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Victor Canning
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The Whip Hand (The Rex Carver Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Victor Canning (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 191 ratings
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The thrilling first novel in the classic Rex Carver mysteries, from the author of The Rainbird Pattern.

Meet Rex Carver, the suave and laconic 1960s London private investigator.

It starts with an easy job: Carver agrees to track down a German au pair, Katerina Saxmann, who has gone missing in Brighton. But when the security services show up at his apartment within hours of him accepting the assignment, he realises there is far more going on.

As the search leads Carver around the pleasure spots of Europe, the investigation, and his feelings for Katerina, get more complicated. But when a spectre from the continent’s past rears its head, Rex realises he might be in too deep…

With cut-glass dialogue and panache in spades, Rex Carver is the James Bond of private investigators, perfect for fans of John le Carré and Ian Fleming.

Praise for Victor Canning

‘Mr Canning’s inventiveness never flags for a moment’ Daily Telegraph

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Rex Carver Mysteries
  2. Print length
    260 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Canelo Action
  6. Publication date
    June 7, 2021
  7. File size
    3169 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B093S6S25F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canelo Action (June 7, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 7, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3169 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 191 ratings

About the author

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Victor Canning

Victor Canning

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
191 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Whip Hand
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
Rex Carver is an "every mans" PI. Not perfect but dogged to the end. A great plot with plenty of twists and turns.
One person found this helpful
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John Cobb
4.0 out of 5 stars Reviews are for wrong book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2015
I give this four stars because I expect to like it. I am writing this before even ordering the book, because all the reviews are for a book by Dick Francis - also called "Whip Hand" - not this book by Victor Canning! I just think this should be straightened out right away. Do all the reviews under Francis's book deal with this Victor Canning book?? I'm too busy to take the time to check it out. But somebody should take care of this serious glitch posthaste!
2 people found this helpful
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runread
3.0 out of 5 stars Blonde Lies and Deceptions
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
This story has an interesting plot that kept my interest despite the tedious prose. The characters were complex and devious, which added to the story. However, the story itself was often overly wordy and drawn out.
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Top reviews from other countries

geoff caple
2.0 out of 5 stars Confusing
Reviewed in Australia on August 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Just too many characters flitting in and out of a very flimsy predictable plot. The author dragged the book out for too long and then seemed in a hurry to come to a very confected ending. It was hard work trying to maintain interest, but with grit and determination I somehow saw it through.
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G MEM
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Rex Carver
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
I first read the Rex Carver books in the 1970s, but still enjoy re-reading them today. Sadly there were only 4 books featuring Rex which is a great shame because he and his partner/secretary Hilda are wonderful characters. The stories are fast moving, involving, full of incident and Rex Carver is an ideal 'hero'. Witty, adventurous and led by his heart not his head. Although I have hardback copies of the books I was delighted to find this one available for my Kindle. Rex Carver is timeless - you won't regret giving him a try. I just hope they issue the other three books.
2 people found this helpful
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Kirsty Ward
3.0 out of 5 stars Complicated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
The story moves on and all the time you are unsure what the actual plot is. The only down side is you knew she had spiked his drink.
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ian
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book, it was a good yarn. Victor Canning is such a good author, he creates a sense of atmosphere that keeps you engaged.
I’m looking forward to finding out what Mr Carver gets up next….
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FreddyBoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff !!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
For an 'oldie', first read, oooh.. 50 years ago? it still holds up well. Sort of James Bond meets Simon Templar (you might need to Google that one). Will look for more Victor Canning for a bit of reminiscence !!
Hope you enjoy the delightful complexity as much as I did !!
One person found this helpful
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