Blind Corner [Paperback]

I am a huge fan of DY and I have an almost full collection of his works, and I can never decide whether I prefer his humorous books with their crime-related sub-plots or his crime books with their humour.

Blind Corner is the cornerstone of my collection. The puzzle of the treasure in the well and the details of the castle are deeply exciting; his characters are realistic, being just as entertaining and annoying as real people; and the very fast and well-paced plot grips you by the throat and does not let go until the end. His style and manner are absolutely of the period, and do not lose from comparison with Buchan, but the plot is original and less convoluted than Buchan's plots.

His books would be perfect if it were not for his weakness for unrealistic romance and his intolerance - the major flaw. But Blind Corner is almost unmarred by this, so I've given it five stars - read on and enjoy.

A REVIEW OF 'BLIND CORNER' BY DORNFORD YATES

'Blind Corner', first published in 1927, is the first of five thrillers written by Dornford Yates and featuring his central character, William Chandos. Chandos has been grouped with John Buchan's Richard Hannay and Sapper's Bulldog Drummond to represent a trio of English inter-war fictional characters, collectively labelled as 'Clubland Heroes' owing to their wealthy lifestyle, typified by their membership of gentlemen's clubs in London.

Having read both Buchan's and Sapper's thrillers, it is questionable whether, on the basis of his first adventure, Yates's work serves to be seen as the equal of the other two of the trio. Indeed, despite flashes of brilliance, 'Blind Corner' leaves the reader with the distinct feeling that it is simply not as good as it might have been.

Certainly, the set-up of the novel is first-rate. Young Chandos witnesses a brutal murder and learns from the dying man's lips of the existence of a hoard of treasure in Austria. Joining together with a group of allies and a canine companion, Chandos crosses the channel in search of the treasure, going head-to-head with a gang of criminals (including Ellis the murderer) in pursuit of the prize.

As an opening, this is boys'-own-adventure at its best. However, the treasure-hunting scenario is stretched beyond a length that sustains the reader's attention and imagination. Why is this? Primarily because the 'race-against-time' element lacks any real consequences. Firstly, the treasure has been hidden for over a century in the alcove of a well and is not (Sapper-style) hanging by a thread, about to fall down a bottomless pit. Therefore, the sense of urgency is only due to the fact that the criminals might get to it first. This would generate real tension if the characterisation was deeper. However, the heroes seem rather under-developed and anaemic, with wealth being their motivation. Likewise, there is no explicit sense that the criminals would commit any atrocity with their booty. Compare this to the reader's rooting for Hannay as an innocent man on the run in 'The Thirty Nine Steps' and the sinister revolutionary plans of Carl Peterson in 'Bulldog Drummond'. Adding to the reader-apathy is the over-emphasis upon the logistics of the treasure's hiding place and the heroes' tunnelling, all of which is crying out for a helpful plan and diagram to place the descriptions in context.

This may seem like harsh criticism, but only because it is born from a sense of frustration. Elements of 'Blind Corner' work brilliantly. Not only is the opening top-notch, but the pitch-black fight between Chandos and the criminals brims with energy and flying tins, rivalling some of Hugh Drummond's best scraps. Similarly, the escape at the end is truly ingenious and provides a sharp, logical solution to an seemingly-inevitable fate, which paints a fascinating mental picture. Therefore, when 'Blind Corner' is good, it is very good. However, I cannot help wishing that the heroes had nabbed the treasure midway through, resulting in the second half being a chase across Europe, thus cranking up the pace and tension.

Nevertheless, despite its failings, 'Blind Corner' is an enjoyable thriller in its own right. As the first of a series, given its impressive finale, it provides an optimistic introduction to the remaining titles, leading me to hope that Buchan and Sapper genuinely had something to glance nervously over their shoulders for in the 1920s and 30s.

Barty's Score: 6.5/10

The best thing to do with this book is to take it at face value - a real "Ripping Yarn" that starts off explosively and keeps up the pace right to the end. Whilst it is difficult to like any of the characters there is still something gripping about a high speed chase across the Europe of the 1920s in a Rolls Royce and a frantic attempt to recover hidden treasure - this one makes you sit up in your chair. This for me is Yates's best book (maybe with Adele & Co) which avoids much of his sugary sentimentality or racial stereotyping. Definitely worth a read.