book cover of Black Stars Campaign
 

Black Stars Campaign

(1924)
(The second book in the Black Star series)
A novel by

 
 
. Two mystery books by Johnston McCulley are bound together in this Kindle book: Black Star & Black Star's Campaign

The Black Star: A Detective Story
The Black Star is a master crook who enjoys taunting the police with hints about his crimes. A wealthy man and his chauffeur (shades of Batman) decide to apprehend him. This is a cleverly written book and a fun read rather than a serious thriller. It should be read in the spirit of jocularity.
The Black Star was the author's second most popular character (after Zorro), a criminal mastermind pursued by millionaire Roger Verbeck-Flagellum and his driver/partner Muggs, a former criminal. Black Star was what was once termed a "gentleman criminal", in that he does not commit murder, nor does he permit any of his gang to kill anyone, not even the police or his arch enemy Roger Verbeck. He is always seen in a black cloak and a black hood on which is embossed a jet black star.
The Black Star and his gang used "vapor bombs" and "vapor guns" which rendered their victims instantly unconscious, a technique which pre-dated the Green Hornet's gas gun by several decades.

"Black Star's Campaign" (1919)
The follow-up to "The Black Star, A Detective Story." The Black Star is a master criminal, a likable rogue who prefers to outsmart his opponents and the police. His nemesis is adventurer Roger Verbeck, a wealthy and welll-meaning (but not always terribly clever) do-gooder. Millionaire Roger Verbeck is aided by his sidekick, Muggs, an ex-con in France who has been taken under Verbeck's wing.

About The Author
American author Johnston McCulley (1883 - 1958) wrote hundreds of stories, 50 novels, and Hollywood screenplays, and he is best known as the creator of the character Zorro.
McCulley was a reporter for The Police Gazette and a World War I public affairs officer. Aside from Zorro, McCulley created other pulp characters, including Black Star, The Spider, The Mongoose, and Thubway Tham.Many of McCulley's characters - The Green Ghost, The Thunderbolt, and The Crimson Clown - were inspirations for other masked heroes. He was born in Illinois and died in 1958 in Los Angeles, California

Genre: Mystery

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