A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
– https://www.youtube.com/playlist?listPLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
It's a wonderful book.
It appeared on Le Monde's list of 100 books of the century, on which I found Le Mépris, Twenty-four Hours in the Life of a Woman and a few other "real horror" books, as well as others who are not my cup of tea. tea:
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Monde's_100_Books_of_the_Century
No Orchids turned out to be a work that I not only really enjoyed, but I loved it so much that I… stopped reading it.
I had the impression that it was the exquisite champagne of novels and as I only drink champagne for festivities, I therefore put aside this thriller to treat myself.
In a way, I'm upset that I finished it early and envious of those who are content to engage with this detective novel that kept me "on the edge of my seat."
The beginning is fulminant, with a small band of “two-penny thugs” who discover a very precious necklace that they are determined to obtain.
Even though it's out of their league, given that they've only dealt with petty crimes so far, the Riley gang is trying to hit the jackpot.
But things quickly spiral out of control, as they try to pursue Miss Blandish and take the $50,000 prize from her.
That could be over a million in today's money and the lure of such a score proved fatal for the trio of partners in crime.
There are no spoiler alerts, but anything I say about this fascinating tale will only take place in the first few chapters.
The pace is so fast that there is enough in the first part to excite the reader and make him continue reading and increase his heart rate.
The car with the thugs cuts in front of the expensive, big convertible in which Miss Blandish and her boyfriend had tried to escape.
There is a fight and one gang member is punched repeatedly, until he draws his gun and kills his boyfriend.
The apparently simple theft did not really become complicated, with the prospect of entering the gas chamber for what is now murder.
Riley has what he considers a brilliant idea: kidnap the girl and demand a million dollars in ransom.
After all, Mr. Blandish is a millionaire and will pay to see his daughter again, but again, the initial scenario does not reflect what happens on the road…
At a gas station, they meet Eddie Schultz, a member of the fearsome Grisson gang, who understands that something is wrong.
Miss Blandish is the most beautiful woman that any character who meets her has ever seen…and I found that somewhat strange.
There's no way a petty crook like Riley could have anything to do with such an elegant woman, even if he claims she's with him.
Eddie Schultz calls the leader of the group, a strong, fat and terrifying woman, "Ma Grisson", who understands what happened.
Riley has kidnapped the Blandish girl and they are taking her to Johnny's, which is the only hiding place he can find.
So the orders are clear and they must meet the other members of the gang and win the prize.
The son of the “godmother” of this criminal organization is the most repugnant and despicable character in this story.
And he is in the race with other criminals and evil characters from other novels, a murderer who loves to kill.
He uses the knife, not a gun, as his preferred means of eliminating enemies, which shows how cruel the monster is.
When they reach the hideout, a confrontation ensues, with the less "professional" group trying to convince the enemy that they don't have a Blandish Girl.
But the events have an extraordinary rhythm and when pressed, Johnny “spills the piece” and shows the young girl.
All this happens, I repeat, in the first pages of this exhilarating story and it is difficult to anticipate the next actions of the parties involved.
Miss Blandish suffers from the beginning, an ironic and sad change of fate for a girl born into wealth, who could have anything she wanted and falling into the hands of hardened criminals, especially the mentally ill Slim.
– What a great story!!
– "I'll never forget"
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