No Business of Mine

Steve Harmas #1

by James Hadley Chase

Que Netta Scott se soit suicidée en se collant la tête dans son four à gaz, voilà qui m'étonnait beaucoup. C'était une fille ravissante, adorant la vie qu'elle passait volontiers en compagnie des hommes, dans un plumard. Lorsque j'ai voulu me livrer à une petite enquête, j'ai rencontré un tas de gens qui me recommandaient de ne pas y mettre le nez. Si les cadavres se volatilisent, c'est parce qu'ils peuvent resservir. Et les filles ont parfois de curieuses ceintures de chasteté.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, British Literature, Novels, Mystery

248 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1947

About the author

René Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models.

In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall.

During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.

Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.

Reviews

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve Harmas,American newspaper correspondent arrives in London and goes to meet the girl he used to know.

But she,it seems has committed suicide.Soon her sister commits suicide as well.But is there more to it than meets the eye ?

An elderly woman gets killed and so does a private investigator. There is money,blackmail,murder and double cross in this solid mystery cum thriller.

The identity of the killer is a real surprise and is as skilfully plotted as in an Aghatha Christie whodunit.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in 1947 when Chase wrote this hardboiled thriller, the war had just ended and many protagonists in novels were returning war veterans, trying to make a life in the world they barely remembered. For the narrator of this novel, a reporter, who had spent several years as a war correspondent in London before the front moved on to France, he fondly remembers his war years in London. Back in the states, he remembers his long-lasting romance with a dancehall hostess and, when he wins it big at the track, he returns to London and seeks her out. But, alas, it turns out she had just committed suicide the day before, sticking her head in the oven with the windows all sealed and the gas full blast. The suicide doesn't make sense and we have a reporter investigating, sometimes alongside Scotland Yard, sometimes in spite of Scotland Yard and the story that follows is a terrific thriller of the kind one can expect from Chase. Between blonde bimbos and gangsters and thieves and muggers and the like, it is one great read that is hard to put down. This is a great read and makes one anxious to try another Hadley novel.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Harmas is an American newspaperman working in London. The suicide of a one-time girlfriend forces him to turn detective and discover the reason for her death.

With this story, James Hadley Chase was able to blend his manipulation of American hard-boiled detective dialog with a classical English mystery. It comes off quite effectively and smoothly. And the mystery is a good one, an intricate plot with many, many moving pieces. As is the case with JHC, he nonetheless keeps the plot working like clockwork, never turning it into a cloudy mess. He was excellent at that. The only drawback to the novel is the final unwind, which takes far too long to go through and where the banter, usually comic, verges on being irritating. Great ending image, however, with blonde bimbo surprising everyone.

[Chinmay Naik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good thriller again by James Hadley Chase. Considering it was his 2nd book only, it still does pretty well. You never know how the story is going to unfold and as always, JHC keeps you wanting for more.

[Srikanth R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical james hadley chase... Thriller pageturner

[Sahanaa Elangovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Criss-cross climax, gripping .

[Emmanuel Wallart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story in the postwar London. Chronologicaly the best Chase Novel since his first "No orchids for Miss Blandish".
To read absolutely.

[Kakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent, incredibly well-written crime fiction book that the author has published under one of his great writing pseudonyms, Raymond Marshall. In this story, for the first time, we meet the magnificent protagonist of several authors – with Steve Harmas, a correspondent for the New York military newspaper. He comes to London to see his girlfriend. The meeting did not take place – a tragedy happened, she committed suicide. But Steve knew her well, a bit too well to believe it. He begins to search for those who have been associated with her recently. He is determined to find out the truth about what really happened. To put it mildly, this is an interesting, excellent criminal fiction novel.

[Milind Keskar · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading so many thriller writers both vintage and modern I am yet to come across a writer like James Hadley Chase. His sparse style coupled with action of breathtaking speed has you franticaly turning pages to find out what happens next?

This was written just after Chase returned home after serving the RAF. A Terrific mystery but not in the tradition of the golden age mysteries. Expertly plotted it takes a few pages to get into its stride but when it does you just dont gonna let go of the book until you complete it.

Happy reading if you are planning to read it!

[Installshield Wizard · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best JHC stories. typical twisting detective. Features Steve Harmas but interestingly, here he is not an insurance investigator but rather a newspaper man visiting London. I guesa this is his first appearance.

[Joydeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just another JHC crime novel.

[Mustapha Aliyu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mm

[Fahad MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a benchmark for gripping crime thrillers. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book.
Crime Thriller fans must try this one.

[Morpheus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and,in the same time,intense adventure story with unexpected end.:)