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Shell Scott #10
Pattern for Panic
LA PI Shell Scott is summoned to Mexico by his old friend Amador Montalba. The much younger wife of prominent anti-Communist General Lopez is being blackmailed. Dr Jerrold Buffington, working on disease vaccines, is joined by lovely daughter Susan "Buff", and their beautiful friend Monique Durand. Shell always has time for senoritas.
- GenresMystery
Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Richard S. Prather
91 books42 followersRichard Scott Prather was an American mystery novelist, best known for creating the "Shell Scott" series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms David Knight and Douglas Ring.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
Prather was born in Santa Ana, California. He served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1945 year he married Tina Hager and began working as a civilian chief clerk of surplus property at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California. He left that job to become a full-time writer in 1949. The first Shell Scott mystery, 'Case of the Vanishing Beauty' was published in 1950. It would be the start of a long series that numbered more than three dozen titles featuring the Shell Scott character.
Prather had a disagreement with his publisher in the 1970s and sued them in 1975. He gave up writing for several years and grew avocados. However in 1986 he returned with 'The Amber Effect'. Prather's final book, 'Shellshock', was published in hardcover in 1987 by Tor Books.
At the time of his death in 2007, he had completed his final Shell Scott Mystery novel, 'The Death Gods'. It was published October 2011 by Pendleton Artists.
Prather served twice on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. Additionally Prather received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2023
Like Darling, It’s Death, Pattern for Panic takes place entirely in Mexico and involves espionage against the Communist menace. The title seems to follow a similar pattern though to Pattern for Murder, the original title for Scrambled Yeggs.
Los Angeles private eye Shell Scott is invited down to Mexico to handle a special case for a general’s wife when evidence of her extracurricular activities surfaces in the form of an explicit film.
Scott has to get ahold of it behind it’s brought to the general’s attention. Meanwhile, Scott has to figure out how to get his way out of a Mexican jail he somehow found his way into.
All of this though is but a lead-in to the real battle against the many tentacles of a vast Communist conspiracy threatening to take over Mexico. Although this may seem dated now, at the time, the fear was quite genuine as secrets were shared and dominoes fell.
Though the concept of Scott operating as a private eye in a country where he barely could speak the language seemed fanciful, Scott as a determined agent of the Western way of life works quite well.
Los Angeles private eye Shell Scott is invited down to Mexico to handle a special case for a general’s wife when evidence of her extracurricular activities surfaces in the form of an explicit film.
Scott has to get ahold of it behind it’s brought to the general’s attention. Meanwhile, Scott has to figure out how to get his way out of a Mexican jail he somehow found his way into.
All of this though is but a lead-in to the real battle against the many tentacles of a vast Communist conspiracy threatening to take over Mexico. Although this may seem dated now, at the time, the fear was quite genuine as secrets were shared and dominoes fell.
Though the concept of Scott operating as a private eye in a country where he barely could speak the language seemed fanciful, Scott as a determined agent of the Western way of life works quite well.
October 13, 2020
Pattern for Panic is a great Shell Scott novel expanded from a story that originally appeared in Manhunt in January 1954. Apparently Gold Medal balked at publishing this at first. Probably because of the violence, especially against women. So Prather shopped it around and got it published in hardback by Abelard-Schuman. Of course, not as a Shell Scott novel—his contract with Gold Medal wouldn't allow it, even if they passed on it. The book went through at least two editions in paperback at Berkley before finally being picked up seven years later in it's original form by Gold Medal. Despite the previous editions, it still went through four more editions.
Of all the Shell Scott novels I've read this is the closest to Mickey Spillane that Prather ever got. He's fighting Commie bastards and doesn't hesitate to shoot beautiful women with whom he's slept if they eventually turn out to be evil.
Of all the Shell Scott novels I've read this is the closest to Mickey Spillane that Prather ever got. He's fighting Commie bastards and doesn't hesitate to shoot beautiful women with whom he's slept if they eventually turn out to be evil.
October 22, 2016
Apparently this book by Prather was originally written with a different character and using another name as author. Later to be re-written to fit the Shell Scott series. This is definitely a different book for the character Scott. More involed and more political. Also no mention of some typical side characters that are not to be found. This story takes place entirely in Mexico and is a fight against Communism.
The story is certainly a solid one with political sludge everywhere fort Scott to try and fight through. The Maguffin being a chemical that annihilate the sentient population sounds like a plan Stalin would have loved. The Stalinist mentality is a part of the book that would be lost on today's American population, who really don't understand they've already adopted a lot of the tenants of Communism. The effort is a large scale model I see in my work in politics all of the time. If only the population realized how much it is manipulated. Reading this book might waken some snoozing Americans.
As usual the characters are well formed, making the books far easier to follow. As always, sex is a part and all tags to the storyline. I have to admire Prather's ability to tie the two in and usually for different reasons. The scenery is well described also as usual. In particular the Reforma road is nearly a character in the book.
My complaint would be that, unlike the other Shell books, this one had a very obvious bad guy and little in the way of twists.
I've yet to compliment the wonderful cover art for this and all of the Scott paperbacks and re-prints. A job that no longer exists.
Bottom line: I recommend this book: 8 out of ten points.
The story is certainly a solid one with political sludge everywhere fort Scott to try and fight through. The Maguffin being a chemical that annihilate the sentient population sounds like a plan Stalin would have loved. The Stalinist mentality is a part of the book that would be lost on today's American population, who really don't understand they've already adopted a lot of the tenants of Communism. The effort is a large scale model I see in my work in politics all of the time. If only the population realized how much it is manipulated. Reading this book might waken some snoozing Americans.
As usual the characters are well formed, making the books far easier to follow. As always, sex is a part and all tags to the storyline. I have to admire Prather's ability to tie the two in and usually for different reasons. The scenery is well described also as usual. In particular the Reforma road is nearly a character in the book.
My complaint would be that, unlike the other Shell books, this one had a very obvious bad guy and little in the way of twists.
I've yet to compliment the wonderful cover art for this and all of the Scott paperbacks and re-prints. A job that no longer exists.
Bottom line: I recommend this book: 8 out of ten points.
August 17, 2025
Původně jsem to neměl v plánu, ale po Le Carrém jsem se rozhodl, že se musím odreagovat něčím krátkým a zábavným. Čili dalším Pratherem. Ale tentokrát to bylo něco přece jenom trochu jiného a temnějšího, protože se Shell Scott vydává do Mexika, aby bojoval proti něčemu, co je mnohem horší než drogové gangy – proti komunistům. Tedy, zpočátku to ani neví, ale jak dojde k únosu geniálního vědce a na scénu přijdou vyděrači, kteří tlačí ke zdi promiskuitní manželku místního velkého šéfa (velkého bojovníka proti komunismu), navíc jak skoro okamžitě po příjezdu skončí v mexickém vězení… prostě, brzo mu začne být jasné, že za tím stojí něco víc než jen zkorumpovaná místní policie.
Knížka začíná klasicky Pratherovsky lehce (Scott se musí nenápadně dostat do místního bordelu, aby tam překazil promítání porno filmů pro místní smetánku), ale postupně přitvrzuje, takže Shell Scott nejen zabijí, ale i vyhrožuje mučením a sám je dost brutálně mučený. Ve finále dojde i na krvavý souboj na život a na smrt. Protože, když do hry vstoupí komunisti, končí veškerá legrace.
A navíc… tahle knížka nebyla původně psaná pro Shella Scotta, vyšla nejdřív pod jiným jménem a s jiným hrdinou, a teprve časem byla upravená a zařazená do autorovy hlavní série. Tím se dost vysvětlují chvíle, když se hrdina chová spíš jako Mike Hammer než Shell Scott… byť jako civilizovanější Mike Hammer, očkovaný proti vzteklině a se schopností ironie a nadhledu.
Jasně, jsou z toho cítit padesátá léta, a je hodně vidět, že se autor inspiroval bondovkami (včetně zvráceného padouchy s bizarními způsoby vraždění) – ale fór je, že i s tou vší paranoiou byl Prather mnohem blíž pravdě ohledně podstaty Sovětského svazu, než většina uměleckých amerických autorů té i pozdější doby.
Knížka začíná klasicky Pratherovsky lehce (Scott se musí nenápadně dostat do místního bordelu, aby tam překazil promítání porno filmů pro místní smetánku), ale postupně přitvrzuje, takže Shell Scott nejen zabijí, ale i vyhrožuje mučením a sám je dost brutálně mučený. Ve finále dojde i na krvavý souboj na život a na smrt. Protože, když do hry vstoupí komunisti, končí veškerá legrace.
A navíc… tahle knížka nebyla původně psaná pro Shella Scotta, vyšla nejdřív pod jiným jménem a s jiným hrdinou, a teprve časem byla upravená a zařazená do autorovy hlavní série. Tím se dost vysvětlují chvíle, když se hrdina chová spíš jako Mike Hammer než Shell Scott… byť jako civilizovanější Mike Hammer, očkovaný proti vzteklině a se schopností ironie a nadhledu.
Jasně, jsou z toho cítit padesátá léta, a je hodně vidět, že se autor inspiroval bondovkami (včetně zvráceného padouchy s bizarními způsoby vraždění) – ale fór je, že i s tou vší paranoiou byl Prather mnohem blíž pravdě ohledně podstaty Sovětského svazu, než většina uměleckých amerických autorů té i pozdější doby.
November 23, 2008
This novel seems to be very much of it's time. 1955. The era of McCarthyism, when Communists were the boogymen hiding under every tree. I was much to young at the time to remember it all.
Since this novel was originally a Shell Scott story(I haven't read the restored version published later), the anti-Communist vitriol spewed out at every opportunity stuck out and didn't seem to fit Shell's personality from the admittedly later books in the series I read( a late comer to the character, only reading about the last fifteen or so, but starting to catch up). I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much.
Since this novel was originally a Shell Scott story(I haven't read the restored version published later), the anti-Communist vitriol spewed out at every opportunity stuck out and didn't seem to fit Shell's personality from the admittedly later books in the series I read( a late comer to the character, only reading about the last fifteen or so, but starting to catch up). I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much.
August 2, 2016
Pretty good 50s PI novel. NB my copy so old the PI is named Cliff Morgan.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews