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joemkl 's review for:

The 39 Steps by John Buchan
4.0
adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

For the first spy novel, this was bloody great. I read it in one go, and I'm so glad I did. It's fast paced and punchy, and the plot is exciting.

There is a hefty dose of casual racism, however, and the main character is a bit of a selfish, wreckless ass, which endangers people often.

I feel like this wouldn't be published today but for a book from over a century ago, it's very good.

Bonus fact: This book contains the word 'funk', which I never knew is over a century old.