Scorcher Novels

Having resolved (kind of) the mystery of The Mysterious Mr. Hawkins, let's open up another can of worms.

I mentioned a boys' adventure series called Scorcher Novels and I have two examples in front of me. But they're from two different publishers.

The first example is The Secret of Black Abbey, which introduces the staff and pupils of St. Vincent's College. It was written by Edmund Burton (Edmund B. Childs) and, I believe, it's one of the first two books published in the series. I'm basing this on a back cover advert which lists two upcoming titles.

The Scorcher Novels series was published by Shurey's Publications Ltd. 1 Farringdon Avenue, London E.C.4 and was probably edited by Charles Shurey, who had co-founded the company with his brother in the 1890s.

The Secret of Black Abbey is undated with no clue as to when it was published. However, Dennis Gifford once claimed that the series was launched on 20 April 1932 [perhaps the date stamp from the British Library?]. This sounds about right; it was towards the end of Shurey's Publications which was sold to William Stevens Ltd. in around 1933; and the rear cover advertises the "next two books on sale May 31." Again according to Dennis, the original series ran to 12 numbers, presumably folding in September 1932.

Although the books are not numbered, the following is how the books are listed on the inside front cover of both Sharp-Shooter Sam and Boko and the Bruiser. (My thanks to Andy Richards of Cold Tonnage Books for this information.)

Scorcher Novels
1 Burton, Edmund, The Secret of Black Abbey (Apr 1932, 65pp, 2d)
2 Brisbane, Coutts, Lord of the "Lightning" (Apr 1932, 2d)
3 Douthwaite, L. C., The Gold Trail (31 May 1932, 64pp, 2d)
    * Given as F. C. Douthwaite on cover
4 Brisbane, Coutts, Make-a-bit Dick (and Boko the Croc) (31 May 1932, 2d)
5 Whitley, Reid, The Black Spider (28 Jun 1932, 2d)
6 Brisbane, Coutts, Boko Does It Again (28 Jun 1932, 2d)
7 Brisbane, Coutts, Wheels of Fortune (Jul 1932, 2d)
8 Burton, Edmund, Mystery of the Crescent (1932, 2d)
9 Saxon, Walter G., "Two Punch" Bob (1932, 2d)
10 Brisbane, Coutts, Boko's Lucky Dip (1932, 2d)
11 Saxon, Walter G., Sharp-Shooter Sam (1932, 2d)
12 Brisbane, Coutts, Boko and the Bruiser (1932, 2d)

Incidentally, Walter G. Saxon was the pen-name of Edwy Searles Brooks.

Some of the novels were subsequently reissued in identical format (and at the same price) in c.1937 by Sharman Ellis Ltd., a Gramol Publications Ltd. spin-off. I have a single copy from this series, coincidentally another St. Vincent's College yarn by Edmund Burton. However, thanks to John Eggeling (Todmorden Books) and one of his customers I've been able to fill in a few of the other titles in the Scorcher Novels listing.

Scorcher Novels
1
? Brisbane, Coutts, Make-a-bit Dick and Boko the Croc (c.1937, 64pp, 2d)
3 Burton, Edmund, Mystery of the Crescent (c.1937, 64pp, 2d)
4 Brisbane, Coutts, Wheels of Fortune (c.1937, 64pp, 2d)
5 Burton, Edmund, The Secret of the Black Abbot (c.1937, 64pp, 2d)
? Whitley, Reid, The Black Spider (c.1937)
? Brisbane, Coutts, Boko Does It Again (c.1937)

8
9
10 Brisbane, Coutts, Boko's Lucky Dip (c.1937)

Sharman Ellis also published a romance series which I've never seen, although I know of one number:

Romance Novel Library
1
2 Cross, Vivian, Her Actor Lover (c.1937)

Any further information on any of the above series would be very welcome.

Update (23 May 2007)
The following two cover scans come care of John Eggeling of Todmorden Books. Thanks, John

The top book of the two may be numbered on the spine but it's impossible to tell because of the tape. The lower of the two is Scorcher Novels no. 4.

Update (9 Oct 2008)

Another cover. My thanks to David Ainsworth for this one.

The cover gives the author as F. C. Douthwaite but the title page correctly identifies him as L. C. Douthwaite, a prolific writer of crime fiction and boys' stories.

Update (13 January 2017)

My thanks to Andy Richards of Cold Tonnage Books, who has sent me a corrected listing of the first series and the cover scan below.