Johnny Havoc

Johnny Havoc #1

by John Jakes

While investigating the murder of two newlyweds who were killed while on their honeymoon, Johnny begins to suspect that the crime may be connected to the pharmaceutical company owned by the dead bride's father

Genres: Mystery

143 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

John William Jakes, the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes’s commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of “the godfather of historical novelists” from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.

Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old fashioned screwball mystery. Johnny Havoc is five foot one, and makes his living as what they used to call a sharpshooter. He inserts himself into situations, making some money out of it. A gangster wants something, and Johnny gets himself hired, as a cut out, and finds money from other sources. He also finds a woman, like in all of these books.

Pretty good, but I can see where the premise might wear thin after a while.

[Matthew Bieniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was at the recent Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention when I saw this book on one of the tables. I picked it up and read the blurb on the back cover. It read, in part:
"She came in from the backstage shower room -- all six feet of her. "You're John Havoc," she purred, toying with a scarlet towel in a most revealing manner.
...
"Okay, you wise little jerk," she snarled, "we'll play it your way." She dropped the towel and came at me.

I then flipped back to the cover, which described the main character as:
Description: 5 ft. 1 in.
Weakness: Women
Business: Violence

Now tell me that's not worth the $2.00 price tag on the book! I purchased it and started it that night. That initial read plus some background info I found on the 'net sent me back to the tables the next day, where I was able to find two of the other three books in the series. I'd not read anything by John Jakes, and I know that he's well known for his historical fiction, but this was a fast-reading pulpy little novel that I really enjoyed. It reminded me a little of the Dan Turner stories I'd read, but with less snappy lingo and more lascivious pursuit of the female characters. I liked it a lot and am looking forward to reading the other stories with this character.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like reading a 50's "B" teen movie.

[Torben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nach mehr als dreißig Jahren das Re-Reading. John Jakes hat den Krimi 1960 geschrieben, mit einigen Bond-Anleihen im zwischenmenschlichen Bereich. Dazu zwei slapstickhafte Verfolgungsjagde, ein Obermafiosi, „böse“ Cops, schmieriger Pharma-Millionär als ungewollter Auftraggeber und der kleinwüchsige Johnny Havoc. Das alles auf 200 Seiten. Amüsant und unterhaltsam. Die drei weiteren Bücher werden sich bald mal wieder gelesen.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Johnny Havoc acts outside the law as a PI. He finds two honeymoomers murdered and sees a link between them and a missing chemist.