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The Brand Of Silence: A Detective Story
When Sidney Prale returns home to New York after making his fortune he finds that old friends have turned against him. Accused of murder with a hidden enemy out to get him he relies on the help of his valet Murk and detective Jim Farland to clear his name. Written by the creator of Zorro, this fast paced mystery will keep you guessing to the end.
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First published January 1, 1919
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About the author
Johnston McCulley
231 books81 followersJohnston McCulley (February 2, 1883 – November 23, 1958) was the author of hundreds of stories, fifty novels, numerous screenplays for film and television, and the creator of the character Zorro.
Many of his novels and stories were written under the pseudonyms Harrington Strong, Raley Brien, George Drayne, Monica Morton, Rowena Raley, Frederic Phelps, Walter Pierson, and John Mack Stone, among others.
McCulley started as a police reporter for The Police Gazette and served as an Army public affairs officer during World War I. An amateur history buff, he went on to a career in pulp magazines and screenplays, often using a Southern California backdrop for his stories.
Aside from Zorro, McCulley created many other pulp characters, including Black Star, The Spider, The Mongoose, and Thubway Tham. Many of McCulley's characters — The Green Ghost, The Thunderbolt, and The Crimson Clown — were inspirations for the masked heroes that have appeared in popular culture from McCulley's time to the present day.
Born in Ottawa, Illinois, and raised in Chillicothe, Illinois, he died in 1958 in Los Angeles, California, aged 75. -wikipedia
Many of his novels and stories were written under the pseudonyms Harrington Strong, Raley Brien, George Drayne, Monica Morton, Rowena Raley, Frederic Phelps, Walter Pierson, and John Mack Stone, among others.
McCulley started as a police reporter for The Police Gazette and served as an Army public affairs officer during World War I. An amateur history buff, he went on to a career in pulp magazines and screenplays, often using a Southern California backdrop for his stories.
Aside from Zorro, McCulley created many other pulp characters, including Black Star, The Spider, The Mongoose, and Thubway Tham. Many of McCulley's characters — The Green Ghost, The Thunderbolt, and The Crimson Clown — were inspirations for the masked heroes that have appeared in popular culture from McCulley's time to the present day.
Born in Ottawa, Illinois, and raised in Chillicothe, Illinois, he died in 1958 in Los Angeles, California, aged 75. -wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 18, 2018
Wow! This book could have been written today instead of one hundred years ago.
Johnston McCulley (1883-1958) wrote many novels across numerous genre and under a variety of pseudonyms such as Harrington Strong, Raley Bries, George Drayne, Monic Morton, Rowena Raley, Walter Pierson and so on. McCulley also was a prolific screen writer of film and television. He is also famous for creating Zorro.
This book will soon be one hundred years old. It was originally published in 1923. This book is one he wrote in the detective genre using the nom-de-plum of Harrington Strong. Our protagonist is Sidney Prale. He has returned to New York after making a fortune. He is surprised to find everyone hates him and that he was framed for murder. The plot is most interesting and the suspense keeps building throughout the story. The characters are realistic. I sort of figured out right away who and why Prale was being set up; but the excitement was could he figure it out with two different groups after him with different goals. Nothing points to this book being written almost one hundred years ago except one million dollars is no longer a lot of money. I am going to keep my eye open for more of McCulley’s books.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost seven hours. Jack Brown does a good job narrating the book.
Johnston McCulley (1883-1958) wrote many novels across numerous genre and under a variety of pseudonyms such as Harrington Strong, Raley Bries, George Drayne, Monic Morton, Rowena Raley, Walter Pierson and so on. McCulley also was a prolific screen writer of film and television. He is also famous for creating Zorro.
This book will soon be one hundred years old. It was originally published in 1923. This book is one he wrote in the detective genre using the nom-de-plum of Harrington Strong. Our protagonist is Sidney Prale. He has returned to New York after making a fortune. He is surprised to find everyone hates him and that he was framed for murder. The plot is most interesting and the suspense keeps building throughout the story. The characters are realistic. I sort of figured out right away who and why Prale was being set up; but the excitement was could he figure it out with two different groups after him with different goals. Nothing points to this book being written almost one hundred years ago except one million dollars is no longer a lot of money. I am going to keep my eye open for more of McCulley’s books.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost seven hours. Jack Brown does a good job narrating the book.
March 25, 2013
Quite an interesting and exciting mystery. Sydney Prale returns to New York from Honduras after a ten year absence. He's done quite well overseas, now being worth a million dollars, and all he wants to do is relax in his newly acquired wealth. However, things aren't as he expected them to be. He's being treated with much hostility and he just doesn't know why, actually he thought all his old friends would be really glad to see him, and each moment things only get worse. After being accused of murder, he decides to employ the services of a detective, Jim Farley, to solve the mystery and all involved are rather surprised at the findings.
Once you enjoy good classic mysteries, I trust that you'll definitely enjoy this one...
Once you enjoy good classic mysteries, I trust that you'll definitely enjoy this one...
July 15, 2025
Another rip-roaring pulp adventure from McCulley.
He's re-using his material a bit. The wealthy man gains his valet the same way the wealthy man in The Black Star gets his valet: he finds him about to commit suicide by jumping into a river, talks him out of it, and gains his gratitude and loyalty for life. This seems a slightly unconventional way of getting a valet (I believe it was more common to go to an agency), and it's weird that it happened twice. Anyway, "Murk," as he names the valet (who, implausibly, has used so many false names he's forgotten his real one), is "solid" for his boss from then on. So is his boss's old friend, a detective, who values friendship and loyalty more than money. Both of them refuse to be intimidated or bribed into working against, or ceasing to work for, the hero.
And he needs loyal friends, because he's come back to New York from ten years in Honduras, where he turned $10,000 into a million, to find that he's mysteriously shunned by society; a bank manager doesn't want his business, he's asked to leave the first hotel he books into, a young woman he hardly knows cuts him dead, and, when forced to talk to him, says "You know what you did!" But he doesn't.
And then he gets arrested for murder, and the people who can prove his alibi swear they never saw him at the time.
It's a fine mystery, and it took me until 70% of the way through to figure out what was going on and who was behind it. Meanwhile, there's lots of detective work and plenty of being ambushed and hit on the head and abducted. It's hard-boiled on the outside and noblebright on the inside; both Murk and the detective maintain their loyalty, and the hero is a good man wrongly accused.
If you're going to write pulp fiction, this is how to do it.
He's re-using his material a bit. The wealthy man gains his valet the same way the wealthy man in The Black Star gets his valet: he finds him about to commit suicide by jumping into a river, talks him out of it, and gains his gratitude and loyalty for life. This seems a slightly unconventional way of getting a valet (I believe it was more common to go to an agency), and it's weird that it happened twice. Anyway, "Murk," as he names the valet (who, implausibly, has used so many false names he's forgotten his real one), is "solid" for his boss from then on. So is his boss's old friend, a detective, who values friendship and loyalty more than money. Both of them refuse to be intimidated or bribed into working against, or ceasing to work for, the hero.
And he needs loyal friends, because he's come back to New York from ten years in Honduras, where he turned $10,000 into a million, to find that he's mysteriously shunned by society; a bank manager doesn't want his business, he's asked to leave the first hotel he books into, a young woman he hardly knows cuts him dead, and, when forced to talk to him, says "You know what you did!" But he doesn't.
And then he gets arrested for murder, and the people who can prove his alibi swear they never saw him at the time.
It's a fine mystery, and it took me until 70% of the way through to figure out what was going on and who was behind it. Meanwhile, there's lots of detective work and plenty of being ambushed and hit on the head and abducted. It's hard-boiled on the outside and noblebright on the inside; both Murk and the detective maintain their loyalty, and the hero is a good man wrongly accused.
If you're going to write pulp fiction, this is how to do it.
March 21, 2012
"The Brand of Silence" by Harrington Strong is a detective novel in the public domain which is a more modern novel, and contains hardly any elements of the classic detective or mystery novels (like closed-room, a sudden death, various suspects, footprints, deserted houses, strange noises in the night, a conclusive deduction leading to the resolution etc.). Instead, the novel is set in the busy, quirky Manhattan of the early 20th century, involves conspiracy, influential businessmen, brawls and abductions and ambushes.
The story is mostly quite interesting, since the actual resolution of the mysterious conspiracy about the main character is only revealed in the last chapter. On the other hand, it was not overly thrilling that you wouldn't be able to interrupt reading. Also, I rather prefer the classic, more mysterious detective novels. I therefore gave 3 stars (liked it).
The story is mostly quite interesting, since the actual resolution of the mysterious conspiracy about the main character is only revealed in the last chapter. On the other hand, it was not overly thrilling that you wouldn't be able to interrupt reading. Also, I rather prefer the classic, more mysterious detective novels. I therefore gave 3 stars (liked it).
January 21, 2015
So. Many. Words. Can't. Lift. Arms. Aaaaaagh.
Seriously, I wanted to like this book. It's written by the creator of Zorro! But alas, the dialogue is so drawn out that it's absolutely agonizing. I'm reminded of a student trying to complete a word count. If this were an assignment I'd give an example but it's not, so just trust me. The ending is so humdrum that I wondered where the climax was. Bummer.
Seriously, I wanted to like this book. It's written by the creator of Zorro! But alas, the dialogue is so drawn out that it's absolutely agonizing. I'm reminded of a student trying to complete a word count. If this were an assignment I'd give an example but it's not, so just trust me. The ending is so humdrum that I wondered where the climax was. Bummer.
October 3, 2020
I enjoyed this mystery as it was quite different. The main character has people against him acting to destroy him but he has no idea why. Kept my interest as it played out with some nice characters along the way.
July 29, 2012
Excellent mystery novel
November 23, 2017
Nicely plotted and well narrated by Roger Melin (his usual).
February 14, 2024
4,5 stars. SYNOPSIS; "Harrington Strong was a pseudonym used by author Johnston McCulley, creator of the character Zorro and many others. The Brand of Silence – A Detective Story finds Sidney Prale returning to New York after ten years during which he sought his fortune. But he finds New York a very changed place, and even more distressing, he finds that his old friends are now turning their backs on him, his old haunts no longer welcome him, and there seems to be a conspiracy against him.
Why can’t he receive service in hotels, restaurants, and theaters that he once frequented? Who is working against him? And just as importantly, why? And what is the meaning of the notes he receives which remind him of retribution?" (www.loyalbooks.com)
Why can’t he receive service in hotels, restaurants, and theaters that he once frequented? Who is working against him? And just as importantly, why? And what is the meaning of the notes he receives which remind him of retribution?" (www.loyalbooks.com)
July 24, 2017
Enjoyable "Detective" + Pulp adventure by Johnston, although, yeah, it's not great literature. However, it is a good story and has an interesting premise. It's easy to get drawn into the book and wonder why this personal shunning is happening to the hero of the story. I think if the story and dialog were tightened and trimmed down significantly it could be very good, might even make for a good 90-minute TV movie.
The story's hero and his valet seem very much the hero and companion in Johnston's The Black Star, and, by changing their names, I could easily see this book as a prequel to that book.
The story's hero and his valet seem very much the hero and companion in Johnston's The Black Star, and, by changing their names, I could easily see this book as a prequel to that book.
December 9, 2017
Harrington Strong was a pseudonym of Johnston McCulley, who created not just Zorro but several other continuing pulp characters as well (Black Star, the Crimson Clown, Thubway Tham, etc.) The Brand of Silence isn't part of an ongoing series and in fact doesn't even had a single lead. What it does offer is a premise intriguing enough to make me forgive McCulley's somewhat wooden dialogue and forgettable cast of characters. The denouement doesn't approach Christie or Queen levels of cleverness but for a novel that's nearly a century old this one makes for pretty good reading.
May 6, 2019
The summary alone was so very intriguing to me. When listening I was kept in suspense all the way through. While I thought I knew who was behind the conspiracy, & was right, there was no way to figure out why. There's also a murder. Are both related or not? Is the main character really a good honest man or does he deserve the treatment he's been receiving? I rarely find books to rate over 4 stars. This deserves them all.
May 22, 2020
This mystery kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Thrilling and clean, and I really liked the characters, particularly Sydney and Murk.
February 23, 2024
This book is a bit circular in its plotting. The LibriVox reader made the book enjoyable, by his performance. (4 stars).
March 3, 2017
This might have once been a good book, but it did not stand the test of time. The characters seem naive and simple-minded, and the plot has quite a few holes (or parts that are glossed over). Having said that, it might actually make a decent children's book, since the story itself is fun.
September 25, 2012
Fitting perfectly in between the writing styles of Arthur Conan Doyle and Erle Stanley Gardner is the works of Harrington Strong (pseudonym of Johnston McCulley). The Brand of Silence published in 1919 reads like a serial from the silver screen. Sidney Prale returns to New York from Honduras after an absence of ten years. He doesn’t come empty handed but has made a million dollar fortune. He hopes to increase his newly acquired fortune by investing it on Wall Street. His reception isn’t what he imagined it would be and he is faced with hostility from every corner. When he is accused of murder he hires private detective Jim Farley to discover why he is being targeted. The wording and language is often banal but the story does keep you guessing “who done it”. I enjoyed it as a short interlude and can only say it was somewhat better than Johnston McCulley’s attempts at writing westerns.
June 9, 2019
This is a pleasant read to pass time. It draws me to continue reading leisurely. There isn't crass language or inappropriate scenes that if I were to have left my copy on my desk and one of my underage pupil were to have open it, there wouldn't be any inappropriate situations. There should be more books of this type for entertainment for readers who carry their books into public spheres. Educators have to maintain standards that brazen teenagers don't as they can get away with being seen with "inappropriate" novels in the public.
January 20, 2015
A nice read. Reminded me c of the TV series "Murder She Wrote".
October 15, 2017
A very nicely written mystery plot. Of course the plot has been arranged as to inspire the curiosity of the readers about the happenings of next. I thouroughly enjoyed the plot transition. A man, once left his home, returned after ten years with a million dollar fortune. But his fortune and home coming is not a blessing for him. Some myterious events started to happen and he fell into unusual enemies who want him to go away from his homeland. The ending was enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews