By John G. Brandon.
The Dial Press.
Ranking on a par with S. S. Van Dine’s well-read murder tales is “The Secret Brotherhood,” one of John G. Brandon’s most recent novels, fascinating in its completeness of mystery, adventure, and romance. The Brotherhood is a secret organisation of twenty of the most callous murderers possible whose business it is to kill for vast sums of money. An educated Englishman, who is possessed with a strong lust for killing, calls the group together in an old forgotten wine cellar far below the main rooms of an Italian’s restaurant. No member knows the identity of any other member. Each one is admitted singly by an old blind man; not a word is spoken. Each is robed and masked and ushered into the chamber of meeting before another is allowed to enter. Thus this diabolical crew meets once a week in the subterranean catacombs beneath Pombola’s cafe, planning their evil deeds in ruthless manner.
The book is an excellent example of the fully developed detective tale, with surprises in every chapter and a climax of extraordinary suspense. The author is skillful in composing the plot, writing with a free and easy style, speedily read. His characters are vivid and intensely interesting; it is fun to meet and know them.
If you want an unusual mystery story, one that will thrill and surprise you, one without that element of shoddiness often found in detective tales, one that you will remember for its adventure and rare psychological thoroughness, read “The Secret Brotherhood.”
This piece was first published in Issue 2 of The Keynote, an early student journal, in December 1928.