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The Saint #22
The Saint in Miami
Charteris, Leslie, Saint In Miami, The
299 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1940
About the author
Leslie Charteris
603 books163 followersBorn Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, Leslie Charteris was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 3, 2020
Simon Templar goes to Miami, and immediately finds himself pursued by the mob and police after finding a body.
Pretty run of the mill for a book in this series.
Pretty run of the mill for a book in this series.
March 15, 2017
Originally published on my blog here in February 2001.
The first Saint story to be set during the Second World War takes place in the USA, while that country remains neutral. The main theatres of war didn't really allow Charteris the scope to write the kind of stories that he specialised in, and he later said that he didn't want to diminish any real heroes by the Saint's fictional exploits; this is the reason for taking him halfway across the world.
Nevertheless, the adventure that takes Simon Templar to Miami turns out to be connected with the war, as is quickly apparent when an attempt is made to frame a British submarine in the destruction of American shipping. Like many of the Saint stories set in America, this novel is more like an action thriller than the others, though it is not without its trademark touches of Charteris' humour.
The first Saint story to be set during the Second World War takes place in the USA, while that country remains neutral. The main theatres of war didn't really allow Charteris the scope to write the kind of stories that he specialised in, and he later said that he didn't want to diminish any real heroes by the Saint's fictional exploits; this is the reason for taking him halfway across the world.
Nevertheless, the adventure that takes Simon Templar to Miami turns out to be connected with the war, as is quickly apparent when an attempt is made to frame a British submarine in the destruction of American shipping. Like many of the Saint stories set in America, this novel is more like an action thriller than the others, though it is not without its trademark touches of Charteris' humour.
March 26, 2015
This is an outstanding book for many reasons.
It's the first Charteris book I've read and I must seek more. The writing is very good.The characters are well defined. The plotting also intricately planned. Especially considering today there is the perspective of the past and how much Charteris was cobbling together of the larger World War to come.
Reading this book had me banging my head into the wall as to why authors just won't write like this today???? Same thoughts while reading Slaughter or even Brett Halliday. Is it so hard to write with intelligence?
The Florida angle: This, for me, is the best part! Charteris went far, far, far beyond my expectations depicting Florida! Clearly he traveled the state and did careful research.
His weakest description is around Miami. The beach area and the coast are written loosely. Though, a commentary of Miami Beach tourists is particularly well done. Since the sketchy description is early on, I figured the Florida setting to get worse. It doesn't. His driving narrative reflects well the roadways around Dade County in 1940.
He kicks it all up a notch with his writing of areas in the Everglades. A floating gambling pub and surroundings are well depicted. It's their trip through the Gig Cypress (Which was yet to come and referred to as the Everglades) that Charteris really nails down the writing of sawgrass, swamp trudging, a rain storm, felled trees in the swamp and so much more.
So much of Charteris description of Florida is better than what celebrated Florida authors do today.
A couple of oddities in writing of Florida:
*) The sheriff is a main character throughout. But the more prominant law in the area, the Miami and Miami Beach police are barely mentioned. Seems that is for expediting the story.
*) A character is coming from "Olustee", which is written as somewhat nearby. Olustee sems to stand in for Raiford.
*) Though heat and sweat are occasionally mentioned, the reality of a visitor from the UK in many situations exposed to heavy heat is not well covered.
The best part of the book is the accurate Florida setting.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 of 10.
It's the first Charteris book I've read and I must seek more. The writing is very good.The characters are well defined. The plotting also intricately planned. Especially considering today there is the perspective of the past and how much Charteris was cobbling together of the larger World War to come.
Reading this book had me banging my head into the wall as to why authors just won't write like this today???? Same thoughts while reading Slaughter or even Brett Halliday. Is it so hard to write with intelligence?
The Florida angle: This, for me, is the best part! Charteris went far, far, far beyond my expectations depicting Florida! Clearly he traveled the state and did careful research.
His weakest description is around Miami. The beach area and the coast are written loosely. Though, a commentary of Miami Beach tourists is particularly well done. Since the sketchy description is early on, I figured the Florida setting to get worse. It doesn't. His driving narrative reflects well the roadways around Dade County in 1940.
He kicks it all up a notch with his writing of areas in the Everglades. A floating gambling pub and surroundings are well depicted. It's their trip through the Gig Cypress (Which was yet to come and referred to as the Everglades) that Charteris really nails down the writing of sawgrass, swamp trudging, a rain storm, felled trees in the swamp and so much more.
So much of Charteris description of Florida is better than what celebrated Florida authors do today.
A couple of oddities in writing of Florida:
*) The sheriff is a main character throughout. But the more prominant law in the area, the Miami and Miami Beach police are barely mentioned. Seems that is for expediting the story.
*) A character is coming from "Olustee", which is written as somewhat nearby. Olustee sems to stand in for Raiford.
*) Though heat and sweat are occasionally mentioned, the reality of a visitor from the UK in many situations exposed to heavy heat is not well covered.
The best part of the book is the accurate Florida setting.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 of 10.
October 15, 2012
A full lenght Saint novel in which he comes up against the boys and girls from the 3rd Reich, and as usual he shows his cavalier side towards female beauty even when accompanied by the luscious and ever gorgeous Patricia Holmes.
While on vacation in Florida where they were invited, but their hosts fail to show up, they witness an attack on a merchant ship by what seems to be a submarine. They find the body of a sailor which they plant on another person. Get in touch with the local gambling society which they still regret and gets to meet the local sheriff Newton Haskins who is perhaps the one police-officer that knows what to do with the Saint and how to let him do his business.
It is the Saint versus the Nazis on US soil.
Another great adventure by the Saint and friends. Would be a great movie imho.
While on vacation in Florida where they were invited, but their hosts fail to show up, they witness an attack on a merchant ship by what seems to be a submarine. They find the body of a sailor which they plant on another person. Get in touch with the local gambling society which they still regret and gets to meet the local sheriff Newton Haskins who is perhaps the one police-officer that knows what to do with the Saint and how to let him do his business.
It is the Saint versus the Nazis on US soil.
Another great adventure by the Saint and friends. Would be a great movie imho.
July 21, 2012
Published in 1940, "The Saint in Miami" follows the adventures of Simon Templar in a still neutral United States as he investigates mysterious doings in the Everglades.
(My copy is from my father's collection and has an autograph by Leslie Charteris with the famous haloed stick figure on the flyleaf)
(My copy is from my father's collection and has an autograph by Leslie Charteris with the famous haloed stick figure on the flyleaf)
July 15, 2020
Major characters:
Lawrence Gilbeck, missing
Justine Gilbeck, his daughter; also missing
Randolph March, a rich pharmaceuticals maker
Captain Heinrich Friede, captain of March's yacht
Karen Leith, the redhead ingenue
Lafe Jennet, henchman, absent from jail
Jesse Rogers, nightclub performer
-- Gallipolis, Greek owner of a beatup gambling houseboat
Charlie Harwick, Indian guide
Sheriff Newton Haskins
Simon Templar, the Saint
Patricia Holm, his jealous girlfriend
Peter Quentin
Hoppy Uniatz
Synopsis: Simon Templar, Patricia Holm, Peter Quentin, and Hoppy Uniatz comes to pre-WWII-era Miami to visit Lawrence and Justine Gilbeck, but upon arrival, finds them missing. He also sees a ship explode, finds a dead body, and has a brief sighting of a submarine. He also notes a yacht departing the scene.
He borrows the Gilbeck's speedboat and catches up to the Randolph March's yacht, the March Hare and boards. He meets March, Captain Friede, and a sexy redhead, Karen Leith.
Later Karen Leith meets up with Simon. Someone takes a shot at them - and misses. Simon finds out the shooter is Lafe Jennet. Looking for the shooter leads Simon to an old gambling houseboat run by a Greek named Gallipolis.
Jennet says he was working for Jesse Rogers. Simon finds Rogers is a performer at a night club, The Palmleaf Fan. This is a German-style cabaret with dinner, dancing, and specializes in male performers dressed as women, and vice-versa.
Simon's investigation is cut short when Peter and Patricia are kidnapped, and the search takes him deep into the Everglades with Indian guide Charlie Harwick.
Review:
This is set in 1940 Miami, while WWII is ramping up in Europe but the US is still neutral. Suspicions of Germany are seen throughout.
This is the 26th Saint novel, and Charteris is in his stride here. Sherriff Newton Haskins is a suprise - on the surface he seems the sleepy Southern sheriff, but he is a worthy adversary/partner for the Saint, even better than Claude Eustace Teal. The role of Karen Leith adds a new element to the story and tension between her and Patricia Holm.
The plod through the Everglades is a bit long but perhaps that is intentional, to portray the vast expanse and desolation of the area, which it does well.
Generally, when the Saint leaves England, the adventures become a bit awkward but this one excels.
Lawrence Gilbeck, missing
Justine Gilbeck, his daughter; also missing
Randolph March, a rich pharmaceuticals maker
Captain Heinrich Friede, captain of March's yacht
Karen Leith, the redhead ingenue
Lafe Jennet, henchman, absent from jail
Jesse Rogers, nightclub performer
-- Gallipolis, Greek owner of a beatup gambling houseboat
Charlie Harwick, Indian guide
Sheriff Newton Haskins
Simon Templar, the Saint
Patricia Holm, his jealous girlfriend
Peter Quentin
Hoppy Uniatz
Synopsis: Simon Templar, Patricia Holm, Peter Quentin, and Hoppy Uniatz comes to pre-WWII-era Miami to visit Lawrence and Justine Gilbeck, but upon arrival, finds them missing. He also sees a ship explode, finds a dead body, and has a brief sighting of a submarine. He also notes a yacht departing the scene.
He borrows the Gilbeck's speedboat and catches up to the Randolph March's yacht, the March Hare and boards. He meets March, Captain Friede, and a sexy redhead, Karen Leith.
Later Karen Leith meets up with Simon. Someone takes a shot at them - and misses. Simon finds out the shooter is Lafe Jennet. Looking for the shooter leads Simon to an old gambling houseboat run by a Greek named Gallipolis.
Jennet says he was working for Jesse Rogers. Simon finds Rogers is a performer at a night club, The Palmleaf Fan. This is a German-style cabaret with dinner, dancing, and specializes in male performers dressed as women, and vice-versa.
Simon's investigation is cut short when Peter and Patricia are kidnapped, and the search takes him deep into the Everglades with Indian guide Charlie Harwick.
Review:
This is set in 1940 Miami, while WWII is ramping up in Europe but the US is still neutral. Suspicions of Germany are seen throughout.
This is the 26th Saint novel, and Charteris is in his stride here. Sherriff Newton Haskins is a suprise - on the surface he seems the sleepy Southern sheriff, but he is a worthy adversary/partner for the Saint, even better than Claude Eustace Teal. The role of Karen Leith adds a new element to the story and tension between her and Patricia Holm.
The plod through the Everglades is a bit long but perhaps that is intentional, to portray the vast expanse and desolation of the area, which it does well.
Generally, when the Saint leaves England, the adventures become a bit awkward but this one excels.
September 1, 2018
This full-length Saint adventure, although published in 1941, appears to be set just before the outbreak of war in Europe; it seems unlikely that Simon, Pat and Peter would be idling about on a Florida beach otherwise, even in response to an appeal for help.
This is thus the last of the pre-war Saint stories, the last where the Saint is still clearly British and not a naturalised American, and, perhaps not coincidentally, the last before the quality starts dropping through the floor and the plots (with a few exceptions) become formulaic.
Nonetheless, Nazis and pro-Nazis are the villains of this one, which also features our old friend Hoppy Uniatz, in fine form. The incidental details of Florida, the Everglades and their denizens seem to my uninformed judgment totally convincing, and a friend of mine considers this possibly the best Saint story.
This is thus the last of the pre-war Saint stories, the last where the Saint is still clearly British and not a naturalised American, and, perhaps not coincidentally, the last before the quality starts dropping through the floor and the plots (with a few exceptions) become formulaic.
Nonetheless, Nazis and pro-Nazis are the villains of this one, which also features our old friend Hoppy Uniatz, in fine form. The incidental details of Florida, the Everglades and their denizens seem to my uninformed judgment totally convincing, and a friend of mine considers this possibly the best Saint story.
May 9, 2025
A sluggish beginning eventually gives way to what is a fairly exciting spy thriller. The Saint in Miami is the first of the Saint series of novels to be published during World War II, in 1940. And what comes on display is a far more brutal hero whose voice reflects the seriousness of the times. Yes, there's still plenty of badinage, but it's not quite so florid as in earlier novels. Simon is also sharp and to the point more often than not, because it reflects the urgency of the situation in which he and his friends find themselves--brought under the control of a group of Nazi sympathizers in Miami who have helped set up a base for a German submarine in the Everglades. The Germans, of course, are all cardboard cut out villains, an irritating weakness to contemporary readers albeit likely a satisfaction for Charteris' audience at the time. Not bad, really. Entertaining reading. Light fare but enjoyable.
November 15, 2025
An excellent WWII spy tale with the Saint on the track of some millionaires who are bankrolling a sub base for Nazis in the Everglades. Like most Saint tales, this is overwritten with lots of big words, witty repartee, and the Saint's huge, dopey, and always thirsty henchman, Hoppy. However, it was written in 1940, before the US got in the war, with lots of political commentary on how the Nazi Bund operated and tried to manipulate information to drive apart the interests of the British and the Americans. The Saint is intrigued with red-headed Karen Leith, who seems to be part of Randolph March's entourage. March is rich and has bet his money on the Nazis. Karen is actually a member of the British secret service. There are chases through the swamps of the Everglades, exploding submarines, and lots of menace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2019
The Saint once again smites the ungodly - in this case Nazis who plan to persuade the U.S. that they should stay out of WWII via dastardly means.
Leslie Charteris' character has had many TV incarnations - ranging from decent to brilliant (the unsold pilot for a hoped for recent series is currently on Netflix and is a lot of fun) - and several movie adventures (though the one starring Val Kilmer should be expunged from memories of its makers and all who saw it - it is reprehensibly awful).
This tale is not Charteris' best, but even his worst is pretty damned good. This one is pretty damned good.
Leslie Charteris' character has had many TV incarnations - ranging from decent to brilliant (the unsold pilot for a hoped for recent series is currently on Netflix and is a lot of fun) - and several movie adventures (though the one starring Val Kilmer should be expunged from memories of its makers and all who saw it - it is reprehensibly awful).
This tale is not Charteris' best, but even his worst is pretty damned good. This one is pretty damned good.
November 20, 2024
Must read. Think of the world now
Insightful. They say we should learn from history - well this is fiction not science fiction but reality fiction.
With Trump in the Whitehouse and Putin in the Kremlin - you will realise it's all happened before. Will the USA be the next Pariah state like Deutschland in the 40s was? Chateris is/was a genius.
Insightful. They say we should learn from history - well this is fiction not science fiction but reality fiction.
With Trump in the Whitehouse and Putin in the Kremlin - you will realise it's all happened before. Will the USA be the next Pariah state like Deutschland in the 40s was? Chateris is/was a genius.
July 10, 2023
It was a solid read. Started when finished last. Slow parts, that’s cause it’s an old mystery book. James Bond like, there were moments I adored and moments I wanted to skip through. But overall enjoyed it, so 3 star.
June 26, 2018
Mystery and adventure
I enjoyed the read the characters were interesting and the story held my interest. The plot was fast paced and interesting.
I enjoyed the read the characters were interesting and the story held my interest. The plot was fast paced and interesting.
February 23, 2022
The Saint at his best
An excellent Saint story. The identified quotes are as relevant today as when Mr. Charteris wrote them. This is a must read. I could not put it down.
An excellent Saint story. The identified quotes are as relevant today as when Mr. Charteris wrote them. This is a must read. I could not put it down.
March 12, 2022
Wonderful.
The Saint book
.s are just great to read. I will continue to read them until I read them all. Just great.
The Saint book
.s are just great to read. I will continue to read them until I read them all. Just great.
February 22, 2024
Many of the Saint books have short stories but this was a whole novel and I enjoyed this story.
November 1, 2024
Leslie Charteris’ writing can be described as someone who can maneuver his way easily around the English language, with his mastery of the vocabulary and the use of a thesaurus? Charteris can be verbose when describing his characters and Simon Templar’s inner monologue.
The characterization of Hoppy Uniatz and Sheriff Newton Haskins was very amusing. It wasn’t written to mock or insult, but merely to give the readers a mental picture of their quirky personality. I find myself guffawing at the author’s comparisons of some of the characters to that of the characters in Alice in Wonderland😀
I had a hunch on Karen Leith’s “place in this picnic”, even though the initial impression one makes of her is that of a gangster’s moll. The story started with a bang and ends with same. Whether it was intentional on the authors part, I thought it was pretty clever.
And thanks to the musical stylings of one Vivian Dare, I find myself singing “you are the promised kiss of springtime💛…” quite a lot. Ah, who can resist an Ella Fitzgerald rendition.
The characterization of Hoppy Uniatz and Sheriff Newton Haskins was very amusing. It wasn’t written to mock or insult, but merely to give the readers a mental picture of their quirky personality. I find myself guffawing at the author’s comparisons of some of the characters to that of the characters in Alice in Wonderland😀
I had a hunch on Karen Leith’s “place in this picnic”, even though the initial impression one makes of her is that of a gangster’s moll. The story started with a bang and ends with same. Whether it was intentional on the authors part, I thought it was pretty clever.
And thanks to the musical stylings of one Vivian Dare, I find myself singing “you are the promised kiss of springtime💛…” quite a lot. Ah, who can resist an Ella Fitzgerald rendition.
December 27, 2007
read 07.22.85
September 12, 2014
An excellent Saint adventure. Full-length novel showing some of the Saint's early work during WWII.
June 16, 2014
Paperback 1964 edition.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews