Spy Killer (Mystery & Suspense Short Stories Collection Book 1)

Falsely accused of murder and grand larceny, Kurt Reid flees to Shanghai. After rescuing a White Russian spy, he's captured by the Chinese and forced into the cloak-and-dagger world of espionage and intrigue, where everything and everyone are not what they appear to be. American Sailor Kurt Reid is a hothead and a hard case—a man who hits first and asks questions later. As scrappy and rough around the edges as Jimmy Cagney, it's no wonder that when the ship's captain turns up dead, it's Reid who takes the rap. Falsely accused and under the gun, Reid jumps ship and vanishes into Shanghai —only to get caught in a web of intrigue, betrayal, and murder. In a world where nothing is what it seems and everything is for sale, he's soon out of his depth, drawn into a spy game in which the winner takes all . . . and the loser takes a knife to the back. Will Reid live up to his reputation as the Spy Killer? He'll have to learn the rules fast, because with players like the sexy White Russian secret agent, Varinka Savischna, in the hunt, the game is about to turn as seductive as it is sinister. As a young man, Hubbard visited pre-Communist China three times, where his closest friend headed up British intelligence. In a land where communists, nationalists, war lords and foreign adventurers schemed for control, Hubbard gained a unique insight into the intelligence operations and spy-craft in the region—a knowledge that informs stories like Spy Killer. "Vividly written, super-fast-paced." —Ellery Queen

A multicast performance with music and sound effects featuring Lori Jablons.  Story originally published in the April 1936 issue of Five-Novels Monthly.

Publishers Weekly

This classic 1936 Hubbard tale takes listeners to pre-Communist China where a man named Kurt Reid has fled murder charges only to find himself thrust into the exotic world of foreign espionage. This multicast performance brings an air of the old radio theater shows of the '30s and '40s, transporting listeners to another time and place. An exceptional performance by Lori Jablons is a true highlight of this production, as she assumes the role of the mysterious and beautiful Russian rebel, Varinka Savischna. With the perfect blend of background sounds that are often as simple as crowd murmuring or distant animal noises, the result is a genuinely entertaining listening experience. A Galaxy Press paperback.(Sept.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

American Sailor Kurt Reid Is A Hothead And A Hard Case—a Man Who Hits First And Asks Questions Later. Scrappy And Rough Around The Edges, It’s No Wonder That When The Ship’s Captain Turns Up Dead, It’s Reid Who Takes The Rap. Falsely Accused And Under The Gun, Reid Jumps Ship And Vanishes Into Shanghai—only To Get Caught In A Web Of Intrigue, Betrayal, And Murder. In A World Where Nothing Is What It Seems And Everything Is For Sale, He’s Soon Out Of His Depth, Drawn Into A Spy Game In Which The Winner Takes All ... And The Loser Takes A Knife To The Back. Will Reid Live Up To His Reputation As The Spy Killer? He’ll Have To Learn The Rules Fast, Because With Players Like Sexy Russian Agent Varinka Savischna In The Hunt, The Game Is About To Turn As Seductive As It Is Sinister. Give In To Temptation And Experience The Intrigue, As The Spy Killer Invites You To Take Part In A Most Provocative Conspiracy. “a Roller Coaster Ride Of Intrigue, Suspense, Action And Adventure ... Very Highly Recommended.” —midwest Book Review As he wrung the water from his clothes he discarded his memories one by one. As mate of the Rangoon, he had been known as a bucko sailor, a hard case who struck first and questioned afterward, renowned for a temper as hot and swift as a glowing rapier. And the reputation had not helped him when the captain had been found dead in his cabin and when it was discovered that the safe was open and empty. Kurt Reid had been the last man to see the captain alive, so they thought. Shanghai stretched before him, and behind it lay all of China. If he could not escape there, he thought, he deserved to die. His only regret now was the lack of money he had been accused of stealing. A man does not go far on a few American dollars. Vividly written, super-fast-paced. Ellery Queen Russian beauty Varinka Savischna recruits an outlaw seeking refuge in China for her war against Chinese intelligence services. Unfortunately, the man she recruited, Kurt Reid, is not only captured by the Chinese but forced to assassinate a Japanese spy and enter the world of espionage Russian beauty Varinka Savischna recruits an outlaw seeking refuge in China for her war against Chinese intelligence services. Unfortunately, the man she recruited, Kurt Reid, is captured by the Chinese, forced to assassinate a Japanese spy, and made to enter the world of espionage