Peter Craig #01 - Twenty-Fourth Level

British writer Kenneth Benton (1909-1999) was employed as an MI6 officer in 1937, He served for 31 years in the position highlighted by two years in Madrid during WWII, an experience that led to the capture of 19 spies during that time. After his intelligence career ended, Benton wrote spy, crime, and historical fiction and served as president of the Crime Writer's Association in 1974. His most successful work is the espionage series starring an international police advisor, Peter Craig. There were six installments published during Benton's lifetime and an additional one posthumously. Spy Guys and Gals gave the series a B+ and I wanted to try it out. I began with the series debut, Twenty-Fourth Level, originally published by Collins in hardcover in 1969.

On page 35 of this 220 pager, readers learn that 35-year old Scottish man Peter Craig was educated at the University of Cambridge and entered a career in law-enforcement. In the late 1950s, Craig, now serving as a civil servant in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British government, held the position of Overseas Police Advisor in the West African British colony of Sierra Leone. Now, Craig works as an international Police Adviser for the Diplomatic Service as a specialist in counter-terrorism and guerrilla warfare. In the novel's beginning, Craig is on his way to Chile to provide lectures to a police academy. Upon an invite from his old friend Sir Wallace, a British Ambassador, Craig is asked to stay a few nights in Rio so they can catch up. 

Prior to his arrival in Rio, Craig promised a friend that he would look into some mysterious blue diamonds that appeared in London recently. Through a variety of interviews Craig tracks the source to a very bad guy named Graben. Previously, Craig was involved in Graben's capture and imprisonment on a variety of criminal charges. Graben escaped an African prison years ago and now works as a mining operator in town. Shortly after Graben's discovery Craig is nearly killed by an arrow while smoking on the Ambassador's veranda. Further, the people Craig interviewed regarding the diamonds are all mysteriously murdered. Graban is savagely covering his tracks and location. 

Normally, this type of “find the killer” tale is wrought with a lot of interviews, walking the beat, and fumbling through leads, some of which can prove to be boring literary exercises. However, Benton is a better storyteller and helps elevate the tension with a more direct approach. 

In a captivating bit of romanticism, Craig begins a relationship with a 19 year-old woman named Alcidia that is dating Graben. It's a unique beginning as this beautiful and sexy vixen refuses to believe Craig's testimony on Graben's criminal background. But, as the narrative unfolds, Alcidia's protective walls deteriorate as she begins to trust Craig. Together, the two seek Graben before more killings occur. 

Benton is a smart and entertaining storyteller with a striking flavor for dialogue and descriptions. His technical explanations of the diamond industry reminded me of Desmond Bagley, specifically his 1971 novel The Freedom Trap. I love how adventure authors incorporate flavorful history and technical nuances about a country's exports and Benton does this quite well without boring the audience. His narrative includes the aforementioned assassination attempt (an excellent opening scene!), a really fun dating angle for Craig, a suitable biography on the lead character, a mining expedition, a breakout, and the intriguing inner-workings of colonialism that separate the classes.

If Twenty-Fourth Level is any indication of the quality in the Peter Craig series then I'm in for a real treat. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and I think you will too. Get the vintage hardcover HERE and the poorly edited digital edition HERE.