Ring Lardner, best known for his sharp sports writing and hilarious short stories, takes a crack at the spy genre with this 1926 novel, and the result is something wonderfully odd.

The Story

Our narrator, a typical Lardner character (practical, a bit sarcastic, and out of his depth), heads to France for a month-long holiday. His plans for relaxation are quickly ruined when he meets the charming but clearly troubled Elsie. Before he knows it, he's been recruited—or more accurately, clumsily shoved—into helping her recover some vitally important, stolen secret documents. The chase takes them from Parisian cafes to the French countryside, with a cast of suspicious characters hot on their trail. The twist? Our hero has no spy training, no secret gadgets, and absolutely no idea what the documents actually say or why they're so important. He's just a guy trying to help a lady and get back to his vacation.

Why You Should Read It

Forget the suave, super-competent spies. The joy here is in the narrator's voice. He's hilariously observant about the absurdity of it all, complaining about the food, the confusing conversations, and the general inconvenience of being in an international conspiracy. Lardner's genius is in the dialogue and the internal monologue; you can feel the character's exasperation dripping off the page. It's a spy story told from the perspective of the most unlikely person in the room. The mystery of the documents provides the engine, but the real plot is watching a regular person use plain old American skepticism to try and solve a very European puzzle.

Final Verdict

This book is a treat for anyone who loves classic humor with a dash of intrigue. It's perfect for fans of early 20th-century American writers who enjoy a good, witty narrator, or for mystery readers looking for something different from the usual hard-boiled detective. You won't find high-stakes action here, but you will find a clever, charming, and quietly subversive story about an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation. Think of it as a vacation read with a sly smile.