Robert Martin was one of the many pseudonyms of the prolific Reginald Alec Martin. The main series he wrote under that name concerned a young London boy called Joey. I have always felt that the first book, Joey of Jasmine Street, had similarities to the old Ealing films such as “Hue and Cry” or “Passport to Pimlico”. Joey is growing up quickly in his working class neighbourhood and is reaching the point when he will have to decide whether to follow the example of his hard-working, honest but poor parents, or be tempted into the criminal gangs he sees around him. In those gangs there were young men, only teenagers, who could dress flashily, own wristwatches, drive cars, and have money in their wallets. Thankfully he sees the truth in time. Those young men were scared most of the time, scared of arrest and prison, and scared of the their gang bosses - it was, after all, the time of the Kray twins and 'Mad' Frankie Fraser in London. The whole is a bit of a morality play with added adventure. Sadly, in the later stories, Martin's ability to write quickly and often repetitively took over and the series became rather routine stories of boy detectives overcoming inept criminals.
All the books were published by Thomas Nelson and illustrated by T.R. Freeman. While most seem to have been reprinted several times by Nelson, the dates of publication are not certain. None is particularly expensive to buy, however, it is difficult to decide which is a first edition and which a reprint.
Joey of Jasmine Street (1954) – [The first book in the series. Joey and his friends help the police investigate a local gang of thieves]
Joey and the Mail Robbers (1954) – [Joey is kidnapped by mail robbers]
Joey and the River Pirates (1954) – filmed by the Children's Film Foundation under the title Raiders of the River [Joey and his pals are on the trail of bank robbers who use a Thames river launch as their headquarters]
Joey and the Blackbird Gang (1956) – [Joey and his pals help track down a criminal gang operating around Covent Garden)
Joey and the Helicopter (1956) – [Apart from including a helicopter ride and criminals the plot is not very clear]
Joey and the Magic Eye (1956) – [Joey is given a camera and unfortunately takes photographs of someone known to the police]
Joey and the City Ghosts (1957) – [Joey and his friend Nutty explore the crypt of an old church. After Nutty is trapped by a roof fall, Joey hears strange noises coming from underground]
Joey and the Royalist Treasure (1957) – [Joey and Ben are searching for treasure in the Kent marshes when they find they are not the only treasure seekers]
Joey and the Square of Gold (1957) – [Joey and his pals go on the trail of thieves who have stolen a rare postage stamp]
Joey and the Squib (1957) – [The Squib is Joey's new dog. Other than that the plot is unclear]
Joey and the Magic Pony (1958) – [Joey is invited to spend a holiday on a farm in Somerset and meets a pony and – oh, no! - a girl]
Joey and the Smugglers' Legend (1958) – [Joey and Clapper are invited to stay in a seaside village. When Mosh, a London villain, buys an old cottage in the village the boys become suspicious]
Joey: Soap Box Driver (1958) – [Joey is persuaded to take part in a soap box derby]
Joey and the Secret Engine (1960) – [Joey and Clapper become involved in secret plans to build a new racing car engine]
Joey and the Master Plan (1961) – [Joey and Clapper investigate a gang of car thieves]
Joey and the Detectives (1963) – [Joey believes his father has been tempted into crime. He and his friends investigate and discover a surprising revelation]
Joey and the Magician (1963) – [Polonius Sefton, magician extraordinaire, persuades Joey and Clapper to take part in his Vanishing Boy act. What could possibly go wrong?]
Joey and the Pickpocket (1964) – [An adventure in the Hatton Garden diamond district]
Joey and the Train Robbers (1965) – book not illustrated, dustjacket appears to be by T. R. Freeman [Joey and his friends go off to the countryside and come across a gang of train robbers]
All the books were published by Thomas Nelson and illustrated by T.R. Freeman. While most seem to have been reprinted several times by Nelson, the dates of publication are not certain. None is particularly expensive to buy, however, it is difficult to decide which is a first edition and which a reprint.
Joey of Jasmine Street (1954) – [The first book in the series. Joey and his friends help the police investigate a local gang of thieves]
Joey and the Mail Robbers (1954) – [Joey is kidnapped by mail robbers]
Joey and the River Pirates (1954) – filmed by the Children's Film Foundation under the title Raiders of the River [Joey and his pals are on the trail of bank robbers who use a Thames river launch as their headquarters]
Joey and the Blackbird Gang (1956) – [Joey and his pals help track down a criminal gang operating around Covent Garden)
Joey and the Helicopter (1956) – [Apart from including a helicopter ride and criminals the plot is not very clear]
Joey and the Magic Eye (1956) – [Joey is given a camera and unfortunately takes photographs of someone known to the police]
Joey and the City Ghosts (1957) – [Joey and his friend Nutty explore the crypt of an old church. After Nutty is trapped by a roof fall, Joey hears strange noises coming from underground]
Joey and the Royalist Treasure (1957) – [Joey and Ben are searching for treasure in the Kent marshes when they find they are not the only treasure seekers]
Joey and the Square of Gold (1957) – [Joey and his pals go on the trail of thieves who have stolen a rare postage stamp]
Joey and the Squib (1957) – [The Squib is Joey's new dog. Other than that the plot is unclear]
Joey and the Magic Pony (1958) – [Joey is invited to spend a holiday on a farm in Somerset and meets a pony and – oh, no! - a girl]
Joey and the Smugglers' Legend (1958) – [Joey and Clapper are invited to stay in a seaside village. When Mosh, a London villain, buys an old cottage in the village the boys become suspicious]
Joey: Soap Box Driver (1958) – [Joey is persuaded to take part in a soap box derby]
Joey and the Secret Engine (1960) – [Joey and Clapper become involved in secret plans to build a new racing car engine]
Joey and the Master Plan (1961) – [Joey and Clapper investigate a gang of car thieves]
Joey and the Detectives (1963) – [Joey believes his father has been tempted into crime. He and his friends investigate and discover a surprising revelation]
Joey and the Magician (1963) – [Polonius Sefton, magician extraordinaire, persuades Joey and Clapper to take part in his Vanishing Boy act. What could possibly go wrong?]
Joey and the Pickpocket (1964) – [An adventure in the Hatton Garden diamond district]
Joey and the Train Robbers (1965) – book not illustrated, dustjacket appears to be by T. R. Freeman [Joey and his friends go off to the countryside and come across a gang of train robbers]
All information is taken from the www.reginaldalecmartin.co.uk website.