Sun 19 May 2013
Reviewed by William F. Deeck: ROBERT FINNEGAN – The Lying Ladies.
Posted by Steve under Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Characters , Reviews[12] Comments
William F. Deeck
ROBERT FINNEGAN – The Lying Ladies. Simon and Schuster, hardcover, 1946. Bantam #351, paperback, May 1948.
Ah, the investigative reporter, out to report news in the hinterland, discovers a case of justice likely to go wrong. In this novel, the first by Finnegan (pseudonym of Paul William Ryan) featuring Dan Banion, Banion reveals corruption in government and the press, gets beaten about a bit, and finds out who murdered the maid of the wealthy Hibleys.
You’ve read the same thing many times, but there’s nothing wrong with reading it again since Finnegan writes well and amusingly and creates some interesting characters. After you have read it, perhaps you can tell me why Finnegan used the pre-World War II time period in which to set the novel.
The Dan Banion series —
The Lying Ladies. Simon & Schuster, 1946.
The Bandaged Nude. Simon & Schuster, 1946.
Many a Monster. Simon & Schuster, 1948.
May 19th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Three mysteries by this author, all with the same character, and that was it. Bill made this one sound interesting, but what’s both discouraging and disappointing to me is that while I’ve had all three in paperback for what seems like forever (more like 40 years), I’ve never read one of the three.
May 20th, 2013 at 7:07 am
I know exactly what Steve is talking about. I’ve built up my book collection during the last 55 years with the intention of eventually reading everything. However, I am now 70 and it is obvious that I won’t reach my goal. I have a houseful of books and magazines, including thousands of dvds, not to mention the original artwork that I don’t have wall space to hang.
So am I am just another hoarder and maybe crazy? Many of my neighbors and non-collectors would say yes but I beg to disagree. As I’ve often said the book collecting addiction is one of least harmful of all the vices. It actually is probably *good* for your health and sanity.
And what’s the worse case scene? I end up with a big collection that’s worth a hell of alot of money and that has supplied me with 50 years of enjoyment.
I’d do it all over again even knowing that I have thousands of unread books. But I’ve also read thousands and have built my own personal library.
I’m still hunting for my wants and still reading through my to be read stacks. I’m ready for more books!
May 20th, 2013 at 9:23 am
We are members of the same club, Walker.
May 20th, 2013 at 9:26 am
To pose an answer to the question Bill asked in the last line of his review, given the year it was published (1946), I’d say that Finnegan wrote the book before the war but didn’t get it submitted and accepted until after it was over.
May 20th, 2013 at 9:47 am
I agree with Steve’s surmising about the setting for the book. I have THE BANDAGED NUDE (and maybe a copy of the Bantam paperback of The Lying Ladies — that cover looks very familiar) and will be reviewing it sometime this summer. A body is discovered in a garbage truck in that one.
May 20th, 2013 at 10:05 am
Don’t think me tasteless, Walker,but a collection of the size and quality of yours is an item of value that is likely to survive you .
Do you have a distinct plan for it ?
The Doc
May 20th, 2013 at 10:23 am
Finnegan’s crime novels seem to be collector’s items. They were recommended to me by friends. So I bought them. MANY A MONSTER is said to be one of the earliest novels with a serial killer. I have not yet read it.
Finnegan died in 1947 at the age of 41. Probably he would have written more crime novels if he had lived longer.
May 20th, 2013 at 10:49 am
Josef
I completely missed the year of Finnegan’s death. Passing away at the age of 41 is far too young.
May 20th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
The Doc in Comment #6 asks about my plans for the collection. There is an old saying that “you can’t take it with you”. I’ve been thinking about ways to take it with me.
I might build a gigantic tomb or vault and wall the collection in with me. I could have booby traps and curses to try and scare away thieves. Maybe some type of security system.
Or I might make plans for cremation, not only for me but for the collection also. I can just imagine the shocking headlines, “Crazy collector takes collection with him!”.
May 20th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Walker, Walker, redde mihi legiones meas !
Seriously, it is a life’s work (in time AND money) that surpasses ordinary collections, as far as I recollect (pun intended) your own statements thereto.
If you don’t intend your heirs to sell it, it could be some trust that would be there, a hundred years after you.
The Doc
May 20th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
I read The Bandaged Nude years ago and thought it was quite good. I also remember hearing that Finnegan was a political activist on the Left side of things. According to the Golden Gate Mysteries bibliographic website (http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/sfmystery/extras/biographies.html), my recollection was correct.
Real name: Paul William Ryan
Dates: 1906-August 14, 1947
Bay Area series character(s): Dan Banion (3 novels)
Note: Under another pseudonym, Mike Quin, he worked as a “rank-and-file” journalist, authored several Communist Party tracts, and documented the 1934 San Francisco General Strike (including The Big Strike (Olema Pub. Co., 1949), the definitive contemporary account). Ryan was a founding member of The Yanks Are Not Coming Committee, a group advocating for the United States to stay out of World War II. He was also a sailor, a Hollywood bookstore worker, a writer for the International Longshoreman’ and Warehouseman’s Union and the WPA Writers’ Project, Director of Public Relations, CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations), “CIO Reporter on the Air”, “Daily People’s World” columnist, National Maritime Union broadcast producer, and active in the Communist Party.
May 20th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Thanks for the research, Jim. Nicely done!