Dead At The Take-Off.

LESTER DENT

Publication: Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1946, Garden City

First edition. Author's first book to appear using his own name. Page edges uniformly tanned, else a fine bright copy in dust jacket with very light wear to spine ends and the extremities. The author is best known as the creator of Doc Savage, The Man Of Bronze. However this novel is considered to be one of his best efforts, a story that takes place during World War II. Chance Molloy is the owner of a small airline who is facing financial ruin because a corrupt Senator blocks his efforts to purchase surplus military transport airplanes. Molloy knows the Senator is corrupt but has difficulty proving the point, until one day the evidence he needs falls into his hands. He sets out to fly to the ranch in New Mexico, where the evidence awaits him, but instead finds murder, and is almost killed himself. 20th Century Crime & Mystery Writers says, "The violent climax takes place on board the airline. There is plenty of action, but Dead At the Take-Off has much more than that to recommend it. The characterization is sharp, with strong psychological overtones; effective use of flashback is made; and the writing is among Dent's best." Crime Club mystery.

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