Book Review: A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler
Latimer used to be a political economist at an English university, until contact with Nazi economical theory left him so out of sorts that he wrote a detective novel to relax. He turned out to be quite good at writing detective stories, and has become a professional writer. Now, a combination of writer’s block and illness has brought him to a sojourn in Turkey. Latimer makes the acquaintance of Colonel Haki of the secret police, and in this way is introduced to the corpse of Dimitrios.
Dimitrios (who’s had several last names) is believed to have begun his career as a fig packer who committed robbery and murder, leaving his accomplice to hang. If the thin dossier is correct, he went on to be involved in attempted assassinations, espionage and drug dealing. But now he’s turned up dead and apparently penniless, back where he began.
Latimer finds himself fascinated by the fragmented story of Dimitrios, and out of curiosity and because it might make a good book, starts traveling around Europe to piece together the past of this corpse. What Latimer doesn’t know is that he’s not the only one interested in what became of Dimitrios, and that other party will stop at nothing to learn.
This 1939 thriller was originally published as “The Mask of Dimitrios”, which is also the name of the 1944 movie adaptation.
It’s a slow burn of a novel, primarily consisting of Latimer interviewing people who knew Dimitrios in the past, and illustrating the man’s character through his involvement with their lives. Only towards the end does actual danger intrude.
There’s a strong background of Central European politics of the 1920s-30s; the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) is one of the background incidents that influenced Dimitrios’ actions. As well, tensions between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, and the German expansionism that was about to explode into World War Two are factors here.
Content note: There’s some period ethnic prejudice and use of outdated terminology. Dimitrios was a pimp at one point and involved with human trafficking. (One of Dimitrios’ past accomplices points out the hypocrisy involved in the term “white slavery.”) Heroin addiction is described at length.
Dimitrios is an interesting character, and learning about his past unfolds nicely, with a look at the colorful people he was involved with. Latimer is a bit more of a bland character, but we learn by the end where his moral lines are drawn (not entirely on the side of law and order.)
Recommended to thriller fans who are okay with a slow beginning.
And here’s a trailer for the movie:
