Hang the Little Man

 Hang the Little Man (1963) by John Creasey

London has fallen under a siege of small shop robberies. A bit nasty, distressing to the victims--but rarely violent. Then came the robbery at the Stones' shop. Mabel Stone, a young wife who has just recently discovered she is pregnant, is minding the store alone. She's gone into the back rooms of the shop when she hears someone rifling around the counter. She surprises a man going through the till and he attacks her with heavy tins of food. Unfortunately, she doesn't survive. Her husband vows to hunt down her killer and kill him--he doesn't believe the justice system will do it for him. But Mabel's murderer is killed himself before either Jim Stone or the police can find him.

Scotland Yard's Superintendent Roger West believes there is a pattern to these robberies--despite the fact that witnesses' statements indicate that they are carried out by vastly different men. His superiors don't think there could be such an organized group of small-time burglars. But when another robbery nearly turns to murder, West finally gets the the help he needs to organize against the burglary syndicate. But will they be able to discover the ringleaders before another murder takes place...and before the syndicate spots and eliminates the undercover policeman who is on their trail?

Creasey writes fast-moving, action-packed police procedurals and Roger West is one of my favorite policemen. The superintendent is confident, but not perfect and there is a very human side to him that can connect with the victims in these stories. He also understands the imperfections of those under him--giving just enough reprimand to make them recognize their mistakes, but doing so in such a way that they will improve rather than resent his calling them out. Creasey also provides a classic mystery style of clueing that makes it possible for the reader to solve the mystery before West does (not that I did in this case). 

This particular story begins a little brutally with the killing of  Mabel. It seems so senseless, I was pleased to find (by the end of the novel) that appearances could be deceiving. An interesting take on the crime syndicated theme. ★★★★

First line: Mabel Stone put the electric iron down on its end, brushed back some damp hair from her forehead, and went slowly to the open window which overlooked the little back yard, the empty cartons standing by for collection when the next wholesalers' delivery was made, the high brick wall, the narrow gateway which had no gate.

Last line: Roger West would never forget the adoration in Ruth Owen's eyes when she looked up at her husband after they had come away from the investiture.

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Deaths = 8 (one hit on head; one natural; two stabbed; one suffocated; three hanged)