Route of the Red Gold

Route of the Red Gold, published in 1967, is a lesser known novel by the great crime fiction writer Dan J. Marlowe. Here Marlowe, no doubt capitalizing on the 1960s spy craze, brings some Cold War intrigue and James Bond flavor to his usual hard-hitting, hard-boiled writing.

Red Gold concerns the mission of Roy Weston, a Yale grad and US Marine captain assigned by the CIA to investigate a suspected Communist banker in the Virgin Islands. Weston has spent time on the island training troops and already has contacts there; his expertise in combat swimming, infiltration and spycraft also prove very useful.

Weston doesn’t know exactly who his target is, but one suspect is a lush named Menard who soon becomes his regular drinking buddy. Another is a rich old man named Carrington, who lives in a secure coastal compound, complete with vicious bodyguards, guard dogs, a beautiful daughter named Joan and a drunken wife named Sophie—both of whom have the hots for Captain Roy.

Lots of drinking, romance and intrigue soon ensue, as Roy infiltrates Menard’s office, Carrrington’s estate and Joan’s bedroom. He also has to make regular dead drops to his CIA handlers and avoid the wrath of his military superior for his suspicious nocturnal antics. All this while training marines by day in demanding commando skills. This guy has nothing but energy.

There’s a decent amount of action, involving Roy swimming long distances at night, picking locks, cracking safes, and getting in two or three serious fights. The characters are well-drawn, the spycraft is believable, and the climax is violent and exciting. Roy Weston doesn’t have a lot of personality, but he’s as tough, competent, energetic and smooth with the ladies as James Bond or Matt Helm, and that’s all this story needs.

This was a good read; there’s no grand dramas about saving the world, just realistic human scale operations to take down a Communist spy ring in America’s backyard. What’s not to like?

Get a copy of Route of the Red Gold here.