Reading a book that’s over 50 years old presents some surprises. In the first chapter of The Case of the Talking Bug (1955) there’s talk of the polio epidemic (no vaccine yet!). And the “talking bug” referred to in the title of the book is “new” technology: wiretaps!
Detective Greg Evans, a recent graduate of the FBI Police Academy, is working on a number of cases that he later learns are related. The first is the death of a young girl who was found dead wearing a snorkel. The second case is a money laundering scheme worth millions of dollars. Evans suspects the victim, Jan Logan, may have told vital information to her sister, Cokie. But, Cokie can’t be found! And, unknown to Cokie and Evans, a killer is on her trail to eliminate a “loose end.”
The Case of the Talking Bug was nominated for the Edgar Award in 1956 (a condensed version was published in American Magazine). The Gordons were crime fiction authors Gordon Gordon (born March 12, 1906, Anderson, Indiana – died March 14, 2002), and his wife, Mildred Nixon Gordon (born June 24, 1912, Kansas – died February 3, 1979, Tucson, Arizona). Although mostly forgotten now, The Gordons produced some successful books. Check out the list below. GRADE: B
- Make Haste to Live (1950; filmed in 1954)
- FBI Story (1950; John Ripley)
- Campaign Train (1952)
- Case File: FBI (1953; John Ripley; also wrote the screenplay when filmed as Down Three Dark Streets in 1954)
- The Case of the Talking Bug/Playback (title in UK; 1955)
- The Big Frame (1957)
- Captive (1957; John Ripley)
- Tiger on My Back (1960)
- Operation Terror (1961; John Ripley; also wrote the screenplay when filmed as Experiment in Terror in 1962)
- Menace (1962)
- Undercover Cat (1963; also wrote the screenplay when filmed as That Darn Cat! in 1965)
- The Informant (1973; John Ripley – later reprinted under the title It Could Happen)
Interesting choice. I know of the Gordons but haven’t read any of their books. I wonder what drew you to read it.
Jeff, THE CASE OF THE TALKING BUG was on a list of the best mysteries of 1955.
I think I read some of their books back in the early 60’s but don’t recall which ones although I may be confusing them with the Lockridges.
Steve, I’m with you on the writing similarities of The Gordons and The Lockridges. I prefer the Lockridges.
I’m pretty sure I haven’t read this, or any by them. Cokie seems an odd character name for the time, I would have expected cookie instead.
Rick, Cokie is an odd name. The only Cokie I knew was Cokie Roberts of Nation Public Radio and PBS.
I briefly had an uncle by marriage named Coke. Old enough so that I suspect it was after someone named Coke or Cokie in West Virginia coal country, where my mother’s family was from, rather than the soda or its one-time special ingredient.
I have enjoyed reading the Gordons’ work, on the very rare occasion I’ve picked it up…perhaps two books in a half-century, and another story or so…the Scholastic version of THAT DARN CAT! as a film tie-in well before anything else…
Todd, I had totally forgotten about The Gordons’ THAT DARN CAT! which I read in Junior High School!
I know I have one or two of their books stashed away somewhere but have nenver been tempted to read one! There’s something a little too precious about using The Gordons for their author name!
Bob, I’ve seen references to “The Lockridges” but I don’t recall they ever used that name on their books. The books of theirs that I own are by “Richard and Frances Lockridge.”
PAC 12 Championship game tonight. Go Ducks! (Utah is favored by 3.5)
Rick, I won’t duck my responsibilities to watch the PAC 12 Championship game. Go Ducks!