THE AVENGING SAINT

Although the Saint books are definitely best if read in the right order, most of them — especially the later ones — can be read in isolation without great loss. The present book, the direct sequel to  The Last Hero , is the exception.Once again arms-dealer Rayt Marius is plotting to start a war to increase demand for his products, and once again Simon and his friends frustrate his major plan. But of course, Marius has a second string to his bow, and the climax of "Knight Templar" (aka "the Avenging Saint") is the most electrifying in any Saint book (and, incidentally, provides the mechanism whereby Simon is able to continue on through thirty-three more rather than spending the next forty years in gaol).Crown Prince Rudolf, my very favourite villain, who only comes on stage towards the end of the previous opus, appears early here in the tale of the Desecrated Royal Toothpaste.BTW, the titles of ten of the Saint books were later — confusingly — changed, as follows:01: Meet the Tiger -> The Saint Meets the Tiger03: The Last Hero -> The Saint Closes the Case04: Knight Templar -> The Avenging Saint07: She Was A Lady -> The Saint Meets His Match08: The Holy Terror -> The Saint vs. Scotland Yard10: Once More the Saint -> The Saint and Mr. Teal12: The Misfortunes of Mr. Teal -> The Saint in London13: Boodle -> The Saint Intervenes18: Thieves Picnic -> The Saint Bids Diamonds19: Prelude for War -> The Saint Plays With FireThe fatuity of the revised titles is nowhere more evident than with the present book and its antecedent: in  The Last Hero  the Saint does not close the case, and in  Knight Templar  the one thing he does not do is avenge the death of Norman Kent.

The Avenging Saint is probably the 6th or 7th book I’ve read in the Saint series. Might as well fess up that they are addictive. This is the sequel to The Saint Closes the Case. The Saint is avenging the murder of one of his two best friends and associates. But that is not what makes it addictive. Even if there were no sequels, only standalone novels, the adventures of Simon Templar would still be good, compelling reading.Fast-paced, funny, and full of action, these books check every box. Mystery, check. Violence, check. Romance, check. Witty sarcasm, check. A vocabulary that would make an Oxford scholar reach for his dictionary, check. A code of honor, check.Avenging is certainly no exception. What is surprising is just how violent and homicidal, Simon was in these early books. (Not to give away anything, but he does seem to mellow with age.)This story centers on Rait Marius and his plot to star World War II. While trying to avenge his friend’s murder, The Saint stumbles into the plot and from there, things go back and forth between Simon and his worthy adversary.The only thing missing, is Pat —- Simon’s better half. Even though she doesn’t actually appear in the story, she is always present. Something Simon makes abundantly clear in the closing chapters.This is one of the best Saint books I’ve read so far. I do have one reservation in recommending it, however, and that’s that I don’t want to be blamed for starting your addiction.

Prophetic at the time. Good to re-read after fifty years. Reading the entire trilogy. As exciting as when I first read it.

Looking at the full list of Saint books in this volume, it would appear I have now read approximately a third of the books Leslie Charteris penned featuring Simon Templar from all periods of his career. This excludes later books sometimes adapted from the Roger Moore series and "ghosted" by other authors under the author's supervision.It was my impression that the books were fading into obscurity. Hopefully this series will stop that, as it contains the best of Charteris' writing. To judge from the introductions to each volume, it has inspired a range of contemporary authors and screenwriters: a sure sign of quality. The Saint really does deserve to take his rightful place alongside other greats of British crime fiction like Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown, and James Bond.Coming initially to Charteris from the Roger Moore series, it was then a shock when I discovered the first Saint books came from the nineteen thirties. Yet, this period is where most of the best Saint stories come from. True, there are aspects of the writing that now seem dated. Charteris, himself noticed this, and comments on it in his own forward to this volume, citing as example details about aeroplanes which were correct for the time (incidentally Charteris, like the Saint, had a pilot's licence). There are certain social features and attitudes that reinforce this, though it has to be said these are less at odds with contemporary mores than in the writings of his contemporaries. But all this only anchors the action in that period, as do details in books.At the same time, Charteris and his character perhaps resonate more with contemporary attitudes than others written at the same time. The women (like Sonia Delmar in this book) are strong characters in their own right. The writing is fast paced, and carries the reader on. Plus of course there is the humour as the Saint taunts his opponents whether they are criminals or policemen. In short the Saint defies the time he was created in. In the same way Sherlock Holmes has been modernised on television in recent years, so has the Saint. Enough that I would be interested to see the reverse done and a dramatisation of a Saint novel (or for that matter a Bond novel) set in the time it was originally written. I suspect this would work.This novel, one of the earliest, Charteris wrote takes place thee months after the action in  The Saint Closes the Case (Saint 02) . Unusually for a Saint story, this is one that requires some prior knowledge of the previous book, though that may not be essential. It also discusses some aspects of the Simon Templar's personal philosophy of life, and hints of what gave him the nickname of the Saint. Some of these are not so explicitly explored in later books, but equally they don't bog the action down either.This is classic early Saint with Simon in action against two of his most dangerous opponents, Price Rudolf and Rayt Marius. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. And, as I'm sure Simon Templar would agree, it's glorious fun. The Saint Closes the Case (Saint 02)

If you like well-plotted, well-written novels from an era [1930's] when the author uses the occasional word that has you reaching for your dictionary; yet still entertains, give this a try. The Saint stories seem to be at their best in longer form where more internal dialogue takes place, but does not detract from the plot. This is a good example. The story leaps into action from the outset and Simon Templar does not work alone in fighting the villains, although the focus is on him to lead the way. Very enjoyable.

I used to love the Saint books when I was young, and from the standpoint of nostalgia I enjoyed this one, but I would probably not bother to read another one. It was pretty good for being dated, but I found the Saint's character to be a bit too arrogant and just amoral enough to be offensive to me.