Quayle lived, mentally, as far ahead as possible, mainly because the people who were dependent upon him lived from moment to moment, sometimes dying even more suddenly than that.The sinister business of counter-espionage is played out by an array of magnificent characters. Quayle, spy master, is a blend of wisdom and administrative genius. He seemingly has the ability to live without sleep, wine or women; Shaun O'Mara, who loves all those things, looks like an actor and is an aristocrat, and works with subtlety, artistry and distinction; and there is Ricky Kerr, a cleverly drawn portrait of a man not quite able to stand the pace.The women, of course, dress superbly, move like angels, are as beautiful as diamonds and, with one notable exception, behave abominably.The Dark Street was originally published in 1944.'If there are better thrillers it is hardly possible to think of them while under the spell of this one' Times Literary Supplement'A...

A Secret Service thriller of double-cross and double double-cross! As exciting as only Cheyney can make it.The Second World War has just ended and the Secret Service discover that two lists of German war criminals have vanished. Peter Quayle is the head of the responsible department, and he is now tasked with the recovery of the lists. Instead of sharing the job with his usual agents he calls in a special group of people who operated behind enemy lines during the war.Quayle's second in command, Michael Frewin, appears too dapper to be an effective agent - but he is a cold blooded killer. Then there is Antoinette Brown, the 'Practical Virgin' - elegant, sexy, immune to men and a first-class brain. She recruits Aurora Francis and then the suave, debonair Anthony Keirnan - a former agent with hidden depths.Once the team is complete, the novel follows twist with turn, rocketing ever faster towards a final, shocking conclusion.Dark Wanton was originally...

For five years he had tortured, mutilated and put to death British secret agents. Now the war was over, only one execution remained - his.Shaun Aloysius O'Mara, intelligence agent for the British 'second bureau', has been ordered by his superiors to go to Paris to obtain information that will lead to the capture of the lone survivor of the Nazi espionage system.So when Shaun arrives in Paris he becomes a crude and shiftless drunkard and entangles himself with a clever and ruthless spy, Tanga de Sarieux, who is as brave as the men that surround her . . .Dark Interlude was originally published in 1947.'A Peter Cheyney novel always tingles with life' Daily Sketch

Nikolls held out two glasses.'Which is it goin' to be?' he said. 'Seltzer or the hair of the dog?'Callaghan took the whisky.Slim Callaghan, private detective, is drawn into a particularly dubious case - even for him. A Mrs Paula Denys says she paid a man to steal the priceless Denys Coronet from her husband's safe. Now the thief won't hand over the goods and is attempting to blackmail her.Callaghan solves the problem for his client but, too late, discovers the alluring Mrs Denys might be taking him for a ride. Callaghan is determined to get to the bottom of it all - but will curiosity kill the cat this time?They Never Say When was originally published in 1944.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times'A Peter Cheyney novel always tingles with life' Daily Sketch

"Don't worry . . . we're here. We're the British."Tough and hard as the Ozarks that bred him, Rene Berg fought his way up through the gangs of Chicago during the days of prohibition. Then, at the peak of his power and success, he was framed by a beautiful woman and forced to flee for his life.How this dashing, steel-nerved gunman turns up years later as the 'dark hero' of the Norwegian Underground makes a story that will hold you spellbound. Thrill piles upon thrill as Berg pits his skill and courage, learned in the school of Chicago gangdom, against the vicious efficiency of the German Gestapo. And then, once again, he runs afoul of the lovely woman who betrayed him.Dark Hero was originally published in 1946.'Our favourite author has done it again' The Queen'A first-rate thriller' The Sketch

To The Director,Bureau of Investigation,U.S. Department of Justice, Washington.Dear Sir-After a great deal of thought I have finally decided to write to you. This letter probably sounds mysterious, but at the moment, mystery is necessary.During the last two or three months I have, by accident, obtained knowledge of certain matters which, I believe, should properly be dealt with by your department. These criminal matters are of a federal nature. I do not wish to say anything more at this moment, because I hope that further disclosure by me may be unnecessary.I have every hope that I may be able to write you more fully during the next ten days, or it may be that during the period 1st to 9th of this month events will justify my calling you on the long distance and clearing up this matter.But should you not hear from me by the 9th of this month I think it is imperative that you send a reliable operative from your department to contact me...

All sorts and conditions of ladies and gentlemen found their way into the expensively furnished, well-appointed Ventura Club. You could get anything you liked there if you knew how to ask for it.Slim Callaghan is called to Devonshire to investigate a burglary at Margraud Manor, where valuable jewels - heirlooms of the Vendayne family insured for £100,000 - have disappeared.With his assistant, Windemere Nikolls, he discovers some startling facts - particularly about the lovely Esme Vendayne - and the mystery leads Callaghan to a shady London nightclub and a violent underworld.You Can't Keep The Change was originally published in 1940.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times

Operation 42-7-3-36.Special Agent Lemuel H. Caution will proceed to New York for the purpose of effecting under-cover contact with Federal Special Agent Myras Duncan, Chicago "G" Division, from whom further instructions will be obtained.Special Agent Caution will assume the identity of Perry Charles Rice, travelling bond salesman: home town Mason City, Iowa. Contact with Myras Duncan to be made casually at Moksie's Cafe, Waterfront, New York.Duncan will have assumed identity of Harvest V. Mellander, rich middle western manufacturer seeking good time in New York. He may be identified by top joint of little finger missing from right hand. Special Agent Caution will prove identity by razor cut scar running from lower wrist across left palm.Necessary funds available local "G" office. Take immediate action.Read, learn, destroy.Poison Ivy was originally published in 1937.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times

The British crime fiction writer Peter Cheyney is the creator of the American FBI agent Lemmy Caution and the English detective Slim Callaghan. These characters were constructed as a British response to the hardboiled detectives of American fiction. In later years Cheyney's style matured with the 'Dark' books, drawing wide praise during World War II for bringing more realism to espionage fiction. Although his works have suffered neglect in recent times, the fame of Cheyney's novels in the post-war period cannot be underestimated, having sold over 5 million copies. This eBook presents Cheyney's collected works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Cheyney's life and works* Concise introductions to the major texts* All 29 novels available in the US public domain, with individual contents tables* Features rare...

Callaghan was five feet ten and thin. He had sevenpence halfpenny and a heavy smoker's cough. His arms were a little too long for his height and his face was surprising.Slim Callaghan had been hired by beautiful Cynthis Meraulton to stop her cousins getting her step-father's money. But when the old man is murdered, the only suspect with no alibi and a giant motive is Cynthis.Slim always played his cases the way they came, but it turned out the Meraulton job had more twists than a hangman's rope.The Urgent Hangman was originally published in 1938.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times

'Some wise guy - Confucius or somebody - said there was nothin' like the truth, which is a thing that I believe in - sometimes. Anyhow, I am goin' to try this nothin' but the truth stuff on this dame I spoke to. What can I lose, anyway?'When Julia Wayles is kidnapped in the US and taken to England, FBI agent Lemmy Caution finds himself caught up in a tangled web of intrigue and international espionage. Julia is being held by two American mobsters, who may or may not be who they say they are. And as usual it's the dames in the story who distract Lemmy from business.Never a Dull Moment was originally published in 1942.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times

"Isn't life wonderful! Everybody else gets the fun and I carry the spades and quicklime."Quayle is the master of a British spy ring in World War II. He is unprepared to deal with tough guy Foden, a man newly arrived in London from Morocco armed with information about German troop movements. This intelligence could change the course of the war - but is Foden the patriot he seems, or something else entirely?Quayle leads his agents through the twists and turns of the murky 'need-to-know' espionage world, one recognizable to readers of John Le Carré and Len Deighton. It is a world populated by those prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause of war.The Stars are Dark was originally published in 1943.'A Peter Cheyney novel always tingles with life' Daily Sketch

Peter Cheyney is perhaps best known for his short stories and novels about agent/detective Lemmy Caution. Caution was first portrayed as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, and in later stories as a private detective.Another popular creation was the private detective Slim Callaghan who also appeared in a series of novels and subsequent film adaptations. He was constructed as a British response to the more hardboiled detectives of American fiction such as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe.A meticulous researcher, Cheyney kept a massive set of files on criminal activity in London, but these were destroyed during the Blitz in 1941; he however, soon began to replace his collection of clippings. He dictated his work. Typically he would "act out" his stories for his secretary, Miss Sprauge, who would copy them down in shorthand and type them up later...Contents:Lemmy Caution BooksThis Man Is DangerousPoison IvyDames Don't CareCan Ladies Kill?Don't Get Me...

Some mug by the name of Confucius - who was a guy who was supposed to know his vegetables - once issued an edict that any time he saw a sap sittin' around bein' impervious to the weather an' anything else that was goin', an' lookin' like he had been hit in the kisser with a flat-iron, the said sap was suffering from woman trouble.I reckon Confucius musta been thinkin' of me.In his seventh adventure 'G' man Lemmy Caution is sent to investigate the murder of a female agent and the disappearance of a prominent scientist. His search leads Lemmy to notorious gangster Enrico Pranzetti, and straight into a trap . . .Your Deal, My Lovely was originally published in 1941.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times

If you have nerve enough to kill someone, you have nerve enough for anything.Three dazzling sisters are suspects in the murder of their own mother. If only Viola could have predicted the potential danger when she drafted the will - which prevented any of her daughters being married strictly for her fortune.But no case is too intriguing for shrewd detective Slim Callaghan, who stirs up seemingly calm waters in the tiny village of Alfriston, leaving chaos in his wake and a stunningly solved puzzle at the adventure's thrilling close. One of the author's finest stories of mystery and detection.Uneasy Terms was originally published in 1946.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times'A Peter Cheyney novel always tingles with life' Daily Sketch