The Saint Steps In
Encyclopedia
The Saint Steps In is the title of a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris
featuring his creation, Simon Templar
, alias The Saint. The book was first published in serialized form in November 1942 in Liberty Magazine
, with its first bound publication in 1943 in an American
edition by The Crime Club
. Hodder and Stoughton published the first British
edition in 1943.
, a young woman whose father has invented a new form of synthetic rubber requests Simon Templar
's aid when she receives a threatening note. Before long, The Saint is drawn into a web of war-related
intrigue involving what appear to be gangsters, but soon turns out to be groups with differing opinions as to what it takes to be patriotic. The book reveals that, instead of enlisting to fight in the war, Templar has instead been working behind the scenes, carrying out quiet missions against enemy agents and, unusually for the character, his efforts in this case are actually supported by law enforcement.
This is the third Saint book in a row to be set in the United States
(previously most of Templar's adventures took place in England
), following The Saint in Miami
and The Saint Goes West
, and direct reference is made to the Miami novel.
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
featuring his creation, Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
, alias The Saint. The book was first published in serialized form in November 1942 in Liberty Magazine
Liberty Magazine
Liberty is a magazine published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that covers issues involving separation of church and state, and current events in politics...
, with its first bound publication in 1943 in an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
edition by The Crime Club
The Crime Club
The Crime Club was an imprint of the Doubleday publishing company, which later spawned a 1946-47 anthology radio series.Many classic and popular works of detective and mystery fiction had their first U.S. editions published via the Crime Club, including all 50 books of The Saint by Leslie Charteris...
. Hodder and Stoughton published the first British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
edition in 1943.
Plot summary
In Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, a young woman whose father has invented a new form of synthetic rubber requests Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
's aid when she receives a threatening note. Before long, The Saint is drawn into a web of war-related
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intrigue involving what appear to be gangsters, but soon turns out to be groups with differing opinions as to what it takes to be patriotic. The book reveals that, instead of enlisting to fight in the war, Templar has instead been working behind the scenes, carrying out quiet missions against enemy agents and, unusually for the character, his efforts in this case are actually supported by law enforcement.
This is the third Saint book in a row to be set in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(previously most of Templar's adventures took place in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), following The Saint in Miami
The Saint in Miami
The Saint in Miami is the title of a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring his creation, Simon Templar, alias The Saint. As with an earlier release, Follow the Saint, the order of publication for this book was changed...
and The Saint Goes West
The Saint Goes West
The Saint Goes West is a collection of three mystery novellas by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United States in 1942 by The Crime Club, and in the United Kingdom the same year by Hodder and Stoughton....
, and direct reference is made to the Miami novel.