Cover of Never-Fail Blake

Never-Fail Blake

  • Free to read
  • 3 hours to read
  • 20 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Never-Fail Blake" by Arthur Stringer is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around James Blake, a seasoned Second Deputy Commissioner known for his dogged determination and instinctual abilities as a detective, as he navigates the murky waters of crime and deception in pursuit of a notorious conman named Connie Binhart. The narrative explores themes of law, morality, and the complexities of human relationships in the backdrop of a criminal world. The opening of the novel introduces Blake and a pivotal female character, Elsie Verriner, who presents a blend of beauty and danger, as they engage in a cat-and-mouse dialogue in his office. Blake reflects on their tumultuous past encounters and her previous involvement in criminal activities, revealing the tension and unresolved feelings between them. As their conversation unfolds, Blake confronts the reality of his investigation into Binhart's whereabouts, and when Elsie reluctantly offers information, it sets the stage for the complicated interplay of personal and professional motives. The narrative establishes Blake as a reluctant yet undeniable romantic figure, while also hinting at the challenges and betrayals he may face as he seeks to uphold the law.

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  • Detective and mystery stories
  • Canadian fiction

Read the opening

Chapter I

Blake, the Second Deputy, raised his gloomy hound's eyes as the door opened and a woman stepped in. Then he dropped them again.

"Hello, Elsie!" he said, without looking at her.

The woman stood a moment staring at him. Then she advanced thoughtfully toward his table desk.

"Hello, Jim!" she answered, as she sank into the empty chair at the desk end. The rustling of silk suddenly ceased. An aphrodisiac odor of ambergris crept through the Deputy-Commissioner's office.

The woman looped up her veil, festooning it about the undulatory roll of her hat brim. Blake continued his solemnly preoccupied study of the desk top.

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Contents

  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter IV
  5. Chapter VI
  6. Chapter VII
  7. Chapter VIII
  8. Chapter IX
  9. Chapter X
  10. Chapter XI
  11. Chapter XII
  12. Chapter XIII
  13. Chapter XIV
  14. Chapter XV
  15. Chapter XVI
  16. Chapter XVII
  17. Chapter XVIII
  18. Chapter XIX
  19. Chapter XX
  20. Chapter XXI

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About this edition

This free edition of Never-Fail Blake by Arthur Stringer comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #18671, released 2006-06-23. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery, Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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