another in my series of forgotten or seldom read books
Image courtesy of Altus Press
West of Guam: The Complete Cases of Jo Gar by Raoul Whitfield – Altus Press, May 11, 2013
(edited by the Black Mask Library series general editor Keith Alan Deutsch)
I really, really love these stories.
“In the February 1930 issue of Black Mask Magazine a new character was introduced to the American detective story. Jo Gar is both a classic “thinking” sleuth and a tough man of action who inhabits the exotic noir world of the Philippines between the two World Wars. Jo Gar faces a rogue’s gallery of colorful villains from mixed-race Chinese to high society American exiles.
In these Jo Gar stories, Whitfield creates a vivid world where typhoons threaten the harbor, criminals escape from the local prison, and the waterfront is home to cutthroats from all countries. Manila’s great international seaport is home to luxury liner travelers of all classes from all around Asia, and the world.
This new, expanded edition from Altus Press of the long out of print, very collectable 2002 anthology, contains every word written about Jo Gar, and presents every story, novella, and novel. It includes two legendary Nagasaki novelettes not seen since 1930 as well as the only Jo Gar novel, The Rainbow Murders, complete and unabridged!” – from the introduction
This volume includes two important, critical, biographical essays about Whitfield and Jo Gar by Black Mask scholar E.R. Hagemann, and a portrait of Professor Hagemann by his colleague, Dr. R.H. Miller. The new book is richly illustrated with line drawings by one of the greatest dry brush illustrator of the pulp age, Arthur Rodman Bowker.
West of Guam: The Complete Cases of Jo Gar by Raoul Whitfield contains the following stories:
- “West of Guam”
- “Death in the Pasig”
- “Red Hemp”
- “Signals of Storm”
- “Enough Rope”
- “Nagasaki Bound”
- “Nagasaki Knives”
- “The Caleso Murders”
- “Silence House”
- “Diamonds of Dread”
- “The Man in White”
- “The Blind Chinese”
- “Red Dawn”
- “Blue Glass”
- “Diamonds of Death”
- “Shooting Gallery”
- “The Javanese Mask”
- “China Man”
- “The Siamese Cat”
- “The Black Sampan”
- “Climbing Death”
- “The Magician Murder”
- “The Man From Shanghai”
- “The Amber Fan”
- “The Mystery of the Fan-Backed Chair”
- “The Great Black”
This one is Very Highly Recommended!
Tip the Wink 
I agree with you – obviously – about this series. And thanks for reminding me. I bought the ebook a few months ago, but with all the things I have on the Kindle it got pushed further and further down the list until I forgot it was on there. I will stick it on the top 3 that appear on the screen when I open the Kindle so I don’t forget it again.
These are wonderful stories. I was sad when I finished it, though I stretched it out as long as I could. In Kindle, if you mark it as a favorite, then you can click there and easily find it, no matter where it’s gotten placed.
I have a copy of WEST OF GUAM somewhere. I need to find it and read it after enjoying your enthusiastic review. I’m a big fan of Raoul Whitfield’s work.
These are really top notch stories, I think my favorite of his work, though GREEN ICE is good too.
Unknown to me, but I’m on my way to Amazon to download the collection!
You’ve convinced me, Rick. I’ve read maybe one Jo Gar story in an anthology so far, and I remember it being pretty good indeed…
Penzler put the stories comprising The Rainbow Diamonds into one of his “Big Book of” anthologies, either the Black Mask one or the Pulps one.
You make these sound very appealing, Rick. I would like to try some of Whitfield’s stories.
This collection is worth twice the cost! Even if you only read a few at a time, you’ll enjoy the stories as you go.
I agree. I think his prose is just as tight as Hammett’s.
Never heard of these, but I’m intrigued, Rick. Also: I absolutely LOVE that cover!!!
Lo and behold, the book is available on Kindle Unlimited (read for free) so this book alone is worth the monthly fee. Just downloaded it.