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A blind private detective and his dogs star in this thrilling World War II mystery with “enough action and surprises to keep the pages turning” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Meet Captain Duncan Maclain. Blinded during his service in the first World War, Maclain made up for his lack of vision by sharpening his other senses, achieving a mastery of the subtle unseen clues often missed by those who see only with their eyes. Aided by his dogs Schnucke and Driest, the Captain puts the intelligence-gathering techniques he learned in the Army to work, making a name for himself as New York City’s most sought-after private detective. Now it’s 1940, there’s a second World War breaking out, and Maclain is pulled into a case unlike any he’s investigated before.
The murder of an actor in his Greenwich Village apartment would cause a stir no matter the circumstances but, when the actor happens to possess secret government plans, and when those plans go missing along with the young woman with whom he was last seen, it’s sensational enough to interest not only the local police, but the American government as well.
Maclain suspects a German spy plot at work and, in a world where treasonous men and patriots are indistinguishable to the naked eye, it will take his special skills to sniff out the solution.
Reissued for the first time in over a half-century, Odor of Violets is the most well-known installment in the long-running Duncan Maclain series, which featured one of crime fiction’s earliest disabled detectives. The novel, filmed in 1942 as Eyes in the Night, is a classic hybrid of mystery and espionage fiction.
Meet Captain Duncan Maclain. Blinded during his service in the first World War, Maclain made up for his lack of vision by sharpening his other senses, achieving a mastery of the subtle unseen clues often missed by those who see only with their eyes. Aided by his dogs Schnucke and Driest, the Captain puts the intelligence-gathering techniques he learned in the Army to work, making a name for himself as New York City’s most sought-after private detective. Now it’s 1940, there’s a second World War breaking out, and Maclain is pulled into a case unlike any he’s investigated before.
The murder of an actor in his Greenwich Village apartment would cause a stir no matter the circumstances but, when the actor happens to possess secret government plans, and when those plans go missing along with the young woman with whom he was last seen, it’s sensational enough to interest not only the local police, but the American government as well.
Maclain suspects a German spy plot at work and, in a world where treasonous men and patriots are indistinguishable to the naked eye, it will take his special skills to sniff out the solution.
Reissued for the first time in over a half-century, Odor of Violets is the most well-known installment in the long-running Duncan Maclain series, which featured one of crime fiction’s earliest disabled detectives. The novel, filmed in 1942 as Eyes in the Night, is a classic hybrid of mystery and espionage fiction.
3 Reviews
4.0

Kay Adamson
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Tara Sadowski
Created over 3 years agoShare
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“I rarely read a book in one sitting, but I enjoyed this book so much, I just couldn't put it down, and ended up polishing it off in a single evening. Part mystery, part spy thriller, we follow blind Captain Duncan Maclain, and his two German Shepherds, Schnucke and Driest, as they attempt to solve a series of murders, and save New York City from a dastardly sabotage plot. I am normally not someone who seeks out thrillers, as they often come across as implausible and/or over the top, but it worked in this story.
I was also impressed by the research and attention to detail that Baynard Kendrick put into his blind detective. A veteran of WWI, he had been personally touched by his experiences with blinded soldiers, and spent much of his adult life heading up the Blinded Veterans Association. All of the skills that he endows his detective with were ones that he had either observed directly, or researched extensively to confirm its veracity. Maclain is not super-human, but the extent to which he was able to train his other senses was very impressive. Kendrick's goal was create an inspiring, yet realistic blind hero, which I think he achieves. I would happily read the other books featuring this detective and his dynamic doggo duo.”
About Baynard Kendrick
Baynard Kendrick (1894–1977) was one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America, later named a Grand Master by the organization. After returning from military service in World War I, Kendrick wrote for pulp magazines such as Black Mask and Dime Detective Magazine under various pseudonyms before creating the Duncan Maclain character for which he is now known. The blind detective appeared in twelve novels, several short stories, and three films.
Other books by Baynard Kendrick
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