A Problem in Prague

by Bill Knox, Noah Webster (Pseudonym)

First American Edition. A near fine copy in a good dust jacket. Dust soiling to the edges of the book's upper page block. The dust jacket is heavily worn with chips to its spine tips and corners.

Genres: Mystery

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Also wrote as Robert MacLeod (westerns), Noah Webster and Michael Kirk.

William (Bill) Knox was a Scottish author, journalist and broadcaster, best known for his crime novels and for presenting the long-running STV series Crimedesk.

Born in Glasgow, Knox became the youngest journalist for a Glasgow newspaper at age 16. He went on to report on crime, on motoring, and to become a news editor.

He began writing crime novels in the 1950s. Knox often wrote under pseudonyms, frequently for the American market. These included Michael Kirk, Robert MacLeod and Noah Webster. He published over 50 crime novels, including several series, notably the "Thane and Moss" books.

Reviews

[Judith Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice and fast read. However, I had originally taken this book out for reading on holiday in Prague, and I wasn't satisfied with the description of the city at all. I even wonder whether the author has ever been there or looked at a map. Mostly the MC crossed some undefined bridges over the Vltava and that was it. There was a tiny scene at the castle - the only concrete spot described a fountain and a cage.

I stopped taking the writer's research seriously when a Czech man with a woman's surname was introduced. At first I kept waiting for someone to reveal that this might be a spy just pretending to be Czech, but then there were also female characters with male surnames... And I think the system of Czech surnames - or of other countries for that matter - should be common knowledge.

I did enjoy the historical parts of the book, though I think they were very far fetched. All in all, I would have liked a little more depth...

[Donald Harwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best Jonathon Gaunt book I have read. The author did a magnificent job of circling several suspects around a central plot. Skillfully, he moving each character toward the resolution of the problem at an even, equal pace. The central plot is focused on Jonathon Gaunts investigation of a British tax agent who may be cheating on her taxes. (EXECUTE HER!!!) The setting is Soviet controlled Prague and contains just enough espionage like intrigue to keep the story line credible. There also was a suprisingly pleasing amount of history in the story and a minor art lesson as well.