My version: Paperback
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Classics
First published: 1939
ISBN: 978-0-141-19033-4
Pages: 226
Bought
From the cover:
English crime novelist Charles Latimer is travelling in Istanbul when he first hears of the mysterious Dimitrios – an infamous master criminal whose body has just been fished out of the Bospherous. Fascinated by the story, Latimer decides to retrace Dimitrios’ steps across Europe to gather material for a new book. But as he gradually discovers more about his subject’s shadowy history, fascination flips over into obsession and Latimer realises that his own life may be on the line.
So much for the man credited with inventing ‘the modern suspense novel.’ Really not very suspenseful. Or thrilling. Or overtly interesting. The only suspense was ‘can I even finish it?’ I never got a feeling that anyone was in danger, of losing their life or of any other kind. If ever there was an example of something not doing exactly what it says on the tin, it’s this one.
They even made a film of it! That must have been a real edge of your seat blockbuster.
I do seem to be almost alone in this feeling. As the various quotes on the cover, and mentions I’ve seen about it on, for instance, The Spybrary Facebook page. But I really did not get carried away, or moved, or shaken, or even slightly nudged by it.
The only feeling I got while trudging through, was of disappointment.
It was there and now it’s gone.
Oh well.
You can buy The Mask Of Dimitrios by Eric Ambler from Amazon
Couldn't I Just Tell You 