Salvage for the Saint

The Saint #50

by Leslie Charteris

Book by Charteris, Leslie

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Born 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."

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new TV-series with Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar in "RETURN OF THE SAINT"had two "Collision Course" episodes written by John Kruse which have also been syndicated as the made-for-TV film, "The Saint and the Brave Goose."

The novelization got the name "Salvage for the Saint", a 1983 mystery novel featuring the character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint".
The novel was written by Peter Bloxsom, but per the custom at this time, the author credit on the cover went to Leslie Charteris, who created the Saint in 1928, and who served in an editorial capacity.

This was the 50th book of Simon Templar adventures. It was also the last to be published during the original 1928-83 run of the series.

It all starts with the sport of speed boat racing. This particular race ends in tragedy as the owner and crewman of the boat which has the power to win the race are killed when it explodes. Simon Templar with his boat also entered in the race is too late to safe anybody.
The owner's widow goes from wealthy to flat broke when her husbands death reveals their life is a sham and she realizes that she really didn't know much about him. The only thing she inherits is a yacht anchored at Marseilles, which she didn't know existed to begin with.
She begins a journey to Marseilles with The Saint hard on her heels, when it is discovered that the crewman killed in the accident was a member of a gang of cutthroats who hijacked a shipment of gold that was never recovered.
And this is more than enough to keep a Saint interested even if he and
the wealthy young trophy wife are followed around in their effort to obtain the truth and obtain some worldly goods in the same effort.

For the last time the Saint officially had a great adventure in book form. And it left me wanting more.

Burl Barer did write the next two stories, one being a novelization of the 1997 movie. The other one being an exclusive book for members of The Saint club only.

[Deborah Gebhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun Saint novel.
Simon, since he is famous, gets recognized all the time. But, that doesn't mean he has changed his lifestyle. He is currently in town to compete in a boat race. He is approached by the wife of a fellow competitor, Arabella Tatenor, who wants to know about the man who has latched himself to her husband.
When Tatenor and his magnet die in the race and Arabella finds out her husband died broke except for his yacht (which she didn't know about). Simon and Arabella are on the case. Was it truly an accident, did someone survive the "accident", where did Tatenor's money come from, how/why did he die broke, why was Arabella unaware of the existence of the yacht and who/why is Arabella kidnapped?

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boats and ships. Except for a long drive (in the Hirondel) across Europe, most of the action is on or under the water. Little launch, Simon's 9 meter speedster, a 100-foot yacht. The rich-man dies dead-broke. His beautiful wife will starve. But how did he fund his racing boat? And we are off to find the booty, moola, do-re-me. Not formulaic.

[colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read 10.31.84