The Odor of Violets

A quaint period piece, very much of the year 1940. Breezily written, it nevertheless never mentions Germany or Hitler, while referring to both indirectly. Its hero, the blind Duncan Maclain, has a bit of The Shadow about him, and having read many of those when I was a kid, I found myself sceptical of his “powers” as well as the last minute, slightly incredible rescues. Entertaining, but requires an ENORMOUS suspension of disbelief.