Red in the Morning
Dornford Yates | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cecil William Mercer |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Known for | Red in the Morning, Chandos thriller series |
Red in the Morning is a 1946 adventure novel authored by English writer Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer). It represents the seventh installment in his 'Chandos' thriller collection. The narrative continues directly from the 1939 book Gale Warning, centering on characters Richard Chandos and Jonathan Mansel. In the United States, it was released under the title Were Death Denied.
Plot
The story primarily unfolds in the rural areas surrounding Pau, located in South-West France, with additional scenes set in Dieppe, Chartres, and Vendôme. Chandos and Mansel intervene to thwart a robbery orchestrated by a gang at Biarritz. Following this, they are chased by Daniel Gedge, known as "Auntie Emma," the gang’s leader who had previously been defeated by Mansel in Adèle and Co.. Returning figures include Jenny Chandos, John and Audrey Bagot, Carson, Bell, Rowley, Toby Rage, and the minor antagonist Punter. Additional foes feature Brevet, a disgraced scholar; Baron Horace de Parol, a counterfeiter and proprietor of Château of Arx; and his niece Mona Lelong ("The Stoat"), who eventually assists Chandos in escaping through submerged caves beneath the chateau.
Background
Mercer composed Red in the Morning swiftly to preserve his reputation as a best-selling novelist. A significant portion of his fortune was tied up in his residence "Cockade" near Pau—a location that had appeared in his earlier work, The House That Berry Built. The instability following World War II jeopardized his ability to continue living there.
Although wartime restrictions on printing limited its length, the novel attained considerable commercial success for its time. It demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship, with many admirers of Mercer considering it among his most outstanding creations.