Читать книгу The Big Four: Crooks of Society - Edgar Wallace - Страница 4

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"The Big Four" is the big noise in the underworld of International Crookdom. You must know that there are in Europe four separate and distinct gangs of big men. They generally work independently of one another but, on occasions, they combine for their mutual benefit.

In this exciting book we have a detective perfectly and fashionably "turned out." His presence bears the hallmark of "good tone." In the opening pages we learn that he has just returned from New York where he had been pursuing his interesting and highly exciting calling. Along with his immaculate appearance and his good looks he is possessed of immense audacity, imperturbable coolness and cheek that are the usual stock-in- trade of the successful detective.

He is at once appointed by the dour Scotsman at the head of the Federated Assurances as a private detective attached to the Company.

There and then he plunges into a regular maëlstrom of adventures.

It is on the track of the notorious "Big Four" that Mr. Robert Brewer sets out.

His quest takes him to Monte Carlo in the winter, Ostend, Goodwood, Cowes in the summer, and country houses in the autumn: for these "Undesirables" follow the fashionable world just as the sharks follow the liner—and for very much the same reason.

The various characters that take part in the exciting and thrilling adventures through which Bob Brewer passes until he absolutely lands his fish into his net—a landing that is unique both in its conception and execution—are all clearly drawn and wonderfully interesting types; while some of the twists and turns that he employs are as clever as anything Mr. Edgar Wallace has ever invented.

Of Mr. Wallace we have already given biographical notes in each of the previous books published by us. But, at any rate, we may remind our readers that his knowledge of the underworld and the methods of Scotland Yard are extraordinary. There is no living writer so amazingly well-equipped in this respect.

Further, after serving as a soldier in the British army he became a well-known figure in Fleet Street, and his journalistic experiences, which were both "extensive and peculiar," have stood him in good stead—for he saw life from many angles: from the highest to the lowest grades of the social scale.

Of course, as is well known, his opinion on racing matters is paramount.

The Editor.