Sexton Blake stories never disappoint and this one was a lot of fun.
The stories are well written, witty and highly entertaining.
Can't wait to read other stories, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I recognised the name Sexton Blake, although I had not read any of the books or seen the 1960s tv series, and so I took a chance and requested an ARC as I am a fan of late 19th/early 2oth century detective novels.

What I hadn't appreciated was that the Sexton Blake 'franchise' (for want of a better word) spanned 85 years, 4,000 stories and around 200 different authors (thank you Wikipedia). This book is a collection of three short stories featuring three of Sexton Blake's allies.

The first story, featuring James 'Granite' Grant involves a trip on the Orient Express, a cockney criminal, stolen jewels and a secret society. I quite enjoyed it, but I actually thought it would have been better as a full-length novel because it relied quite heavily on two different people having the same 'thing' in order to unravel the mystery. It also felt as though the story was over before it was begun, too much 'cor blimey guv' dialogue and desperate chases across Europe and not enough detection. I also found it telling that the editor felt it necessary to tell the reader that he had excised numerous repetitions of 'Sonny' from Granite Grant's dialogue.

I'm afraid I gave up on the second story as it featured a mysterious murder by what appears to be death driving a truck, and then inexplicably cut to a criminal being released from Sing-Sing after spending 7 years in jail for robbery. The difference between the two writing styles was too jarring and as an entry into Sexton Blake's world I found it all a bit bewildering.

Overall, this felt a bit like fan fiction, featuring minor characters, set the story in any place at any time, change up the writing style and just tag it 'Allies of Sexton Blake'. I would say this is aimed more at fans of Sexton Blake who want something more. I certainly didn't get any indication that Sexton Blake was as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes or as daring as James Bond in what I read, in fact he seemed incidental to the plots.

Lovely cover though.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Escapism Guaranteed.....
The third anthology in the Sexton Blake Library series and another group of entertaining, fun yarns featuring detective Sexton Blake. Clever dialogue, fast moving action and an utterly adventurous protagonist combine for some guaranteed escapism.

This is the third of five anthologies featuring Sexton Blake, the ace detective who appeared in more than 4,000 stories written by more than 200 authors over a span of more than 80 years. Three tales, each edited by Mark Hodder, in which Blake works alongside one of several associated; individuals who have come to be trusted “Allies”. Each story is preceded by a fictional interview of Blake by Hodder, in which they discuss the “Allies” characters and the original writers of the stories. Also, as these stories were written in times when norms were very different from today, these introductory interviews often put into context portions of the stories that might appear antiquated or even “politically incorrect”.

The Case of the Seventh Key by W. W. Sayer (1925)

Blake receives a commission to track down a pickpocket and is soon boarding the Orient Express in a chase across Europe. A fun and very fast paced story. When Blake comes up against a gang of jewel thieves he’s the one who, uncharacteristically, needs rescuing, and the King’s Spy, James “Granite” Grant, steps in to save the day.

Ghost Mobile by Gwyn Evans (1931)

A ghostly lorry and its skeleton driver are reputed to be responsible for innumerable deaths along a dark stretch of road in the Chiltern Hills. Blake, along with American sleuth/gunman Ruff Hanson, and journalist Splash Page investigate a complex web of revenge and cold-blooded murder.

The Mystery of Walla-Walla by G. H. Teed (1913)

When landowner Edward Jameson cheats John Treherne out of his homestead, Yvonne Cartier uses some irregular means to alter the situation. In the past Sexton Blake and Yvonne have been on opposite sides of the law. Now they find they must work together against the scheming Jameson, and save Blake’s friend Tinker while they’re at it.

I remember watching one or two of the Sexton Blake movies in my time. And while I knew that there were hundreds of stories written around the character, I’d never come across any to actually read. The stories here are short, light-weight, quick reads. The introductions add perspective, making the read all the more enjoyable. To be kept in mind is that while Sexton Blake may be a detective, with all of the chases, gun battles, fistfights, and sheep rustling, the stories depend more on action than deductive reasoning. But that’s ok, because it was great fun, very entertaining and a wonderful diversion.

Source – Review Copy – Rebellion Publishing via NetGalley

Adventure and the British sense of justice hold sway in this anthology starring the long running detective/agent of justice Sexton Blake who was written by a multitude of authors from 1893 - 1978/9. The three stories in the anthology spanning from 1913 – 1931 share the theme of Sexton Blake’s allies who reoccur in a number of stories of which these are some. The introduction by Mark Hodder puts the stories in prospective of the time but also point out some of the unusual qualities of these characters, especially Mademoiselle Yvonne who was a woman ahead of her time and was both a foe and friend.
I had never read any of Sexton Blake’s adventures before and had no idea that he had been around for so long or had so many stories, movies and even a cartoon strip starring him. In these stories he seems a bit like the Saint, but not as violent. These are rollicking tales that have a nostalgic attraction to them. At times a bit dated but others tales weather time well and are a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for an advance copy of Sexton Blake’s Allies, the third anthology of Sexton Blake stories edited by Mark Hodder.

Another three adventures featuring our intrepid hero. In The Case of the Seventh Key (written by W. W. Sayer, published in 1925) Sexton Blake teams up with British spy, “Granite” Grant in a chase across Europe to save some Crown Jewels. In Ghost Mobile (written by Gwyn Evans, published in 1931) he teams up with reporter “Splash” Page and American PI Ruff Hanson to investigate an apparently ghostly lorry. In The Mystery of Walla-Walla (written by G. H. Teed, published in 1913) he teams up with Yvonne Cartier to resolve a bush feud.

I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology which has three very different stories but which are all equally entertaining in their own way. The Seventh Key is a straightforward chase novel with Blake chasing across Europe to save the day and the bad guys chasing him. It ends rather quickly but it’s a fun example of British resourcefulness and smart thinking. Ghost Machine is an extremely high tech affair that wouldn’t look out of place in today’s world mixed in with American gangsters. This is by far the most ingenious of the stories, not just in the tech but in the way it comes together. The Mystery of Walla-Walla is the longest of the three and my least favourite. It’s more serious in its approach and more easily guessable as much of it is laid out at the beginning.

These are fun reads, intended for entertainment and they do it admirably. To a certain extent they have the stiltedness and attitudes of their era but if the reader accepts that they are ripping yarns, full of adventure, derring-do and a very British sense of justice and fairness. I like that each story is prefaced by a conversation between Sexton Blake and the editor to put it in context.

Sexton Bake’s Allies is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.