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(CC) Photo: Jerry Bauer
Michael Gilbert on the back cover of Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens, 1982

The Doors Open, published by Hodder and Stoughton in England in 1949 and by Walker and Company in the United States in 1962, is the third novel by the British mystery and thriller writer Michael Gilbert. Like his first two books, it features Inspector Hazlerigg, although not in a major role. It is, in fact, a very diffuse book in terms of its characters. Angus McMann, who was the chief protagonist of Gilbert's previous book, They Never Looked Inside, is briefly mentioned on the first page and makes a later appearance as a minor character. Hazlerigg does not appear until page 24 and thereafter only at intervals throughout the book. There are, in actuality, three other protagonists who, along with Hazlerigg, share the role of driving the narrative. One is Noel Anthony Pontarlier Rumbold ("Nap"), a junior solicitor in his father's London firm. Nap had spent four months on dangerous missions with the French maquis in occupied France during the war and is, apparently, still a Lieutenant-Colonel, D.S.O. A few years later he will be a main character in Gilbert's well-received novel Death Has Deep Roots. Patrick (Paddy) Yeatman-Carter, an acquaintance of Nap's, is another lead character, as is his uncle, Alfred Lord Cedarbrook, a man with an astonishing background, much sought after by both the Foreign Office and the War Office during WWII and now, apparently, still affiliated with the Secret Service. As well as being a linguist, explorer, soldier, and diplomat, he also has a law degree. All three of them, to one degree or another, carry out private investigations, sometimes with the backing of Hazlerigg, sometimes not.

Style and Contents

As in some of his other early novels, Gilbert does not seem to have made up his mind about what kind of a narrative style to use. It is a third-person narrative, told by an omniscient narrator, but it veers between straightforward description, somewhat chatty semi-humorousness or facetiousness, and occasional hard-boiled grimness. It might in fact, be an early prototype of what later came to be called a caper novel. However, befitting Gilbert's status as a practicing solicitor, there are also numerous scenes set in one kind of court or another, and a number of other scenes revolving around finance and financial institutions, all of them done with his customary expertise.

Plot and Title

Stripped of all narrative complications, the basic story is simple. First Yeatman-Carter, then Nap, and finally Cedarbrook, become suspicious of the activities of a venerable, well-known London insurance company that is now being run, unbeknownst to its august Board of Directors, in a fraudulent manner by its manager, James Legate. Although Legate is actually a long-time, clandestine Communist, possibly even a Soviet agent, Legate is a competent businessman who has made Stalagmite into an important company while making himself a very wealthy man. He is, however, in actuality, defrauding the company, knowingly bringing it close to financial ruin, and feathering his own nest in the process. As Paddy, Nap, and Cedarbrook try to determine what is actually happening, Legate takes ruthless action to defend his position, instigating at least two murders and attempting to kill, or at least seriously injure all three of the amateur investigators. Legate represents a recurring character in many of Gilbert's novels: an apparently upright, prosperous businessman who is actually either the secret head of a criminal organization or simply a dishonest and highly corrupt man of affairs.

In a Prologue to the novel, we are given an example of incongruous cause and supposed effect and are told that this aptly describes the events to follow. This may be true, but it may not be apparent to all readers.

Reception and/or Later Appraisals

The New York Times did not review it upon its American publication in 1962 and there are no discernible British reviews. The only easily found appraisal is in Barzun and Taylor's encyclopedic Catalogue of Crime:

The author's least satisfactory work. The usually competent Inspector Hazlerigg stays on the sidelines while a pair of male amateurs (too reminiscent of the bright young things of the thirties) look into possible crookedness in a large insurance firm, thus inviting the usual sequence of non-fatal retaliation.^[1]

Notes

↑ Jacques Barzun & Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime, Harper & Row, New York, "Second Impression Corrected", 1973, page 208

[1] Jacques Barzun & Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime, Harper & Row, New York, "Second Impression Corrected", 1973, page 208

[1]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Image|Michael Gilbert Portrait - smaller.jpg|left|100px|Michael Gilbert on the back cover of [[Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens]], 1982}}
-'''The Doors Open''', published by xxx in UK and xxx in USA is the third novel by the British mystery and thriller writer [[Michael Gilbert]]. Like his first two books, it features [[Inspector Hazlerigg]]. Angus McMann, who was the protagonist of Gilbert's previous book, [[They Never Looked Inside]], is briefly mentioned on the first page. As is Hazlerigg. Mentioned again on page 24.
+'''The Doors Open''', published by [[Hodder and Stoughton]] in England in 1949 and by [[Walker and Company]] in the United States in 1962, is the third novel by the British mystery and thriller writer [[Michael Gilbert]]. Like his first two books, it features [[Inspector Hazlerigg]], although not in a major role. It is, in fact, a very diffuse book in terms of its characters.  Angus McMann, who was the chief protagonist of Gilbert's previous book, [[They Never Looked Inside]], is briefly mentioned on the first page and makes a later appearance as a minor character. Hazlerigg does not appear until page 24 and thereafter only at intervals throughout the book. There are, in actuality, three other protagonists who, along with Hazlerigg, share the role of driving the narrative.  One is [[Nap Rumbold|Noel Anthony Pontarlier Rumbold ("Nap")]], a junior solicitor in his father's London firm. Nap had spent four months on dangerous missions with the French [[maquis]] in occupied France during the war and is, apparently, still a Lieutenant-Colonel, D.S.O. A few years later he will be a main character in Gilbert's well-received novel ''[[Death Has Deep Roots]]''. Patrick (Paddy) Yeatman-Carter, an acquaintance of Nap's, is another lead character, as is his uncle,  Alfred Lord Cedarbrook, a man with an astonishing background, much sought after by both the Foreign Office and the War Office during WWII and now, apparently, still affiliated with the [[U.S. Secret Service|Secret Service]]. As well as being a linguist, explorer, soldier, and diplomat,  he also has a law degree. All three of them, to one degree or another, carry out private investigations, sometimes with the backing of Hazlerigg, sometimes not.
-Patrick (Paddy) Yeatman-Carter is the hero. One evening on the way home by train he deters Mr. Britten, a fellow passenger WWWW (and nearby neighbor), from shooting himself because of having just been fired his job as Junior Cashier at a large insurance company. The following evening, however, he learns that his neighbor's body has been found in a nearby river. The local police have no reason not to consider it suicide. Paddy, however, has vague suspicions and goes to long to interview Legate, the director of the company. He notices an employee, Brandison, the Chief Cashier, acting suspiciously and soon after he himself is let go from his own job at a Chartered Accountant's office. He begins to follow the employee, who, he thinks, has been involving with his firing. This leads to a situation where he is about to be badly beaten up in a tony Italian restaurant but is saved by the fortuitous intervention of Major McMann, whom he had known during the War. He has also enlisted another youthful ally, a Mr. Noel Anthony Pontarlier Rumbold ("Nap") a junior solicitor in his father's firm. Had spent four months on dangerous missions with the French maquis in occupied Franceduring the war and is a Lieut.-Colonel, D.S.O. They suspect that the Chief Cashier may be up to "funny business" and that Britten had discovered it.
+==Style and Contents==
+As in some of his other early novels, Gilbert does not seem to have made up his mind about what kind of a narrative style to use. It is a third-person narrative, told by an omniscient narrator, but it veers between straightforward description, somewhat chatty semi-humorousness or facetiousness, and occasional hard-boiled grimness. It might in fact, be an early prototype of what later came to be called a [[caper]] novel.  However, befitting Gilbert's status as a practicing solicitor, there are also numerous scenes set in one kind of court or another, and a number of other scenes revolving around finance and financial institutions, all of them done with his customary expertise.
-"Paddy... was typical of his class.  A good regimental officer, with a capacity for hard work, a measure of persistence, and a good deal of loyalty towards that institution with which he happened to be connected.  Not overgifted with brains perhaps...."
+==Plot and Title==
+Stripped of all narrative complications, the basic story is simple. First Yeatman-Carter, then Nap, and finally Cedarbrook, become suspicious of the activities of a venerable, well-known London insurance company that is now being run, unbeknownst to its august Board of Directors, in a fraudulent manner by its manager, James Legate. Although Legate is actually a long-time, clandestine Communist, possibly even a Soviet agent, Legate is a competent businessman who has made Stalagmite into an important company while making himself a very wealthy man. He is, however, in actuality, defrauding the company, knowingly bringing it close to financial ruin, and feathering his own nest in the process.  As Paddy, Nap, and Cedarbrook try to determine what is actually happening, Legate takes ruthless action to defend his position, instigating at least two murders and attempting to kill, or at least seriously injure all three of the amateur investigators. Legate represents a recurring character in many of Gilbert's novels: an apparently upright, prosperous businessman who is actually either the secret head of a criminal organization or simply a dishonest and highly corrupt man of affairs.
-McManns attempts to interest Hazlerigg on page 79 with the events up till then but is brushed off.
+In a Prologue to the novel, we are given an example of incongruous cause and supposed effect and are told that this aptly describes the events to follow. This may be true, but it may not be apparent to all readers.
-An elaborate, and well-organized attempt to frame Paddy for a murder is carried out -- the victim fortunately survives, but Paddy is charged by the police. He is released but Nap realizes that they are out of their depth and that help is needed. He brings in his uncle, Alfred Lord Cedarbrook, a man with an astonishing background, much sought after by both the Foreign Office and the War Office during WWII. As well as being a linguist, explorer, soldier, and diplomat, he also has a law degree. After being told the story, he instantly decides that Brandison, the Chief Cashier, is obviously involved with drugs. He also knows of Legate, who, he says is a man of somewhat mysterious background. He also recognizes him from sometime in the past but is unable to recall precisely where.
+==Reception and/or Later Appraisals==
+The [[New York Times]] did not review it upon its American publication in 1962 and there are no discernible British reviews. The only easily found appraisal is in [[Jacques Barzun|Barzun]] and Taylor's encyclopedic ''[[A Catalogue of Crime|Catalogue of Crime]]'':
+<blockquote>The author's least satisfactory work. The usually competent Inspector Hazlerigg stays on the sidelines while a pair of male amateurs (too reminiscent of the bright young things of the thirties) look into possible crookedness in a large insurance firm, thus inviting the usual sequence of non-fatal retaliation.<ref>[[Jacques Barzun]] & Wendell Hertig Taylor, ''A Catalogue of Crime'',
+[[Harper & Row]], New York, "Second Impression Corrected", 1973, page 208</ref></blockquote>
-On page 112 Hazlerigg begins to take a more active interest.
+== Notes ==
+<references/>
-Cedarbrook spends days going through thousands of old newspaper photographs and eventually finds a photograph of Legate taken in 1911. This leads them to look for a doctor who might have also been in the photo. They eventually track him down in the coastal town of Seaport. Paddy goes to interview him.
-On page 144 Hazlerigg becomes more active and starts an active intervention. Complications ensue. Dr. Potts is found dead in his garage of carbon monoxide poisoning, an apparent suicide.  But Hazlerigg is suspicious.
-Page 153, Hazlerigg becomes a main character and has a meeting with Paddy and Nap. Asks them to keep their eyes open in their professions. Lord Cedarbrook has vanished, however. Hazlerigg warns the private detective who found Dr. Boggs.
-GILBERT RECURRING THEME: CRIMINAL GANG ORGANIZED AND DIRECTED BY someone who is no obviously of the criminal class or underground, generally a respected businessman.
-A month passes. Paddy has drinks with City types who talk about Legate and some hard-assed things his company has recently done.  Or stupid. He and his financial paper editor talk about this.  There are hijinks and crime at high levels in prominent insurance companies over the years.