1954’s The Savage Chase, which was published as a Lion Books paperback featuring Al Rossi cover art, came from the typewriter of Frederick Lorenz, aka Lorenz Heller, Lawrence Heller, et al, who we sampled last year in the form of 1958’s A Rage at Sea. That book was decent but not spectacular. It’s a good thing we tried him again, because The Savage Chase is excellent. Set in and around Newark, New Jersey, it centers around a rich man with a serious gambling problem. When he’s drunk, he must gamble, and when he gambles he loses. Last time it cost him $200,000.
When he turns up drunk again, someone has the bright idea to sell him to a big shot gambler, who’s of course guaranteed to make a fortune on the poor guy by merely sitting opposite him at a gaming table. He’s sold alright, but problems arise when he’s drugged, sold again, kidnapped, stolen, and generally passed from hand to hand until seemingly every hood and grifter in greater Newark feels they own a share of him. He’s not the star of the narrative—just its mostly insensate catalyst. There’s an ensemble cast, with gambler Lee Mayo and leg model Della Riordan taking on leading roles.
In concept alone, the idea of selling someone the way it occurs here is unprecedented in our reading experience. It’s a really good gimmick. The narrative hinges on a few stupid men making bad decisions and/or not being able to handle liquor, but it all works perfectly up until the last few pages, which bring the story to an ending that is a bit too pat, in our view. But it in no way ruins what has come before. Based on this book and A Rage at Sea Lorenz/Heller/et al has easily earned another read. We recommend The Savage Chase heartily.
