Send a Fax to the Kasbah

Johnson Johnson #7

by Dorothy Dunnett

Also known as Morrocan Traffic A bomb explodes in the offices of Kingsley Conglomerates, shattering delicate takeover negotiations and sending upwardly mobile Executive Secretary Wendy Helmann, her inimitable mother, the Chairman of Kingsley Conglomerates, elusive portrait painter Johnson Johnson, and new Kingsley Board Member, microchip genius-cum-appliance designer Mo Morgan, from the board rooms of London to the souks of Morocco.
As Wendy endures chases on horseback through crowded narrow streets, vintage car races across the High Atlas from Marrakesh to Taroudannt, soccer championships laced with murder, and even a wild boar in the swimming pool, she realizes there’s more at stake than washing-machine components, or even the survival of Kingsley Conglomerates.
This highly pertinent look at the world of big business in the last decade of the twentieth century presents Dorothy Dunnett at the very top of her form.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Morocco, Espionage

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Dorothy Dunnett OBE was a Scottish historical novelist. She is best known for her six-part series about Francis Crawford of Lymond, The Lymond Chronicles, which she followed with the eight-part prequel The House of Niccolò. She also wrote a novel about the real Macbeth called King Hereafter and a series of mystery novels centered on Johnson Johnson, a portrait painter/spy.

Her New York times obituary is here.

Dorothy Dunnett Society: http://dorothydunnett.org
Fansite: http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/

Reviews

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think Dorothy Dunnett really planned for this to be the last episode in her Johnson Johnson series, but it turned out that she really goes out with a Big Bang! ‘Send a Fax to the Kasbah’ is probably the wildest , most fun ride in the whole shebang.

As a side note, a new reader is perfectly safe starting the journey with this last book, since they were written right from the start as stand-alone adventures, with minimal background references and few, if any, recurring characters. In fact, there are exactly two anchor points: the fashionable painter Johnson Johnson, who moonlights as a secret agent for the British government, and his pleasure yacht ‘Dolly’ that somehow gets involved in the plot of every book in the series.
The variable yet also persistent element of the plot in each book is the lead character, always a young and professionally competent woman who starts the story by being annoyed at Johnson Johnson’s bi-focal glasses.

Whatever happened, I kept getting annoyed with him.

Dorothy Dunnett has made it one of her trademarks in her historical fiction to narrate from the sidelines, using secondary characters for shining a spotlight on the leader. In this manner, we never get the viewpoint of Johnson Johnson but get to know him by his actions, as witnessed by the people around him. Outside appearances and mannerisms are deployed to get a grip on his secretive motivations, like his constantly endangered bi-focals, his aggravating habit of never explaining what is going on and his casual approach to fashion:

Only painter I know who goes about like a doggie chew toy.

The role of first person narrator is held in the Moroccan adventure by Wendy Hellman, an ambitious young lady, who strives for a top management position in a multinational corporation. On her journey to the top, she is currently employed as executive secretary for a London based conglomerate that is engaged in a hostile take-over bid. Wendy is encouraged/ driven/ advised in her career choices by her formidable [likened to a rhinoceros on a mission] mother.

How does Johnson Johnson fit in with the City business quarter? He is hired by Sir Robert, Wendy’s boss, to paint his portrait, and is a witness [or the perpetrator?] of the explosion of a bomb in corporate headquarters that leaves an unknown dead body behind and a clue that somebody was raiding the safe where sensitive papers are stored.

Sir Robert moves the negotiations to Morocco, away from prying eyes, and invites Wendy along as his main assistant. As a bonus, Sir Robert hopes to convince Johnson to finish his portrait while the painter is on commission with the Moroccan royal family. The yacht ‘Dolly’ is also visiting the port of Essaouira and we know we will get a chance to visit it, eventually. As I did visit myself this charming old port on the Atlantic coast recently. Adding Marrakesh, Fez and a few other local attractions to the list made this book one of the few Johnson Johnson adventures taking place in locations I am familiar with.









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The blurb gives us a decent preview of the wild ride we can expect, with all the chances for mischief at the FA Cup in soccer, a movie being filmed in Marrakesh, a vintage car rally, rock climbing in the Atlas mountains, wild boars in hotel pools, mini skirt chases on Harley Davidsons and bareback horse-riding through the old medinas. Somehow, all these deadly exploits are tied to the business negotiations, a matter of business ethics as someone mentions during a meeting. Turns out that building washing machines or selling make-up kits are worthy of industrial espionage, international terrorist threats and back-room cut-throat negotiations.

I left out the main red herring deliberately, as readers should discover the intricacies of the plot by themselves. Mo Johnson is the golden boy of industrial research that Wendy’s boss has spent a fortune on, but his micro-chip experiments can be used either in washing machines or in intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Speaking of make-up, it turns out that the owner of that particular company, Rita Geddes, is one of the very few recurring characters of the series, having graced us with her presence in ‘Tropical Issue’ which some reviewers consider as the first book and others as the sixth book, preceding Morocco. For me, it just shows how the books can truly be read out of order.

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The Johnson Johnson books were written for fun, for holiday reading at the beach. That’s why the main focus is on beautiful young ladies in distress while visiting exotic places. And that’s why they were planned to be read out of order, whichever one comes handy when you pack for the holiday.
Luckily for me, as the summer season is just around the corner, I still have one to go as it looks like I have skipped on the ‘Nanny Bird’.

[Lois Bujold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also titled Moroccan Traffic, among other places in the recent e-reprint. E-edition, I suppose.

Pretty good entry into the series; also, I understand, the last. Same formula: a young woman in some interesting line of work, in this case executive secretary to the head of a large corporation, falls afoul of one of portrait-painter-and-spy Johnson Johnson's schemes, and goes off to an exotic locale for ensuing adventures, in this case late-1980s Morocco. The main character from Dolly and the Bird of Paradise, Rita Geddes, makes a reappearance as a side character, ten book-years on.

The best features were the quirky side characters -- ferex the heroine's mother and the the much-courted computer design geek. The novels in the series read like romantic suspense minus the romance, weirdly. So I suppose it's just "suspense", or perhaps "thriller".

It's interesting to observe the impact of then-current tech levels on these plots -- at one point, our heroine-narrator finds it needful to explain to the reader how a fax machine works. Needed by readers then, not needed now, will be needed again in a few years, I suspect. No cell phones or internet, of course, so communication and basic data gathering must be handled in other ways, all of which affect the ambit-of-the-possible for the plot.

A few moments threatening to one's willing suspension of disbelief shared with other entries in the series -- does this plot twist really make sense? Would it even be possible to set up this set-piece chase scene, really? I blip over them, but they leave a sense of vague dissatisfaction with the plot armature. Excellent writing on the paints-a-word-picture level.

I do wonder if there were intended to be more. JJ wraps up one-quarter of an issue from his past; there is also a throw-away reference to possible serious ill-health on our hero's part. Just where one would wish some clarification, Dunnett goes cryptic, alas.

If you liked the others, you will probably like this one. The books do work as stand-alones, but the series should probably be read in internal-chronological rather than publication order if one wants to follow and piece together Johnson Johnson's progression. (Although it's like a puzzle with pieces missing in whatever order one assembles them.) Check Wikipedia or similar sources for advice on this.

Ta, L.

[Andrea]

The last of this series of seven books centred on painter/spy Johnson Johnson. "Moroccan Traffic" is a companion piece to the previous volume (the sixth published, but first in internal chronological order) "Tropical Issue". For the first time we see some returning characters other than Johnson and his crewman.

This time the focus is business espionage, and the main character is an executive secretary who starts out not particularly appealing due to having listened to far too many "How to Win in Business" motivational tapes. She improves, fortunately, and we also get to meet Doris, who is entertaining. There is also a surprisingly low amount of sexual assault in this particular volume - no attempted rapes, and hardly any groping! Quite an improvement.

On the whole, although they were interesting enough for me to read through thanks to the range and depth of the protagonists, this isn't a series I would read again. Way too much sexual assault (generally a cynical attitude towards romance, but just _so much_ assault). Too few ongoing links between the individual volumes. Johnson is interesting, but not quite enough of a focus of the stories to maintain an ongoing character arc. And there's a tendency for our viewpoint character to be withholding a massive piece of information, and for that information to be used as the basis of a near-ending twist.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021 reread:
This final book of the Johnson Johnson series makes a lot more sense to me now that I have read the previous (by publication order) book "Tropical Issue" (aka Dolly and the Bird of Paradise), which chronologically is the first of the series but also introduces several characters that show up in this book. Johnson is always a secretive fellow but there is a lot that happens towards the end of this book that could have used a bit more explaining. For example, it is implied that Seb and Onyx, the mercenary group he formerly belonged to, were responsible for the 'accident' that killed Johnson's wife and so injured Johnson 10 years ago (right before "Tropical Issue") but that Johnson's boss & friend had hidden that information from him - and in this book the boss shoots Seb before Johnson can get answers to all his questions. I needed this bit fleshed out much more - maybe I am growing dim-witted but it was unsatisfactory.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As personal assistant to Sir Robert Kingsley, ambitious Wendy has the chance to help him when she's taken to lunch by Johnson Johnson, who is painting Sir Robert's portrait. It ends up with a trip to Morocco, along with Wendy's mother (supposedly sick, she's the excuse for Wendy to be where Sir Robert can use her services). Her management training has not prepared her for a group of Canadian journalists, a classic car rally, a takeover target that doesn't want to be taken over, and a beautiful woman interested in the local soccer tournament. As always, Dunnett's writing, especially her descriptions, are gorgeous. Wendy is in danger and finds unexpected depths in herself and her companions.

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nearly the worst, if not the worst of the series, despite the return of the delightful Rita Geddes. This book rambles all over the place both literally and metaphorically. It lacks the tight plotting of earlier Johnson Johnson novels. We do finally get a clue to the mystery that starts the series. Perhaps if Dunnett had been able to finish the couple of JJ novels she had ideas for, this series might have had the ending it deserved.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent final book in the Johnson Johnson series. Brilliant! Loved it, absolutely! :)

[Curlemagne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all Dunnett'd mysteries, dense and confusing and full of car chases and exotic orientalism, though it could have been much worse. A handful of unpleasant remarks about Arabs, though I suppose Mo Morgan is meant to balance that and the riffs about Desert Roses are mocking Hollywood fantasies, not "real" Morocco. Mo is too much a token - properly schooled - to be good rep but he does does sound dreamy. Wendy is a somewhat thin narrator: aside from her determination, we get little sense of any unique skills she has that make her worth watching, aside from the very funny business aphorisms. I kept waiting for a big reveal from her past that explained everything, but it never came. What she saw in Sir Robert in the first place is never explained, or why her mother is so involved in her career, enough to plant bugs in offices. This book is 50 pages too long and left several minor plot concerns unresolved -- would not read again, but I do think Mo and Wendy would suit each other well in the long run. And I don't think I've felt that about any of the Johnson Johnson heroines and a male love interest before.

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im back again with another Dorothy review!!

After previously reading Roman Nights by this author I knew I had to pick this book up. This book was once again another hit for me. I love how these books together paint a bigger picture but you can also jump in at any book and read it as a standalone.

Excitingly this author is back with a unique eye catching plot that has mystery, suspense and an interesting location to solve a crime. I really enjoy how Dunnett uses these interesting countries to base her books with how well she describes and sets the scene you feel like you're right there in that foreign place with her characters. It was such a treat to see Johnson Johnson again, in my opinion he really makes this series with his appearances.

I love a cozy mystery around this time of year and this book just did it for me, I was along for the ride and super excited to see what was going to happen next. With tons of twists and turns if you're a mystery lover like me you need to pick this book up!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on the order in which you read the books, Rita Geddes either makes an encore appearance in this book or appears for the first time, though not as the protagonist. The protagonist is Wendy Helmann, an executive secretary. Originally published as Send a Fax to the Kasbah, this was the most difficult to follow (for me) of all the Johnson books. (Again, this may be due to personal circumstances: I was serving jury duty on a grim homicide case.) The plot I could track, but not all the off-screen manipulations of the characters. (I'm still not sure who Wendy's mother "really" was, or whether it mattered.) It hardly mattered, though. I still very much enjoyed the book, though I did have to look up what a "kasbah" was for it all to make sense. (Thank goodness for Kindle's dictionary feature!)

This was the only book that I felt left a slightly sour taste in its mouth upon the denouement. (Namely, Wendy's ultimate decision of her goal in life). However, not all characters have to be emblematic of Women, Dunnett has proved herself solid on that front, and it did make sense in terms of the characters.

I did think it was very interesting that this book very strongly implies that--while we discovered Joanna Emerson loved Johnson in the last book--Johnson might very well have loved her back.

Of course, that does make sense, with Johnson as a modern-day Lymond and Joanna, as noted, the closest thing to Philippa to be found.

These are very well-written, satisfying mysteries, and I highly recommend them.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I acquired this book by accident when I bought the one I wanted from eBay. I hadn’t read any of the others of the series; perhaps my low opinion is unfair for both these reasons. I found it very disappointing compared to Lymond. The characters and dialogue were unconvincing to me and the plot implausible and hard to follow. I had to force myself to finish it.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series featuring the enigmatic Johnson Johnson, but had a hard time with this particular book - the final in the series. There were many cryptic decriptions and conversations, and a lot of British slang, that that made me have to WORK to follow the story.

[Jenny Hemming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm forced to read more carefully than usual ' else I have NO idea what's going on! Great stuff.

[Susan Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there was more about Johnson Johnson...

[Maylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. Well read, intriguing characters and a convoluted intelligent plot which is all I would expect from Ms Dunnett.

[Fax Numbers · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for afternoon. I enjoyed reading it.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Bifocal spectacles!’ shouted my mother, coughing heavily over her daisy-wheel printer. ‘Now my daughter wastes her time on some self-employed painter with no index-linked company pension?’

In addition to her brilliant historical fiction, Dorothy Dunnett also wrote mysteries. And, while I do not enjoy these mysteries as much as the historical fiction, they are worth reading, ‘Moroccan Traffic’ (originally published in 1991, but since reissued) was the last of the seven books in the Johnson Johnson series. Lady Dunnett had plans to write another after the completion of the House of Niccolo series, but sadly her death in 2001 intervened.

In this fast-paced mystery, Executive Secretary Wendy Helmann and her mother Doris become caught up in a series of events after a bomb explodes in the office of Wendy’s employer, Kingsley Conglomerates. Johnson Johnson (JJ for short), who has been engaged to paint a portrait of Sir Robert Kingsley, also becomes involved.

Late 1980s Morocco becomes the setting after the explosion, as Sir Robert is trying to arrange a takeover. There are plenty of characters (some more likeable than others), more than enough action to keep the reader occupied (yes, like some of the suspend-your-disbelief set pieces in Lady Dunnett’s historical fiction) and, for those of us old enough to remember the 1980s, reminders that the internet and smartphones did not always rule the world.

This is the second time I have read the novel. This time I read it with a group, which really helped me make more sense of some of the more puzzling parts. Yes, the JJ mysteries can be read as a standalone but as JJ himself is as much a mystery as the various stories he becomes involved in, I’d recommend reading them all.

Plenty of action, and for some of us, plenty of nostalgia as well.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh and final novel in the ‘Dolly’ series. This one was first published in 1991, making it much more recent than the previous instalments (I actually can’t believe that’s 32 years ago!!)

As ever we have a smart, competent and sassy heroine that narrates the story and somehow gets involved with Johnson Johnson and his yacht Dolly. This time it is executive secretary, Wendy Holman, who meets Johnson in a rather explosive first chapter, when he is painting her boss, Sir Robert Kingsley.

What follows is very much what I’ve come to expect from these novels, a wild ride, full of action and adventure in exotic locations, with a fantastic touch of humour along the way. I loved the comic relief of Wendy’s mother in this one. It was also fantastic to see Rita Geddes again, who we first meet when she narrates Tropical Issue.
The backdrop for this story is industrial espionage and it is full of twists and turns, with red herrings and a brilliant cast of suspects.

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series. Dunnett is famous for her historical fiction and while this is often considered light relief from that, it really does document recent history, if in a very lighthearted way. One of the first things I noticed was the casual sexism and harassment that the narrators often face, but which would have been reality in the those times, and maybe hasn’t changed as much as we’d like.

Overall though, this is a great series for fans of cosy crime and lighthearted spy thrillers. Definitely recommend.

[LeahBethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Send a Fax to the Kasbah is the last book in the Johnson Johnson series and I was sad for the series to end! Like all the other Johnson Johnson books, this mystery was very tangled with lots of players and half the time I didn't know what was going on. Dorothy Dunnett always manages some pretty great chase scenes in her books and this one did not disappoint. I was a bit saddened that there was only one scene aboard the Dolly (maybe why this last book didn't have a Dolly title?) and I felt that there were a few loose ends that weren't tied up. (Did Sir Bernard Emerson know who killed Johnson's wife or maybe have something to do with it?). I loved that Ms. Dunnett teased us with the possibility that Johnson might have a future with Joanna from Dolly and the Nanny Bird. I will definitely read this series again - I just hope now that I know more, maybe I can read between the lines better!

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book in 'A Dolly Series' and I've had the pleasure to read and review all 7 books. As always we have Wendy Helmann, Executive Secretary to Sir Robert Kingsley. The book begins with Wendy coming home after a lunch meeting with Johnson Johnson, and her mother shouting "Bifocal Spectacles!" complaining about her daughter going out with Johnson, even thou it was about a comission for a painter of the Chairman in oil, Sir Robert Kingsley. We have a bomb while Johnson and Sir Robert are talking. We visit Marrakesh with Wendy and her mother, and meet many characters past and present along the way. I did find part a bit confusing, but I also thought Wendy did also. I did enjoy the book, but not as good as the other books in 'A Dolly Series

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are enjoyable. A young woman with moxie gets involved with espionage and a murder, Johnson Johnson appears in all his blandness, and over time he wins over to her side. The dialogue for me is so elliptical and encoded that figuring out what is going on is half the fun.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moroccan Traffic is the seventh book in the Dolly Series. The first book which introduces the character Johnson Johnson is A Tropical Issue.

If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:

https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...

[Paterson Loarn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Moroccan Traffic, which is set in the late 1980s, Dorothy Dunnett transports her readers to Marrakesh after dramatic events in London. Wendy Helmann, a clever, ambitious executive secretary, is persuaded to take her perfectly healthy mother for a ‘rest cure’ in Morocco. In fact, this is a cover for a mission she has been asked to carry out for her boss, the Chairman of Kingsley Conglomerates, who is involved in morally questionable takeover negotiations. Morocco is a romantic place, and a handsome Irishman is keen on Wendy, but she is distracted from his charms by the antics of sparky businesswoman Rita Geddes. When she finds herself surrounded by kidnapping, explosions, industrial espionage, murder and car chases across the High Atlas mountains, Wendy realises that only portrait painter and secret agent Johnson Johnson and his yacht Dolly can save the day – but will they?
Reading and reviewing the seven humorous crime novels in Dunnett’s ‘Dolly’ series has given me great pleasure. Dunnett’s use of the same plot model for all of them pulls the series together brilliantly. Certain familiar and likeable characters, including Dolly the yacht, appear in each novel. This reunites the reader with old friends, while allowing for lots of variety in the story lines. As a bonus, Rita Geddes, who is one of the main characters in Moroccan Traffic, was the narrator of the first in the series, Tropical Issue. I was fascinated to learn how her career has developed.
The things I like best about Dunnett’s novels are dry humour, fun, sharp wit, exotic locations, glamorous lifestyles, beautiful clothes, thrilling descriptions of life at sea, devious red herrings, twisty plots which keep me guessing and the complete absence of personal tech such as mobile phones. I highly recommend every book in the series.
Many thanks to @farragobooks and @RandomTTours who gave me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm back again....this time with the last book in the Dolly Mysteries series.
I've been reviewing Dorothy's books over the last few months and have read all 6 of the previous books in this series - Tropical Issue, Rum Affair, Ibiza Surprise, Operation Nassau, Roman Nights and Split Code.

It's been great to be able to read the whole series in order and over such a short space in time as this allowed a great view of the returning character's development and it was fun to experience all the different mysteries and the different settings.

In this book we're visiting Morocco - and what a gorgeous backdrop for this story.
As ever, the descriptive writing transports us there in an instant and gives us a perfect visual, before the adventures begin.

Wendy has brought her mum here for a restorative break - or so it seems - but the ambitious executive secretary is actually here on a mission and she soon discovers that there's a lot more going on than she'd bargained for. But of course, Johnson and Dolly are on hand to help out.

I've loved following Johnson around the world and meeting a great cast of strong female leads.
Although each book has followed a similar format, it's been a plotline that works so well and has been a pleasure to read.

Each book has been so full of fun and adventure with amazing settings, memorable characters and the perfect twisty plot.

[Seriesbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy, the main character, and first-person narrator is the sensible, boring but ambitious executive assistant who wants to climb up the corporate ladder with the help of her larger-than-life mother (who deserves a book in her own right). As with the other heroines of the Dolly mysteries, she becomes embroiled in international and corporate espionage the minute she meets Johnson.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.

The book has an explosive start and an equally explosive finish with plenty of action scenes in exotic locales, twists and fights in crazy environments- this time there is an impressive action scene featuring monkeys, and boars!
But the best bit of this book is the appearance of my favourite Dolly heroine – Rita Geddes .
Moroccan Traffic can be read as a standalone, but this is much more enjoyable and satisfying if you have read the other books in the series.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this author, a few books back, and really enjoyed their writing style. There is just something about the way their stories flow, the depth of their characters and the way they always combine their intrigue and excitement, with a hint of romance and a little mission. There are so many excellent , in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the level of detail put into each of the characters, the way in which they were brought to like and the variety of personalities. I liked the flow of the book, with the excellent pops of excitement and stealth action. It made the book one that kept me completely invested, from start to finish. This book, and the others in the series, have solidified this author as one I will always look forward to putting out new releases.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the impression I was late discovering this 7th Johnson Johnson mystery, but it was familiar enough on re-reading to know I'd nevertheless read it several times. Whilst reading I was trying to fathom out how Dorothy Dunnett does it - how she writes so strongly and confuses me as to what's going on so effectively. I also wonder why, in this series, the female protagonist is often so unlikeable.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So that's my re-read of the Johnson Johnson mysteries complete. Some of them hold up much better than others and I'm not sure some of the language would be acceptable today! Still our 'hero' remained enigmatic until the end and I did like him. Not up to the standard of Lady Dunnett's historical work but I'm still glad I've read them - twice!

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mystery/suspense novel of corporate takeover attempts and skullduggery set in London and Morocco, but it was a difficult read for some reason. It didn’t flow easily or quite pull together and Its not one I would recommend.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great writing, less heroic characters.