James Hadley Chase : The vultures is a patient bird

  Name of Novel : The vultures is a patient bird

 Author : James Hadley Chase
 First Published : 1969 in Great Britain by Robert Hale Ltd 
                            1971 by Panther Books Ltd
 Publisher : 2008 Vasan Publications / Mastermind Books

 ISBN No. :  ISBN-10: 818988817X,  ISBN-13: 978-8189888176                        
 Pages : 175                         
 Price: 125/- MRP

The vulture is a patient bird

The sun glittered on the broad blade of his assagai. For a brief moment, he balanced the heavy stabbing spear in his black hand, then threw it with unerring aim and tremendous force at Themba's unprotected back.. High on the evening sky, six vultures began to circle patiently.
......... ( page 118 ).... from this novel  

 As most of us know, James Hadley Chase was an english writer who was hugely popular for his crime fiction. His birth name was Rene Lodge Brabazon Raymond. But he adopted a couple of pen names or various pseudonyms like James L Docherty, Raymond Marshall, R. Raymonds, Ambrose Grant and James Hadley Chase. Now most of his work is available under his pen name JHC. it is said that almost 50 of his books are transformed into books which is indicator of his success.

The vulture is a patient vulture

As I have already mentioned, this novel was published in 1969. Although novels of JHC are always a point of attraction to all of indians as their hindi translations are packed with some beautiful and exposed ladies on the front page and this was the major hindrance to readers like me who are under strict discipline under home so I confess here that through all those years I never read JHC novels.  But last year, I saw some books published from Mastermind books which do not have these semi naked pic on cover, so I grabbed the opportunity and collected whole lot of 88 books of JHC.

The vulture is a patient vulture

How the story unfolds:  The vultures is a patient bird is a story about an attempt to get a antique Borgia ring which is under the belt of mighty self proclaimed king like thespian of crime world, Max Kahlenberg. Armo Shalik has a unique modus operandi to get money. He undertakes assignment from wealthiest people of the world to facilitate their legal and illegal business or other than business. A brilliant but sadistic safe breaker Lew Fennel, a beautiful professional seductress Gaye Desmond an expert young punter Ken Jones and an ace pilot with a shady past Garry Edwards are the members of Armo Shalik team to get back the mysterious borgia ring from Kahlenberg. He is a cripple but control his property with authority of a ruthless butcher. In their expedition, Garry and Desmond takes aerial root and Fennel and Ken are directed to take pathetic road to enter in Kahlenberg territory. 

The complete story can be divided into four parts- assembly of Armo Shalik team, expedition to Drakensberg range where house of Kahlenberg is built, theft of Borgia ring and escape from thereof. A lot of pages are devoted to journey of Fennel and Jones adventures which are full of cobras, elephants, lions and rhinos. To me, this part of story is boring as slows the pace of story and nothing significantly happens apart from strained equation between Desmond and Fennel who was repelled by lust of Fennel. This also develops a close proximity between Garry and Desmond. Why it  appears to a sluggish narration, because today all are well exposed to realities of jungle, due to discovery and all other sorts of things. The third part of story is theft but it proves to bee easy for Shalik army. It is the escape from Kahlenberg House which proves fatal for team.

This story also have a character of Natalie Norman which have some ethics but she get deceived by charms of Daz Jackson, who in turn a pawn of Buenett, to get the information about the plan of Armo Shalik. Natalie Norman was able to generate the sympathy of readers otherwise all others are choosing their own destiny.

The vulture is a patient vulture

For me, it is climax where James Hadley Chase scored full points. In climax, we feel sorry for the Jones, Desmond and even Fennel as Borgia ring proves fatal to all of them and still the climax has all the ingredients which will immerse reader in its magic spell of story telling. This novel was published about 51 years ago and still have some old charm. if any body have not  got the opportunity to have a look can go for one time read. 

In India, a movie named as Shalimar was supposed to made loosely based on this story in 1978 but failed miserably at box office that time. Shalimar was written and directed by Krishna Shah. The star cast of movie include Dharmendra, Zeenat Amaan, Rex Harrisson, O P Ralhan, Shammi Kapoor etc. This film has a classic song ' ham bewafaa hargiz naa the, par ham wafaa kar na sake ). For this song Kishor Kumar got the filmfare award. Surprisingly Usha Utthup also got filfare award for one two cha cha ... for the same film.

In hindi, this novel was translated as jahreeli angoothi ( जहरीली अंगूठी ) which was published by Diamond Pocket Books whose cover photo is provided to me by Mr. Raju Jachak of Pustakon ka sansaar whatsapp group. He is ardent fan of James Hadley Chase.
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Zahreeli Angoothi (जहरीली अंगूठी)