Wallace, Edgar - The Just Men of Cordova (1918)

The Just Men of Cordova shows Wallace in transition. What starts as an old-fashioned thriller set in exotic locales and featuring a mysterious gang soon moves into a domestic story of financial chicanery and murder set in London. Colonel Black is a crooked financier, and those who dig too deep into his operations have a habit of dying. Dr Essley is an associate of Black's who provides the means for these convenient departures. Both the Four Just Men and the English police have their eyes on Black and Essley, and it is not till the end of the book that we know who will get to them first. Meanwhile the leading police investigator is romancing an Earl's niece and the secondary villain is in pursuit of an ironmaster's daughter. It's all a bit too much, even for a book of 255 pages.

Soon Wallace was to relegate the deeds of mysterious gangs to the short story form, and concentrate his novels on the activities of the Metropolitan police and related forces -- a definite improvement. While the Four Just Men are always welcome, their talents are rather wasted here.

The Just Men of Cordova will soon be available from Gutenberg Australia.

Jon.