Men of Affairs by Roland Pertwee

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Men of Affairs by Roland Pertwee

(4 User reviews) 1009

By Evelyn Fischer Posted on Mar 18, 2026

In Category - Modern Literature

Authors: Pertwee, Roland, 1885-1963 Published By : Pertwee, Roland, 1885-1963

Book Language: English

Okay, I have to tell you about this book I just finished. Picture this: London, 1920s. A rich and powerful man, Sir Charles, is found dead in his study. The police call it a heart attack. But his daughter, Joyce, knows something is wrong. She finds a mysterious note in his pocket and a strange symbol on his desk. She believes he was murdered, and the official story is a cover-up. The problem? She’s a young woman in a man’s world, and no one will listen. So, she does the only thing she can think of: she secretly hires a down-on-his-luck former soldier, Anthony 'Barry' Barrington, to investigate. Barry soon realizes he’s not just looking for a killer; he’s stumbled into a dangerous conspiracy involving secret societies, international spies, and a plot that could shake the foundations of the British government. It’s a proper old-school thriller that starts with a single question—was it murder?—and explodes into a race against time. If you like your mysteries with a dash of high-stakes adventure and characters you can actually root for, you need to pick this up.

File: Men of Affairs by Roland Pertwee

Roland Pertwee's Men of Affairs is a cracker of a thriller from 1922 that hasn't lost its pace. It throws you straight into the action and doesn't let go.

The Story

When Sir Charles Hanworthy dies suddenly, his sharp-witted daughter Joyce refuses to accept the simple explanation. Convinced he was killed, she turns to Anthony Barrington, a man trying to forget the horrors of the Great War. Barry takes the job mostly for the money, but he quickly finds there's much more at stake. His investigation leads him from London's elite clubs to its shadowy back alleys, uncovering a secret society known as 'The Men of Affairs.' This isn't just about one murder; it's about a conspiracy aiming to control the nation's fate. Barry and Joyce become an unlikely team, dodging threats and deciphering clues, racing to expose the truth before the conspirators silence them for good.

Why You Should Read It

What really makes this book sing is the partnership between Joyce and Barry. Joyce isn't a damsel in distress; she's clever, brave, and drives a lot of the investigation. Barry is a fantastic lead—world-weary, pragmatic, but with a solid core of decency. Their dynamic feels fresh even a century later. Pertwee also has a gift for atmosphere. You can almost smell the cigar smoke in the clubrooms and feel the chill of the London fog. The plot is a twisting, satisfying puzzle, but it's the human element—the cost of war, the fight for justice, and a touch of reluctant romance—that gives it heart.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves classic adventure mysteries in the spirit of John Buchan or early Hitchcock films. It’s for readers who want a smart, fast-paced story with characters who feel real. If you think older books might be stuffy, Men of Affairs will prove you wrong. It’s a thrilling, surprisingly modern-feeling ride that proves a good mystery, with guts and heart, is truly timeless.