Boston Blackie: Stories Around the Opium Lamp is a collection of thrilling short stories penned by the talented Jack Boyle. The book follows the adventures of the charming and enigmatic Boston Blackie, a reformed safecracker turned detective who navigates the seedy underbelly of early 20th century America.

Boyle's writing is crisp, engaging, and full of suspense. The way he weaves intricate plots with unexpected twists and turns is truly masterful. Boston Blackie is a complex and fascinating character, with a moral compass that constantly teeters on the edge between right and wrong.

The stories in this collection are fast-paced and action-packed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Boyle's vivid descriptions bring the world of Boston Blackie to life, transporting readers to a time and place filled with danger, intrigue, and excitement.

Overall, Boston Blackie: Stories Around the Opium Lamp is a must-read for fans of classic detective fiction. Jack Boyle's writing is as sharp as ever, and the collection is sure to leave readers craving more of Boston Blackie's thrilling escapades.

Book Description:
Boston Blackie had his birth in the imagination of a self confessed “opium eater.” Jack Boyle was a San Francisco newspaper man who became dependent upon the drug to make his deadlines, lost his job, and turned to crime to support his habit. He served several prison terms and while incarcerated in Colorado began writing a series of short stories for the American Magazine based on his experiences. Boston Blackie was a much darker character in these early stories than he became in later incarnations in book, film, radio and television, which dropped his opium dependence. This collection presents the first four Boston Blackie stories to be published, prefaced by an autobiographical piece by Boyle, who wrote them all under the pseudonym “No. 6606,” his prisoner number. - Summary by Winston Tharp