Jacobs Ladder

Edward Phillips OppenheimJul 2015

3.7

Word count: 78K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Seated at breakfast on that memorable July morning, Jacob Pratt presented all the appearance of a disconsolate man. His little country sitting-room was as neat and tidy as the capable hands of the inimitable Mrs. Harris could make it. His coffee was hot and his eggs were perfectly boiled. Through the open windows stretched a little vista of the many rows of standard roses which had been the joy of his life. Yet blank misery dwelt in the soul of this erstwhile cheerful little man, and the spirit of degradation hung like a gloomy pall over his thoughts and being. Only the day before he had filed his petition in bankruptcy.

Editor's review

Oppenheim's novel opens with dejection at the breakfast table, quickly drawing readers into a world that is orderly on the surface and unsettled underneath. The hero's small life is set off as eminently respectable by neat roses, hot coffee and a conscientious housekeeper, yet a blank misery seeps between the lines, creating a tension between the everyday and the crisis. The author excels at laying suspense with domestic detail, letting seemingly trivial worries gradually draw out larger events; the narration is brisk, the dialogue crisp, and the characters carry a touch of the charming exaggeration of old popular fiction. It is suited to being read in one sitting over a weekend or on a journey, and to readers who like a blend of classical suspense, urban adventure and light comedy. Watch for the clues in objects and dialogue, which is more rewarding than simply chasing the ending.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy a blend of classical popular suspense and light comedy
Readers who prefer stories built on domestic detail and driven by dialogue
Readers who want a light old-fashioned adventure novel to finish over a short holiday

Not a good fit for

Readers of detective fiction expecting hardcore deduction and tightly knit logic
Younger readers who dislike old-fashioned narrative voices and slow openings

Reading tips

Read the opening breakfast scene first, noting the contrast between objects and mood, then move into the main plot.
Read in sections by event, pausing at the end of each to guess what will be drawn out next.
After finishing, look back at the roses and breakfast at the start to appreciate the irony the author planted.

Copyright information
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII

FAQ

Is this book detective fiction or adventure fiction?

It is closer to a blend of classical popular adventure and light suspense than to a formal puzzle mystery. It moves through the characters' circumstances, domestic detail and dialogue, with suspense arising from the chain reaction after an orderly life is disrupted. Read it in a relaxed mood; there is no need to solve it clue by clue as a detective novel.

The opening is slow—how long do I need to persevere?

The opening is mainly a breakfast scene and groundwork for the characters' emotions, and it is not long. If the first few pages feel slow, focus on the contrasts in detail and the characters' tone of voice; the events soon gather pace. It is the slow-burning kind that reads smoothly once you are in.

Is it a good entry point for readers new to Oppenheim?

Yes. The book does not depend on earlier books in a series, and the relationships are introduced gradually at the start. Readers can first get a feel for the author's narrative pace and humour, then decide whether to explore his other works.

Comments

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About the author

Edward Phillips Oppenheim Author · British · 1866–1946

Edward Phillips Oppenheim (1866–1946) was a British novelist known for international intrigue and thriller fiction. He enjoyed great fame during his lifetime, writing 116 novels and 39 short-story collections, including The Great Impersonation, and is regarded as a pioneer of the modern spy novel; in 1927 he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. His works are tightly plotted and full of suspense, often centering on espionage, criminal mysteries, and international conspiracies, as exemplified by Jacobs Ladder and The Cinema Murder included in this collection. Public information about his early life and education is limited; the available material focuses mainly on the sheer volume of his output and the character of his themes.