Sexton Blake: Confederation Rising

Synopsis:
The greatest criminals in Britain, Europe and America are mysteriously disappearing. Something nefarious is afoot—something that will change the face of crime for years to come.

Robert Murray Graydon (1890-1937) was an American author who wrote under the pennames Robert Murray and Murray Roberts. His father was prolific author William Murray Graydon, who wrote numerous adventure novels and over 260 Blake tales.

Robert Murray Graydon became a professional writer at the age of 16, when his first story was published in Chums. His first Blake adventure The Detective’s Ordeal was published in Union Jack #675 in September 1916. In all he wrote more than a hundred Blake tales, many featuring The Criminals’ Confederation, a web of criminals that enveloped the entire globe.

The full Confederation saga spans close to 70 tales which ran in the Union Jack and Sexton Blake Library from 1916 to 1926. It begins with The Hidden Hand, a tale that marked the debut of the master criminal “The Bat”. Gentleman cracksman, forger, confidence trickster, and master of disguise, the Bat immediately became one of the most popular characters in the Blake canon. No less popular, though far more sinister, was Jason Reece, a criminal mastermind who made his debut in The Mysterious Mr. Reece. It was his mind that helped craft the Criminals’ Confederation and his guiding hand that—in the words of Blakeologist Mark Hodder—shaped it into “the most widespread and insidious criminal organisation ever created.”

This is the fifth of 14 volumes that collects the Criminals’ Confederation saga in its entirety. It includes: The Missing Crooks, Tracked by Wireless, Held as Hostage, The White Liner, and The Stolen Yacht. All of the tales have been republished for the very first time. Enjoy!