Jerry House mentioned recently that he had been reading some John Creasey novels. I’ve read John Creasey novels over the years and still have about 100 Creasey novels waiting to be read. Inspired by Jerry, I read The Baron Goes Fast (1953). The Baron is ex-jewel thief and antiques dealer, John Mannering. The Baron is often compared to Simon Templar because he involves himself in other people’s problems like a latter day Robin Hood. THE BARON, a 1960s TV series starring Steve Forrest as The Baron, captured the vibe of the Creasey’s book series.
The Wannamaker Diamond Heist triggers a battle for the fortune in diamonds. The Baron sold the original Wannamaker diamonds so he decides to get involved in who stole the fabulous diamonds.
Mannering finds the thugs who pulled off the heist have more evil intentions. And he intends to stop them.
Like most of the John Creasey novels I’ve read, The Baron Goes Fast speeds right along at breakneck speed. If you’re looking for an entertaining, exciting novel just fasten your seat belt and start flipping the pages! Are you a John Creasey fan? GRADE: B
The Baron series was written under the pseudonym Anthony Morton between 1937–1979.
- Meet the Baron (1937) (U.S. title The Man in the Blue Mask)
- The Baron Returns (1937) (U.S. title The Return of Blue Mask)
- The Baron Again (1938) (U.S. title Salute Blue Mask)
- The Baron at Bay (1938) (U.S. title Blue Mask at Bay)
- Alias the Baron (1939) (U.S. title Alias Blue Mask)
- The Baron at Large (1939) (U.S. title Challenge Blue Mask)
- Versus the Baron (1940) (U.S. title Blue Mask Strikes Again)
- Call for the Baron (1940) (U.S. title Blue Mask Victorious)
- The Baron Comes Back (1943)
- A Case for the Baron (1945)
- Reward for the Baron (1945)
- Career for the Baron (1946)
- The Baron and the Beggar (1947)
- Blame the Baron (1948)
- A Rope for the Baron (1949)
- Books for the Baron (1949)
- Cry for the Baron (1950)
- Trap the Baron (1950)
- Attack the Baron (1951)
- Shadow the Baron (1951)
- Warn the Baron (1952)
- The Baron Goes East (1953)
- The Baron in France (1953)
- Danger for the Baron (1953)
- The Baron Goes Fast (1954)
- Nest-Egg for the Baron (1954) (U.S. title Deaf, Dumb and Blonde)
- Help from the Baron (1955)
- Hide the Baron (1956)
- Frame the Baron (1957) (U.S. title The Double Frame)
- Red Eye for the Baron (1958) (U.S. title Blood Red)
- Black for the Baron (1959) (U.S. title If Anything Happens to Hester)
- Salute for the Baron (1960)
- A Branch for the Baron (1961) (U.S. title The Baron Branches Out)
- Bad for the Baron (1962) (U.S. title The Baron and the Stolen Legacy)
- A Sword for the Baron (1963) (U.S. title The Baron and the Mogul Swords)
- The Baron on Board (1964)
- The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1965)
- Sport for the Baron (1966)
- Affair for the Baron (1967)
- The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)
- The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)
- Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)
- The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)
- The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)
- Burgle the Baron (1973)
- The Baron, King-Maker (1975)
- Love for the Baron(1979)
Never read a John Creasey book that I can recall although I saw a lot of Creasey pb’s back in the 60’s. Mostly ones under his own name or under J.J. Marric.
Steve, John Creasey used a number of pseudonyms. Most Creasey readers consider the J. J. Marric books his best work.
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve read a couple of the Gideon novels and very little else from the hundreds of books Creasey published, though I now have a couple of issues of the magazine attributed to him in the UK, picked up in recent years. I definitely am familiar with THE BARON tv series and its rather peppy theme, which I would catch as a kid in the ’70s…so much to read, so little time to devote to reading these months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP_l6dnoYlM
Todd, I have a DVD set of THE BARON tv show and plan to review it for the blog in a few months.
I’ve read the entire Gideon series as by J.J. Marric (the 21 books written by Creasey only, as they were continued by another writer, William Vivian Butler). I’ve also read a number of his Ch. Insp. Roger West series. I remember buying a paperback in England with MURDER, LONDON-AUSTRALIA, MURDER, LONDON-SOUTH AFRICA and MURDER, LONDON-MIAMI (not to Creasey – Miami is not a country). I also read his “big book” about the founding of the London police, THE MASTERS OF BOW STREET. I really can’t remember reading any of the other series – The Baron, The Toff, Dr. Palfrey, Department Z, The Fane Brothers, Supt. Folly, Doctor Cellini, Bruce Murdoch, The Liberator, Mark Kilby – though it is possible I read a couple. I certainly bought dozens under his own name and his many pseudonyms – Michael Halliday, Anthony Morton, Robert Caine Frazer, Norman Deane, Gordon Ashe, Jeremy York, Peter Manton, etc. – for resale over the years.
In a way he reminds me of Erle Stanley Gardner – fast moving, sometimes pulpy action that has you turning the pages rapidly.
Jeff, I’ve read a smattering of Creasey’s work over the years. I have all the J.J. Marric/Gideon books and plan to read them in order sometime in 2022. I’m amazed that Creasey kept his quality level fairly high…just like Erle Stanley Gardner did.
I’ve always found it difficult or impossible to start reading an author this prolific so, generally, I don’t. But there’s the problem of who to apply the rule to. You can apply it to writers like Creasey and Carter Brown, which I have. But what about Stephen King? What about Dickens, Trollope, or Faulkner? There’s no easy answer.
Michael, I face the same quandary that you do with prolific writers. What I try to do is read one of their series and focus on that. I’m a huge Anthony Trollope fan and I’ve reading his Palliser series now.
I bought the six Palliser books several yeasrs ago and sometimes I feel like they are staring at me from the shelf saying, “Read Me!” One of these days.
Jeff, I need a big chunk of time when I decide to read one of Trollope’s books. They are long and involving.
I thought you’d read all of Trollope years since!
Rick, I’m rationing my Trollope to make the novels last. I did the same with the 87th Precinct series…and it was a Sad Day when I read the last one.
I haven’t read any of The Baron books, that I recall anyway. I wouldn’t know where to start.
Rick, as with many of Creasey’s series, you can just jump in anywhere and enjoy the ride. Many contemporary writers almost force you to read their mysteries in order because they add spoilers to their books.
Creasey’s series characters are cut from the same basic mold but there are enough individual differences to set them apart. Each series has its own flavor.
Jerry, thanks for motivating me to read THE BARON GOES FAST. I had forgotten how much fun a Creasey novel can be!
I am pretty sure I read some of the Gideon books and the Inspector West series, and probably a few of the Toff and the Baron mysteries. But nothing recently and I only have one of his books on hand, “a Superintendent West Chiller”, a late one in the series.
Tracy, I have a whole stack of John Creasey books waiting for me to read them. THE BARON GOES FAST was on the top. Hope you enjoy that “Superintendent West Chiller”!