Alarms and Epitaphs The Art of Eric Ambler

Besides pointing out the contrasts between Ambler's late and early work, Peter Wolfe's subtle, insightful Alarms and Epitaphs also develops the continuities. Most notable among these is a fear and hatred of male authority rivaling that of Kafka; no self-starter, the archetypal Ambler hero drifts into danger and finds himself, despite his resolutions, doing the bidding of strong, decisive men who care little about him. A unique feature of Wolfe's study is a chapter on the five novels, beginning with Skytip (1951), published under the name of Eliot Reed. These collaborations with the Australian detective-story writer Charles Rodda capture both the spirit and style Graham Greene admired in Ambler when he called him "our best 'thriller' writer."