To Catch a Thief author David Dodge had such an easy narrative style that his well-plotted mysteries set in colorful locations almost read themselves, and feel much less dated than other writers of his era. Somerset Maugham once commented that the reader should be unaware of the writer in a good story, as if everything was simply happening by happy coincidence. David Dodge was one of the best at this. Despite the first-person narration of his Al Colby novels — sadly there are only three — the reader is swept along as though a writer doesn’t exist, because they are living as Al Colby during the adventure, this one titled The Long Escape.

In the first of the three books, which do not need to be read in order, Al is hired to discover if a man who left his wife is dead, so that his unpleasant ex-wife can get hold of his properties in Los Angeles. From Mexico to Chile and Spanish spots between, Al Colby’s search is imbued with a spicy flavor the reader can almost taste. It moves so quickly, however, there isn’t much time to soak it in before you’re off for answers somewhere else. Once Al is told the man is actually dead, he begins to feel it might have been murder, or perhaps something even more involved.

There’s a lovely girl named Ann “Idaho” Farrell who helps him out, and with whom Al has a romantic involvement as he attempts to sort out what happened. The crux of the mystery centers on the surviving family of the deceased in Chile, a powerful family which doesn’t want the body exhumed to confirm who is in the grave. One of them is the stunningly beautiful Teresa (Terry), who may not be as warm as Idaho but has a higher voltage. She may be protecting more than her impulsive brother Frito. Soon, the secrets being hidden lead to someone taking a shot at Al. An old murder, and a cunning deception is finally uncovered by Colby, but realizing to expose it will literally end a life, and damage others, Colby must wrestle with his next step.

The Long Escape, released in 1948, seems startlingly fresh when read today, in spite of its age. Dodge was terrific at atmosphere, using a modicum of words to describe the colorful surroundings during the goings on, placing the reader there in Al Colby’s shoes. The conversational narrative style can almost be coined as breezy, and before you know it, you’ve read half the book. A blending of adventure story and detective mystery, this will appeal to anyone who loves either.

Dodge is most famous for To Catch a Thief because of the Hitchcock film starring Cary Grant and the lovely Grace Kelly, but he wrote other novels, and I’ve always found the Al Colby series some of his best work. Two of the three Colby stories are now available on Kindle, and I'm hopeful the third will be at some point, as interest in Dodge's work is renewed. My highest recommendation. ( )