Back in the early 1940s, Jonathan Latimer wrote a Private Eye novel titled Solomon’s Vineyard that was laced with alcohol, brutality, and sex. The standards of the time caused U. S. publishers to issue a censored version re-titled The Fifth Grave in 1950. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s Great Pan books reprinted the original version with all the sex and violence and boozing included. It took until 1983 until the uncensored version of Solomon’s Vineyard was finally available for a U.S. audience on spinner racks.
Jonathan Latimer creates an Old School Private Eye (think Hammett’s Continental Op) called Karl Craven. The Fifth Grave opens with Craven arriving by train to a town in the sticks, Paulson. Craven came to Paulton because his business partner, Oke Johnson, needed help on a case. Craven quickly learns from the local police that Oke Johnson has been murdered. Craven also learns that Johnson was trying to find a missing girl at the nearby religious cult compound.
Craven quickly discovers that Paulton is controlled by a gangster named Pug who rules through the brutal power of his allies on police force. Craven investigates the connection between the corrupt city government and the cult that may be holding the girl. Plenty of pummeling, bashing, and sex result.
The Fifth Grave delivers a shocking story full of hardboiled violence and mayhem and freaky sex. While different versions of The Fifth Grave/Solomon’s Vineyard have been published over the years, this STARK HOUSE edition is the definitive unexpurgated version. You’ll really dig The Fifth Grave! GRADE: A
I often see Jonathan Latimer in the writing credits for Perry Mason.
There’s a nice humor in his novels which I enjoy.
I didn’t realize there was a soft-serve version of Solomon’s Vineyard. The real thing is definitely worth the time.
Beth, Jonathan Latimer’s THE FIFTH GRAVE in this wonderful STARK HOUSE edition is the Real Deal!
I was pleased when I found that Pan edition of the unexpurgated version.
If the first page doesn’t get you, nothing will.
First line: “From the way her buttocks looked under the black silk dress, I knew she’d be good in bed.”
Second paragraph: “She had gold-blond hair, and curves, and breasts the size of Cuban pineapples.”
I sold that Pan edition years ago but have it on Kindle now.
Jeff, Latimer wasn’t subtle about Craven’s sexual tastes right from the get-go!
That opening line in the 1950 Popular Library Fifth Grave edition read: “From the way she looked under the black silk dress, I knew she’d be good in bed.”
Cuban pineapples have a uniform size? (“One was the size of a Cuban pineapple, the other the size of a Maui pineapple. I couldn’t decide which I preferred.”)
Was SOLOMON’S VINEYARD Latimer’s preferred title?
Todd, no, Latimer preferred THE FIFTH GRAVE. I like that title better than SOLOMON’S VINEYARD.
It’s certainly More to the Point, I gather.
A trip down nostalgia lane for me. One of my minor triumphs as an erstwhile mystery reviewer was having a credited cover blurb on the 1990 paperback of Solomon’s Vineyard in the British Blue Murder series. I had reviewed S.V. in the Pronzini-Muller edited collection 1001 Midnights (which you know well, George, as you were also a contributor). I first read S.V. in the first unexpurgated American publication, 1982, a signed, limited (300) hardback published by a small outfit in Santa Barbara, which included an interview with Latimer about his experiences writing the book and commenting on the foolishness of the censors (“I don’t know who did that, or why. Nothing in it, really, that would make a nun blush”). There was also a 1988 trade paper edition from International Polygonics, a twofer combined with The Lady in the Morgue. As good as Solomon’s Vineyard is, Lady in the Morgue is still my favorite of all Latimer’s books. Hope Stark House has further Latimer reprints in the pipeline.
Art, I’ll have to reread LADY IN THE MORGUE to assess your preference. THE FIFTH GRAVE/SOLOMON’S VINEYARD is right up there!
I believe I have the limited edition Art spoke of!
Bob, I’m sure that limited edition is worth money!
I looked it up on ABE. 6 copies of the limited priced at $95-$200. More interesting to me was a copy of the true 1st, published by Methuen in London, priced at $655. Alas, my Methuen edition (also sans jacket), purchased on Charing Cross Rd for 14 Pounds, is a 2nd.
Art, I know Latimer fans will pay Big Prices for select editions.