Need to know name of story about bogus monks...

[tango]

Hi

I just joined. I recently renewed my interest in horror paperbacks (by rereading James Herbert's The Rats after over 20 years) and came across this fantastic site.

As well as saying hi to all, I thought I'd use my first post to ask a question. I remember on a family holiday in Bournemouth (must have been the 80s) my dad found a second-hand paperback which we read and enjoyed. We must have lent the book out and it was never returned. Over the years I have tried to recall the title, author etc but to no avail - none of my family remembers.

This is what I do remember:

Pretty sure it was a red coloured cover. The story was about some adventurer-type guy (I remember references to him pouring himself 'belts' of scotch in his English country house) who learns that a monastery is actually the hideout of some sort of criminals posing as monks who are guarding a fortune in treasure. Adventurer guy leads an assault on the monastery to get the treasure. Some of the criminals had some type of weapon (a star?) that they threw at victims with lethal results.

I'd love to get this book again - so hoping someone can help.

Thanks in advance.

[Craig Herbertson]

Welcome Tango.No bells rung there for me. Remember any names.more incidents.ghoulish cover?

[killercrab]

The Rats does it everytime. It should be compulsary reading for all who join this forum - welcome!

KC

[tango]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Try as I might, I can't remember any more. I'll keep trying.

[tango]

Still looking for this - can anybody help?

This is what I remember:

On a family holiday in England (must have been the 80s) my dad found a second-hand fiction paperback which we read and enjoyed. We must have lent the book out and it was never returned. Over the years I have tried to recall the title, author etc but to no avail - none of my family remembers.

This is what I do remember:

Pretty sure it was a red coloured cover. The story was set in England and was about some adventurer-type guy (I remember references to him pouring himself 'belts' of scotch); there was a monastery that was used as a hideout of some sort by criminals posing as monks; adventurer guy infiltrates the monastery; some possible torture goes on in the dungeon of the monastery; some of the criminals had some type of weapon (a star?) that they threw at victims with lethal results.

I'd love to get this book again - so hoping someone can help.

Thanks in advance.

[blackmonk]

Could it have been an Edgar Wallace reprint? I've never read any of his work but sinister bogus monks often feature in the film adaptations of his novels.

I also thought of Charles Bidmead's hard-to-find The Silent Men but doubt that ever made it into paperback.

[Craig Herbertson]

Jun 28, 2011 14:05:08 GMT tango said:

Still looking for this - can anybody help?

This is what I remember:

On a family holiday in England (must have been the 80s) my dad found a second-hand fiction paperback which we read and enjoyed. We must have lent the book out and it was never returned. Over the years I have tried to recall the title, author etc but to no avail - none of my family remembers.

This is what I do remember:

Pretty sure it was a red coloured cover. The story was set in England and was about some adventurer-type guy (I remember references to him pouring himself 'belts' of scotch); there was a monastery that was used as a hideout of some sort by criminals posing as monks; adventurer guy infiltrates the monastery; some possible torture goes on in the dungeon of the monastery; some of the criminals had some type of weapon (a star?) that they threw at victims with lethal results.

I'd love to get this book again - so hoping someone can help.

Thanks in advance.

No Scottish author would use the term Scotch. Conceivably an Englishman might but far more likely it would be an American author. Try image searches for Sexton Blake covers and the like which might jog your ememory - e.g.

[tango]

Thanks for the suggestion and it's interesting what you say about the fact that no Scottish or English author would use the term 'Scotch' - never thought about that.

I don't remember the main character being a famous character - and I knew all about the Sexton Blake, The Saint, Bulldog Drummond etc. characters and books at the time I read this one. I suspect it was a small and once only print run. All I can add is that while reading it I had the impression it was contemporary so maybe written in the mid to late 70s or early 80s - could be wrong though. The main character had the vibe of a type of 'milk-tray' man...

[Dr Strange]

Sorry, I've no idea either - a plot involving dastardly criminals masquerading as monks in the English countryside sounds stereotypically 30s/40s (I've read a couple of those myself in the long-ago, but can't remember the authors), but if they really were chucking throwing stars around then I think it probably has to be 70s at the earliest (i.e. after David Carradine's Kung Fu TV series).

[tango]

I'm still searching for this book. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.