TO THE DEVIL-A DAUGHTER
Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2011 12:35:46
Strictly speaking, this should be in a section of its own, but I'm not certain how to introduce a new TTDAD section, so this will have to do for now.
Given that it is a title known even to those who have never read DW, it's a little strange that I've not read this until now. I'm rather glad I did wait, as this book has been both a surprise and a genuine pleasure. Starting off in sunny Riviera, we are introduced to Molly Fountain; an ex-member of the WWII security services, she writes popular (but not best-selling) thrillers, is a widower, has a grown-up son, and is generally one of DW's oddest heroes . Well into middle age, she is of course terribly attractive because of her fine bone structure. However, she is also rather eccentric, with a fine collection of lethal weapons such as guns, hand grenades and knuckle dusters which are apparently kept for research purposes.
Although she is trying desperately to finish writing her current thriller, she is distracted by glimpses of her neighbour, a rather reclusive young woman who doesn't go out or have any visitors. She soon manages to meet her, and discovers that the girl is one Ellen Beddows, the fairly posh daughter of a self-made industrialist. Attractive, but rather refreshingly not a raving beauty, she has been sent to the South of France by her father to protect her from some unspecified danger. Sensing trouble, Molly asks her visiting son John to help look after Ellen. John, who is perhaps the only Interior Decorator ever to become the hero of a thriller, is a rather lovably hapless good guy, and only makes the reader want to hit him whenever he refers to his mother as 'Mumsie'. Rather against his wishes, he finds himself falling for the mystery girl, who turns into a rather wild sort after dark. The young girl is drinking too heavily, gambling recklessly and is generally a bit of a goer, and Molly realises that in the hours of darkness Ellen is possessed by the Devil (or else is a 21st century teenager; it's hard to tell the difference). Clearly it's time to call the professionals in, and she contacts William Verney aka Conky Bill, an intelligence officer who has made a special study of Satanists (as you do). At this point the novel really moves up a gear, and our heroes find themselves trying to protect Ellen from being kidnapped by the baddies for transportation back to England in time for her 21st birthday. More than half of the book is taken up by this, and apart from the clever little satanic split personality idea the novel comes across a pretty straight thriller.
The satanic shenanigans only begin once the John and CB head for England to try to stem the evil at its source. CB meets the vile ex-Canon Copley Syle, who in one of the best scenes in the book shows the horrified secret agent his fine collection of homunculi whilst explaining why Ellen must be sacrified on a satanic altar. He also starts talking about his poor old friend Mocata, telling us the official verdict on his death and only incidentally tying up this book, the Sallusts and the Duc de Richleau together. The rest of the story is no let down, and in a breathless 130 odd pages we find our heroes investigating a spooky deserted house, coming up against dark forces in Syle's underground altar room, and gathering back in France for a showdown with the satanists. This showdown will please all of those who don't like deux ex machina endings, with lords of light muscling in to end the fray. This is a no holds barred affair, with guns, knives, brass knuckles, explosives and monsters.Why they didn't do this for the Hammer film is beyond understanding.
The character work is rather well done in this book. None of the heroes are supermen (or women), and John in particular spends a lot of the book absolutely terrified and only able to go on because of his love for Ellen and his fear of losing face in front of CB. Even the seeming villains are not all thorough black hats, with Ellen's father coming across as a believably three dimensional character. Although he only appears twice, Syle is a memorable villain. Nothing at all like Christopher Lee, he is small and plump, with a pot belly, long silver hair and a baby face. He calmly talks about sacrificing children, but gets into a fine old tantrum when things go against him, and is a fascinating mixture of the comical and the disgustingly depraved.
DW is not always noted for his humour, but this has some genuinely witty lines; for instance, when describing Molly's servants "They had their faults, but would allow no-one to cheat her except themselves, and that only in moderation". The book is also refreshingly clear of any info dumps, and even the occasional pops at Communism and the Atlee government are kept in their place. And on top of all this, it even has the obligatory bit of embarassing dialogue after John has clonked Syle's Egyptian servant on the head with a piece of metal: From CB "Don't worry. These Arab types have heads like cannon balls".
And if you are planning to go against the forces of darkness, always remember CB's advice, and put on clean underwear!
Given that it is a title known even to those who have never read DW, it's a little strange that I've not read this until now. I'm rather glad I did wait, as this book has been both a surprise and a genuine pleasure. Starting off in sunny Riviera, we are introduced to Molly Fountain; an ex-member of the WWII security services, she writes popular (but not best-selling) thrillers, is a widower, has a grown-up son, and is generally one of DW's oddest heroes . Well into middle age, she is of course terribly attractive because of her fine bone structure. However, she is also rather eccentric, with a fine collection of lethal weapons such as guns, hand grenades and knuckle dusters which are apparently kept for research purposes.
Although she is trying desperately to finish writing her current thriller, she is distracted by glimpses of her neighbour, a rather reclusive young woman who doesn't go out or have any visitors. She soon manages to meet her, and discovers that the girl is one Ellen Beddows, the fairly posh daughter of a self-made industrialist. Attractive, but rather refreshingly not a raving beauty, she has been sent to the South of France by her father to protect her from some unspecified danger. Sensing trouble, Molly asks her visiting son John to help look after Ellen. John, who is perhaps the only Interior Decorator ever to become the hero of a thriller, is a rather lovably hapless good guy, and only makes the reader want to hit him whenever he refers to his mother as 'Mumsie'. Rather against his wishes, he finds himself falling for the mystery girl, who turns into a rather wild sort after dark. The young girl is drinking too heavily, gambling recklessly and is generally a bit of a goer, and Molly realises that in the hours of darkness Ellen is possessed by the Devil (or else is a 21st century teenager; it's hard to tell the difference). Clearly it's time to call the professionals in, and she contacts William Verney aka Conky Bill, an intelligence officer who has made a special study of Satanists (as you do). At this point the novel really moves up a gear, and our heroes find themselves trying to protect Ellen from being kidnapped by the baddies for transportation back to England in time for her 21st birthday. More than half of the book is taken up by this, and apart from the clever little satanic split personality idea the novel comes across a pretty straight thriller.
The satanic shenanigans only begin once the John and CB head for England to try to stem the evil at its source. CB meets the vile ex-Canon Copley Syle, who in one of the best scenes in the book shows the horrified secret agent his fine collection of homunculi whilst explaining why Ellen must be sacrified on a satanic altar. He also starts talking about his poor old friend Mocata, telling us the official verdict on his death and only incidentally tying up this book, the Sallusts and the Duc de Richleau together. The rest of the story is no let down, and in a breathless 130 odd pages we find our heroes investigating a spooky deserted house, coming up against dark forces in Syle's underground altar room, and gathering back in France for a showdown with the satanists. This showdown will please all of those who don't like deux ex machina endings, with lords of light muscling in to end the fray. This is a no holds barred affair, with guns, knives, brass knuckles, explosives and monsters.Why they didn't do this for the Hammer film is beyond understanding.
The character work is rather well done in this book. None of the heroes are supermen (or women), and John in particular spends a lot of the book absolutely terrified and only able to go on because of his love for Ellen and his fear of losing face in front of CB. Even the seeming villains are not all thorough black hats, with Ellen's father coming across as a believably three dimensional character. Although he only appears twice, Syle is a memorable villain. Nothing at all like Christopher Lee, he is small and plump, with a pot belly, long silver hair and a baby face. He calmly talks about sacrificing children, but gets into a fine old tantrum when things go against him, and is a fascinating mixture of the comical and the disgustingly depraved.
DW is not always noted for his humour, but this has some genuinely witty lines; for instance, when describing Molly's servants "They had their faults, but would allow no-one to cheat her except themselves, and that only in moderation". The book is also refreshingly clear of any info dumps, and even the occasional pops at Communism and the Atlee government are kept in their place. And on top of all this, it even has the obligatory bit of embarassing dialogue after John has clonked Syle's Egyptian servant on the head with a piece of metal: From CB "Don't worry. These Arab types have heads like cannon balls".
And if you are planning to go against the forces of darkness, always remember CB's advice, and put on clean underwear!