Review of "Don Winslow Breaks the Spy Net," by Frank V. Martinek

 Review of

Don Winslow Breaks the Spy Net, by Frank V. Martinek

Four out of five stars

The battle against the Scorpion continues

 Published in 1941, this book predates the direct involvement of the United States in World War II. However, it was raging in Europe and China at the time, so there are references to what was to come. Don Winslow and his buddy Red Pennington are operatives of U. S. naval intelligence and once again do battle against the forces of the international spymaster known as the Scorpion. He is a worthy adversary, having the guile, financial resources and ruthlessness of a Bond villain.

 In this case, national secrets regarding new devices have been stolen along with a list of agents. The Scorpion’s operatives are clearly responsible, and they lead Don and Red into a recurring fight that leaves people on both sides of the fight injured or dead. Even innocents such as medical people are killed without remorse.

 While it is very formulaic in the sense that it is one story in a series featuring the main adversaries, this story is still a good one. It is an example of the YA adventure stories for boys that slightly predate the U. S. involvement in World War II. Even though the Scorpion loses a round, he lives to fight another day and with the resources of a Bond villain, the setback will only be temporary.