At some late night Bouchercon party standing around talking
books with Hal Rice, I made a statement complimentary of the
mysteries published in the Ace Double line. Hal puffed on his
unfiltered cigarette and disagreed. "The art, yes, but most
of their originals weren't very good. There was so much
better out there." Hal was a pharmacist who had book racks
back when that was where the paperbacks were sold. He was
also a fan and grabbed copies of the paperbacks and magazines
he liked for his personal collection. I didn't say so then,
but Hal, wherever you are my friend, you were right. Putting
aside romanticism. most of the Ace Double originals were bad
to mediocre. Not all, just most.
As Hal elaborated to me that night, the average wasn't
even close to Gold Medal or the other major lines, Signet and
Avon. Alas, he was right.
But one of the regulars of Ace books in several genres was
Louis Trimble and today I celebrate his TILL DEATH DO US PART
(Ace 367 1959). I've always considered Trimble more of a
western writer but he wrote a considerable amount of mystery
fiction and by the time of this novel, he was a veteran of at
least 15 years in the field.
Now I will confess that although I have several other Trimble
mysteries, this is the first I've read. It won't be the last.
TIL DEATH is a hardboiled mystery that begins in Mexico City
and then moves for most of the action to a border area with
characters crossing several times during the course of the
novel. The first person viewpoint is an American private eye
Tom Blane who operates an agency in Mexico City.
The novel opens with Blane hard up as his Mexican partner has
left Blane high and dry as he bilked some clients and left
Blane to face the music. Blane is hired by a business woman
from a border city who wants him to investigate his former
partner. So here was a client willing to hire him to do what
he wanted to do more than anything. He takes the job, goes to
the border city and soon finds his ex-partner very dead and
himself very likely to be accused of the murder.
The writing is very hardboiled and the characters are
well-drawn, although I think the number could have been
trimmed. Among my favorites is the Mexican restaurant owner
who also happens to own or control much on his side of the
border. There is also a gay radio announcer who sends secret
messages during his broadcast and is somehow tied into a
blackmail scheme.
During the course of my career I have spent a fair amount of
time in Mexico, working for and with Mexicans, and Trimble is
spot on. He knew Mexico. This wasn't a case of a writer with
a guidebook and an issue of National Geographic. There are
subtle bits and pieces here that demonstrate that to me.
Mexican attitudes and sensitivities are very
well-captured.
The action is constantly moving and the murders are gory,
often with torture.
Trimble is a good writer and now and then a
phrase stands out. Towards the end when a feeling of multiple
betrayals sinks into Blane, he thinks:
"If I'd had enough energy, I'd have kicked myself.
"I could smell everything I'd stepped into, fallen into, and
got my hands into. After a while I was almost ready to turn
myself in if the cops would guarantee me a hot bath."
This isn't a great, four star PI novel. But it is above
average for any publisher, which may make it one of the best
in the Ace Double line. It is certainly good enough in
concept and execution to make me read more by Louis
Trimble.
Richard A. Moore
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