of paper with Braille markings in his pocket. Soon the two investigators are making their way through the mysterious underworld of London's blind, including the savage Big Jake and the shady Reverend John Dearborn, a prolific if unappreciated playwright. There is a good deal of humour in Larry's dealings with the jewel thief Flash Fred, and Diana shows herself to be a brave and resourceful partner. The book veers into stagy melodrama at the end, but this is redeemed by Wallace's depiction of the two vain brothers whose mutual admiration fuels the whole murderous plot. Wallace was expertly describing psychopaths long before the term was invented. Highly recommended.

This novel was the basis of a 1940 Bela Lugosi film, Human Monster, aka The Dark Eyes of London aka The Dead Eyes of London.

The Dark Eyes of London is available for download from Gutenberg Australia.

Jon.