Leslie Charteris books

Enter the Saint (1930)

A character who eventually saturates media can inspire derision on some readers. This novella is the first longer story involving the highly original character Simon Templar, the Saint. The Saint is glib, handsome and seemingly effortless in his quest to extract a pound of flesh from criminals ...

The Saint Closes the Case (2014)

Alright, let me first say that I've avidly read my share of period adventure fiction, including loads of stuff from the 30s... and for what it's worth, I'd seen plenty of the 60s TV show. I thought I knew what to expect. In fact, I bought this book (under the title “The Last Hero”) along with 3 o...

The Saint and Mr. Teal (1995)

The suave, debonair, clever and highly devious Simon Templar (AKA The Saint) comes to us in three novellas. They are collected together because they all feature an appearance by Scotland Yard Inspector Claude Eustace Teal, his primary nemesis amongst the rozzers, but, in truth, the persistent and...

Saint and the Templar Treasure (1979)

Simon Templar is driving leisurely though the French countryside when he picks up a couple of hitch-hikers who are going to work at Chateau Ingare, a small vineyard on the site of a former stronghold of the Knights Templar. At the Chateau the Saint discovers a noble family seemingly plagued by a ...

The Saint and the Happy Highwayman (1981)

Originally published on my blog here in February 2001.In the yellow jacketed editions of the Saint stories, the full series to date of publication is listed, in what seems to be chronological order. However, The Happy Highwayman is not in its correct place. Instead of following the early Second W...

The Saint In London (1971)

Originally published on my blog here in May 2000.Another Saint book containing three stories of his adventures, and another Saint book whose original title fits its contents far better than the later on - the action may all take place in Southern England, but most of it is in fact outside London....

The Saint And The Fiction Makers (1968)

Sadly not one of the Leslie Charteris originals and it suffers for that as The Saint's creator is the master at delineating his character - others sometimes fall a little short. And so it is in this case as Templar masquerades as author Amos Klein and assists his, and the real Amos Klein's, kidna...

Saint Meets His Match (1973)

It’s impossible not to admire the sheer confidence and brio of this entry. Chateris takes the natural charm and exuberance of Simon Templar’s character and shines it outwards, so that the entire book is a sure footed exercise in unfettered and intrepid gusto. This is the indomitable hero to end a...

Follow the Saint (1971)

Originally published on my blog here in October 2000.After the anti-Fascist outburst of The Saint Plays with Fire, Leslie Charteris' next published Saint book is a collection of three stories (previously published in magazines) which are typical of an earlier period in the development of Simon Te...

The Saint and The Hapsburg Necklace (1978)

Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.The ending of the first Saint TV series, the one starring Roger Moore, and the subsequent beginning of the second, starring Ian Ogilvy, brought some more changes to the much longer running series of books. This really began when Charteris reali...

Salvage for the Saint (1983)

The novel was written by Peter Bloxsom based on the two-part Return of the Saint episode, "Collision Course" by John Kruse.

The Saint Steps in (1980)

Originally published on my blog here in April 2001.This novel, written towards the end of the war, is a typical Saint plot - beautiful woman in danger because of innocent involvement in a criminal scheme - set against the background of one of the most important industries for the war effort, rubb...

Saint Errant (1974)

Originally published on my blog here in July 2001.This collection of Saint stories is a repeat of the idea of The Saint Meets His Match. There are nine stories, each with a different woman at the centre whose name is the title of their story. There are in fact more similarities than this architec...

The Saint Abroad (1978)

Originally published on my blog here in March 1998.This is one of the later Saint books, based on the TV series (Roger Moore period) rather than coming before it. It contains two novellas, The Art Collectors and The Persistent Patriots; both were among the better TV episodes. However, like the ot...

Catch the Saint (1975)

Originally published on my blog here in February 2002.It is here that Leslie Charteris abandons, explicitly, the idea that Simon Templar's adventures are to be considered contemporary to the time of writing, though there is little in either which dates them to any particular period between the th...

The Saint In New York (1984)

Simon Templar, the Saint, Invades the Big AppleThis novel of the Saint is a period piece, harkening back to the days of the corrupt Tammany Hall where judges and politicians were bribed and paved the way of gangsters. Where police interviews used a bright sweating light and the 3rd degree. Where ...

The Saint's Getaway (1991)

The Saint Meets the Tiger (1980)

Meet The Tiger (later retitled as The Saint Meets The Tiger, but my copy has the original title) is the first story to feature Simon Templar, alias The Saint. From this first entry, it seems clear that Charteris wasn't planning to give the Saint his own series; the novel is a self-contained story...

The Saint in Miami (1940)

A mysterious summons and a hidden Nazi submarine scatter death from Miami's luxurious beach villas to the treacherous Everglades.

The Saint In Trouble (1978)

The book consisted of the following stories: The Imprudent Professor (teleplay by Terence Feely) - based on a Return of the Saint episode The Red Sabbath (story by John Kruse) - based on the Return of the Saint episode "One Black September"

The Saint Goes On (1982)

Contains the stories:The High Fence The Ellusive EllshawThe Case of the Frightened Innkeeper

Alias the Saint (1980)

Professor Smith-Smyth-Smythe of Timbuctoo was a firm believer in the cheerful hospitality of the English countrside, until he registered at the Beacon Inn, where he was drugged and otherwide treated with deliberate disdain. Of course, the fact that he was Simon Templar, The Saint, might have had ...

The Saint in Pursuit (1989)

The Saint and the People Importers (1974)

The action starts when, getting in a cab in London, Simon Templar spots a particularly lurid headline on the frontpage of a newspaper forgotten by some previous customer, describing the horrible death of a Pakistani immigrant in Soho.

The Saint In The Sun (1974)

The book consisted of 7 stories: Cannes: The Better Mousetrap St. Tropez: The Ugly Impresario England: The Prodigal Miser Nassau: The Fast Women Florida: The Jolly Undertaker Lucerne: The Russian Prisoner Provence: The Hopeless Heiress

The Saint Around the World (1970)

The book consisted of 6 stories: Bermuda: The Patient Playboy England: The Talented Husband France: The Reluctant Nudist Middle East: The Lovelorn Sheik Malaya: The Pluperfect Lady Vancouver: The Sporting Chance

The Brighter Buccaneer (1970)

Collection of short stories: The Brain Workers The Export Trade The Bad Baron The Brass Buddha The Perfect Crime The Unpopular Landlord The New Swindle The Five Thousand Pound Kiss The Blind Spot The Unusual Ending

Featuring the Saint (1980)

D IS FOR DOPE -- AND DEATH!-- A world-famous cabaret king directs an international dope racket after show-time....-- A gorgeous, stage-struck society girl wants to "live more" -- any time, any place....-- A fat German know in the trade as "a buyer and seller," a dealer in human misery.....-- And ...

Send for the Saint (1978)

The book consisted of the following stories: The Midas Double (story by John Kruse) (based on "The Double Take") The Pawn Gamble (story by Donald James) (based on "The Organisation Man")

The Saint To The Rescue (1978)

In which the Saint finds that capital punishment is a fine cure for blackmail - and what leads to that discovery is just enough to whet his appetite for adventure on his devilish tour of the U.S.A. From Florida's gold coast to San Francisco's wharf, the home of the brave and the free finds some o...

The Saint Bids Diamonds (1989)

The Saint and Hoppy Uniatz didn't go looking for trouble. But they didn't expect the barroom brawl, the gorgeous girl, or the murderous Reuben Graner and his gang. And they certainly didn't expect the two million dollar lottery ticket which read: "Pay to bearer".

The Saint Versus Scotland Yard (1973)

Prelude for War

I’ve got a sort—sort of idea he said it would prove something about how Mr Luker was a murderer, but——Oh, I don’t know!” “Is that all you can remember?” “Yes. Everything,” she said despairingly. “But doesn’t it help you ? I mean, it’s quite a lot for me to remember, really, and you’re so clever, ...

Saint in New York

As she closed the door behind her she began to whistle—which even to the most kindly and broad-minded eye would have seemed still odder. And as she went into the sitting room she caught her toe in a rug, stumbled, and said “God damn!” in a distinctly masculine baritone, and laughed cheerfully an ...

Saint Steps In

“The note said ‘Mind your own business.’ “ “Why don’t you do that, bud?” The Saint was still patient. “Where were you after that?” Again that deliberate pause. This wasn’t a man who panicked. He thought all around what he was going to say before he said it. “I was with a friend. Playin’ cards.” “...

The Saint Returns

Therefore, to explain it to anyone who may have incredibly missed that epoch-making ops, I cannot do better than repeat the explanatory note with which it was prefaced:   When, after many years of noble and lofty-minded resistance, I finally broke down and sold the Saint to the Philistines of Tel...

The Saint and Mr. Teal: Formerly Called "Once More the Saint"

Loss of memory is believed to be the cause of the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Sylvester Quell, professor of electro-chemistry, who has been missing for twenty-four hours. The professor’s housekeeper, Mrs. E. J. Lane, told a Daily Express representative that Dr. Quell left his house as usual a...

The Saint in Action

They plan the greatest of all international swindles—with armies poised and waiting for the outcome of their meeting. Outside their rendezvous, the London fog lifts briefly, revealing the figure of Simon Templar— The Saint. With cat-like tread he approaches the house, his blood racing to the thri...

The Saint in Europe

Her muscles had stifнfened during the rest, and it was agony to squeeze her feet back into her shoes, which were cut for appearance rather than comfort. Only a strained and crackling obstinacy drew the effort out of her: the mockery of his cool blue gaze told her only too frankly that he was wait...

The Saint in Persuit

He watched as Vicky Kinian and a tall man came out of the swinging glass doors and waited to step into a taxi. The girl’s companion—sharp-featured, with closely trimmed light hair—held the cab’s door for her, gave an order to the driver, and got into the back seat himself. Simon did not recognize...

Trust the Saint

You admit that was one mystery that stumped you?” “You can have it in writing if you like. But don’t make me rack my feeble brain any longer.” Dr Javers took his time, sipping a spoonful of soup and savoring it deliberately along with his moment ot trmmpn. “The subject was poisoned by carbon tetr...

Vendetta for the Saint.

In his mind’s eye, as he ran, he saw the car braking, the examination of the sleeping scooterist, the reviving and questioning of the peasant. In that way he kept a sort of theoretical clock on the progress of developments behind him against which he could continuously measure his chances of reac...

Saint Goes West

Byron Ufferlitz was saying coldly. “And stay out, you drunken bum.” Orlando Flane might have gone back to the floor a second time, if the Saint had not been interestedly holding him up. He reeled inside the supporting semicircle of the Saint’s arm, and wiped the back of his head across his bruise...

Call for the Saint

Uniatz looked at him gloomily. “Yeah, boss. I know. Half a bottle-and me wit’ a t’oist!” “Mix it with a little water and make it go farther,” Simon suggested helpfully. “Water?” Hoppy stared incredulously. “De stuff what you wash wit’?” The Saint smiled absently, thinking of other things. “You’re...

The Saint Abroad: The Art Collectors/ the Persistent Patriots

He had had to work blindly while fixing the cover in place. Now he settled back in comfort in a sitting position, leaning his back against the rough inner wood of the container with his long legs only moderately cramped. He waited and listened, and in a very few minutes he heard voices approachin...

Saint and the Fiction Makers

(Secret World Organization for Retribution and Destruction) was the ruthless institution Amos Klein had created in fiction. Who was this brilliantly imaginative writer? One man was determind to find out, and when he did, a simple kidnapping would set his destructive plan in motion. His gang had a...

Saint on Guard

“I’m sure he has a much worse one by now.” “I was wondering about that. How did it happen?” “I was expecting him. And I’m afraid he loused up the job again. Really, Allen, he did let you down. I bullied and badgered him until he was too bothered to keep two worries bouncing in his head at the sam...

Saint's Getaway

HOW  SIMON TEMPLAR  FELL  FROM  GRACE AND  STANISLAUS  WAS  UNFORTUNATE   IT all began to happen with a ruthlessly irresistible kind of suddenness that was as unanswerable as an avalanche. It was like the venomously accurate little explosion that wrecks a dyke and overwhelms a country. The Saint ...

The Saint Meets His Match

The man who had watched its approach, sitting under a tree, with the glowing end of his cigarette carefully shielded in his cupped hands, stretched silently to his feet. The car had stopped only a few yards from him, as he had expected. He stooped and trod his cigarette into the grass and came do...

Brighter Buccaneer

“Good Lord, Teal-is this a stolen treaty business?” The detective nodded slowly. “That sounds a little sensational, but it’s about the truth of it. The draft of our commercial agreement with the Argentine is going before the House tomorrow, and Whipplethwaite brought it down here on Saturday nigh...

Señor Saint

Yet the Bambú, billed as a typically Cuban night spot, was just as ineluctably as the Tropicana on the itinerary of any tourist who was stubbornly determined (as the Saint had been) to find out, regardless of the trauma to his pocketbook and eardrums, exactly what was the legendary fascination of...

Saint Intervenes

said Patricia Holm soberly, “you’ll be getting into trouble again soon.” Simon Templar grinned, and opened another bottle of beer. He poured it out with a steady hand, unshaken by the future predicted for him. “You may be right, darling,” he admitted. “Trouble is one of the things that sort of ha...

The Saint in London: Originally Entitled the Misfortunes of Mr. Teal

Why? Not for any ordinary purpose to which such counterfeits might have been put—the very idea was absurd. What for, then? He ran over everything he could recall about Nordsten. The name was not on the tip of every tongue, like the names of Rockefeller, or Morgan, but it was a name that was no le...

The Saint on the Spanish Main

But I don’t think we’ll have any trouble about that. He should be grateful to have such a tidy solution dropped into his lap. … As for you, Simon, I think I’d feel better if you went ahead and laughed at me, instead of displaying such hypocritical Christian forbearance.” “Because you’d never read...

The Saint vs Scotland Yard

Teal   Chapter I     Now there was a day when the Saint went quite mad. Of course, one might with considerable justification say that he always had been mad, anyway, so that the metamorphosis suggested by that first sentence would be difficult for the ordinary observer to discover. Patricia Holm ...

The Saint Sees It Through

How Mr. Prather said little, and Dr. Zellermann said even less     The Saint had never considered himself to be psychic. He had learned that by adding the factors of a situation he could forecast the probable moment when Death would leer at him over a gunsight, or ride the business end of a club,...

Saint Overboard

Out in the river it was practically pitch dark, except where the riding lights of anchored craft sprang their small fragments of scattered luminance out of the gloom. The Saint slid through the water without sound, without leaving so much as a ripple behind him. All of the rhythmic swing of his a...