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Edge Of Panic
MAN RUNNING
He got drunk and it happened. Only this time he wasn't taking a sock at a guy. This time his weakness for whiskey and brawls led to murder.
He killed the blonde. He didn't remember doing it. But she was dead - brutally, senselessly dead.
Now he had to flee. No one was going to hold him. No one...
This is the story of a man running, a man caught...on the edge of panic.
He got drunk and it happened. Only this time he wasn't taking a sock at a guy. This time his weakness for whiskey and brawls led to murder.
He killed the blonde. He didn't remember doing it. But she was dead - brutally, senselessly dead.
Now he had to flee. No one was going to hold him. No one...
This is the story of a man running, a man caught...on the edge of panic.
126 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
12 people want to read
About the author
Henry Kane
218 books12 followersAuthor Henry Kane was a lawyer who seemed to prefer writing. In his career, wrote over 60 novels, including about 30 featuring Peter Chambers. Other short-lived series characters were PIs Marla Trent and retired NYPD detective inspector turned P.I. McGregor. He also wrote the movie adaptations for Ed McBain's 87th Precinct's Cop Hater and The Mugger. And, in light of his experience with Chambers, Kane was the perfect choice to pen an original novel starring television's Peter Gunn.
He also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony McCall, Kenneth R. McKay, and Mario J. Sagola. He is the creator of Peter Chambers, a private eye in New York City, McGregor, an ex-cop turned private eye in New York City, and Maria Trent. Kane also contributed to the series of 'Ellery Queen' novels ghostwritten by other authors.
He also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony McCall, Kenneth R. McKay, and Mario J. Sagola. He is the creator of Peter Chambers, a private eye in New York City, McGregor, an ex-cop turned private eye in New York City, and Maria Trent. Kane also contributed to the series of 'Ellery Queen' novels ghostwritten by other authors.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2018
My first Henry Kane. Pretty average. Writing reminds me of Paul Cain (lol) for its efficiency. Generic story with no way to figure it out yourself. Main character oddly written. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, after 6 years sober, and while he’s making the biggest deal of his life, he decides to go on a bender, thus getting caught up with his “client” in a murder wrap.
The best character was the loving, forgiving, clever, and persuasive wife.
Can’t recommend, but I have four other Kane books to read before making a final decision on his writing.
The best character was the loving, forgiving, clever, and persuasive wife.
Can’t recommend, but I have four other Kane books to read before making a final decision on his writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
Fast-fry hard-boiled noir, at a mere 160 pages. And we have a unicorn present: folks, you do not get many books like this, from this era, by men, with a strong amateur female detective. I mean, how could I not love Alice! Her husband Harry is the only practical, logical, sensible, rational suspect in a brutal, face-erasing murder by hammer, and yet Alice is going to go to bat for him. In most books like this, Harry - after going on the run, complete with alcohol-induced memory blanks - would run around just ahead of badges, trying to clear his name. Here, the guy folds up like an accordion after confessing to murder to his poor wife. He has a history of drunken violence…though his rage has come out, in the past, while standing up to various bullies or lady-hasslers in bars. But, definitely a guy with a temper, and booze always made it worse. Love for Alice, her love for him, their son…Harry seemed to have avoided that worst fate of the violent drunk after turning a corner. And then a private meeting with Joyce, supposed to stay all business…
By the time we have cops for new characters, there doesn’t seem to be any way Harry can’t have committed murder. So much spontaneity….how could a frame-up even be possible?? Then there’s the dreadful chapter…I mean, we the reader are right there as Harry - well, anyway, this just doesn’t taste like whodunit, I didn’t smell clues; the police - especially Brophy - are of the same attitude: there’s nothing to solve or investigate, just run Harry to ground.
Brophy soon clamps down on Alice, convinced she knows where her husband is. Then, Alice does an amazing thing. Two things, really. She decides there is something to solve, and she becomes the rare amateur female detective in a gritty 1950s hardboiled piece of noir pulp. She has virtually nothing to go on - the starting line is clearly just love and loyalty burning for a husband in distress - but off she goes.
Alice got cheers from me practically every five pages, once she goes on her mission…but, if there’s an extra delight to this Crime novel, it’s that I could never quite rid myself of the notion that the big trick was that there was no trick. It would not negate how brilliant and determined Alice turns out to be - she is especially good at lying over the telephone to fish out info - but it always seemed possible that all this amazing lady would prove is that her husband was savage enough to finally kill. Maybe that would be Alice’s story, her destiny. Maybe not. One brilliant strategy she tries flips an assumed fact upside-down right in front of Brophy and the rest of the stupefied cops…but as spectacular as her first big Sherlock moment is, it still only creates a tiny scintilla of maybe-not-Harry. I loved this moment in the book, because Alice MUST be taken seriously by this time if not before, and yet “what a cool story this will be if Alice is wrong about Harry? Maybe that’s the point…”. Alice’s slow journey into nightmare…
I won’t say if Alice’s inspired search for a murderer other than Harry leads to Harry coming home to her and their son. I won’t say if this is more of a psychological, existential, full-dreadful-circle Crime novel than the whodunit that would give a happier ending. I will just repeat that Alice is a rare creation for novels like this, from this time, as written by men, Even Fredric Brown, who is a favourite of mine in the hardboiled noir field and doesn’t get enough credit for his female characters, never gave me the woman detective I thought he would. The ladies in Fredric Brown’s novels and short stories were witty, smart, almost never in need of rescuing, and great at occasionally helping a male lead out of a tight spot. But they did stay supporting players. Henry Kane’s creation, Alice, is next level. This book reminded me of the movie Whirlpool, where Gene Tierney’s character is caught red-handed for murder, but her husband, played by Richard Conti, refuses to believe she did it, fighting facts and the police to get her out of trouble. With Edge of Panic, a similar story arc plays out - but this time, the wife will not stop until her husband is home, or it’s proven hopeless. Sad how fresh that was, then.
Alice’s final ‘chess move’ of sorts makes the earlier trick look everyday. Gosh, she’s clever! Let’s just say the finale does not ruin the book. And we know, finally, if this is a true Mystery with a surprise reveal, or Psychological Suspense where Alice and reader may not like what she finds but that can be painfully delicious too…
Hidden gem? Yeah, this is the gold nugget someone hid in the center of Pluto, and then said Pluto doesn’t exist, don’t look for it…
Alice can get to Pluto.
By the time we have cops for new characters, there doesn’t seem to be any way Harry can’t have committed murder. So much spontaneity….how could a frame-up even be possible?? Then there’s the dreadful chapter…I mean, we the reader are right there as Harry - well, anyway, this just doesn’t taste like whodunit, I didn’t smell clues; the police - especially Brophy - are of the same attitude: there’s nothing to solve or investigate, just run Harry to ground.
Brophy soon clamps down on Alice, convinced she knows where her husband is. Then, Alice does an amazing thing. Two things, really. She decides there is something to solve, and she becomes the rare amateur female detective in a gritty 1950s hardboiled piece of noir pulp. She has virtually nothing to go on - the starting line is clearly just love and loyalty burning for a husband in distress - but off she goes.
Alice got cheers from me practically every five pages, once she goes on her mission…but, if there’s an extra delight to this Crime novel, it’s that I could never quite rid myself of the notion that the big trick was that there was no trick. It would not negate how brilliant and determined Alice turns out to be - she is especially good at lying over the telephone to fish out info - but it always seemed possible that all this amazing lady would prove is that her husband was savage enough to finally kill. Maybe that would be Alice’s story, her destiny. Maybe not. One brilliant strategy she tries flips an assumed fact upside-down right in front of Brophy and the rest of the stupefied cops…but as spectacular as her first big Sherlock moment is, it still only creates a tiny scintilla of maybe-not-Harry. I loved this moment in the book, because Alice MUST be taken seriously by this time if not before, and yet “what a cool story this will be if Alice is wrong about Harry? Maybe that’s the point…”. Alice’s slow journey into nightmare…
I won’t say if Alice’s inspired search for a murderer other than Harry leads to Harry coming home to her and their son. I won’t say if this is more of a psychological, existential, full-dreadful-circle Crime novel than the whodunit that would give a happier ending. I will just repeat that Alice is a rare creation for novels like this, from this time, as written by men, Even Fredric Brown, who is a favourite of mine in the hardboiled noir field and doesn’t get enough credit for his female characters, never gave me the woman detective I thought he would. The ladies in Fredric Brown’s novels and short stories were witty, smart, almost never in need of rescuing, and great at occasionally helping a male lead out of a tight spot. But they did stay supporting players. Henry Kane’s creation, Alice, is next level. This book reminded me of the movie Whirlpool, where Gene Tierney’s character is caught red-handed for murder, but her husband, played by Richard Conti, refuses to believe she did it, fighting facts and the police to get her out of trouble. With Edge of Panic, a similar story arc plays out - but this time, the wife will not stop until her husband is home, or it’s proven hopeless. Sad how fresh that was, then.
Alice’s final ‘chess move’ of sorts makes the earlier trick look everyday. Gosh, she’s clever! Let’s just say the finale does not ruin the book. And we know, finally, if this is a true Mystery with a surprise reveal, or Psychological Suspense where Alice and reader may not like what she finds but that can be painfully delicious too…
Hidden gem? Yeah, this is the gold nugget someone hid in the center of Pluto, and then said Pluto doesn’t exist, don’t look for it…
Alice can get to Pluto.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews