HUGH NORTH

Full Name:	Hugh North
Nationality:	American
Organization:	G-2
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	F. Van Wyck Mason
Time Span:	1929 - 1968

ABOUT THE SERIES

Hugh North is an agent with G-2, Military Intelligence.

From the first recorded assignment in 1930 where he has the rank of Captain to his final mission as a Colonel in 1968, Hugh North combines a keen analytical mind with a penchant for action. Toss in a dashing quality that is highly attractive to women and you have a hero perfect for four long decades.

The author's love of traveling is clearly shown in the rich detail that abounds in each adventure. The locations for these combination spy and mystery novels are wide and varied, from the frigid ceiling of the world in the Himalayas to the arid and parched land outside Tangier. The capitals of the world and the backwater ports and towns are equally portrayed so well you truly feel there.

As mentioned, the stories are really a combination of espionage and murder mystery, especially the earlier one (pre-WWII) when North was primarily an investigator for the Army's Criminal Investigation Division of G-2. Later this changed as the Second World War chilled into the Cold War and North became an adventuring intelligence officer rather than a police inspector.

Despite the long period of writing ('30-'68), the character does not age very much. He is in his early to mid 30's when the series starts and is in his mid to late 40's when the last adventure takes place.

North is first and foremost a detective, able to spot clues and contradictions when most people miss them. He is tall and handsome with a face that women find appealing without being overly attractive. He is well liked by his fellow males becoming an easy close confidant to many without trying. These traits make him someone people enjoy talking to and he is a great listener with a superb memory.

As the series changes over time and North becomes more of a man of action than a solver of murder mysteries, his attention to detail remains but his puzzle-solving skills morph to plan making. He still remains, though, an intrepid bloodhound when his dander gets up.

Note: The short stories contained in The Seven Seas Murders were re-released several years later in books entitled Shanghai Sanctuary and The Munition Ship Murders.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	26
First Appearance:	1930
Last Appearance:	1968

The number of books is listed as being 26 and yet 31 are shown.

The difference is caused by the various listings I have seen which show different things so I decided to add to the confusion.

There are 25 novels and 1 collection of short stories, hence my 26 count.

There are 4 omnibus collections of previously released novels which are often treated as a unique novels.

There is also one rewrite of a previous novel.

1 Seeds Of Murder

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1930

Hugh North is a guest at a dinner party of a wealthy stock broker when the broker's partner is found hanged, an apparent suicide. The broker's own death the next night from a stabbing makes North determined to find the killer. Also intriguing are the three seeds found at each site.

2 The Vesper Service Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1931

The attempts on the life of Judge Mackaye seem to be the work of the underworld involved in gang wars but Hugh North believes the truth lies in the true identity of a WWI traitor known as the Vesper.

3 The Fort Terror Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1931

Stopping at an American army post in the Phillipines, Hugh North is one of the guests at a dinner in which the story of a buried treasure is mentioned and one of the fellow guests is certain he holds the answer. When he goes missing, North is pressed into service to find him and solve the murders that ensue.

4 The Yellow Arrow Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1932

Hugh North is pulled off a case involving smuggled machine-guns to investigate the murder of a Naval Intelligence officer in Cuba near Guantanamo. The dead man had been on the trail of a German trouble maker, as had two other agents who had mysteriously disappeared.

5 The Branded Spy Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1932

In Honolulu chasing a possible Russian spy, Hugh North has to change gears when a young woman is found dead, floating off the docks of a powerful steel magnate. Evidence points to espionage but was she spying for the Americans or for the Japanese, and who killed her and why?

6 The Shanghai Bund Murders
aka The China Sea Murders
Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1933

When North finds hidden in a coin a message detailing Chinese weapon breakthroughs, he knows the agent who last had it was killed and now North has it. Note: This was revised in 1959

7 The Sulu Sea Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1933

As North heads to meet with a Malay former agent for Japan, an American shoots the man and flees to a missile base nearby, making it hard for North to find the killer. Note: This was revised in 1958

8 The Budapest Parade Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1935

Blackmail over past indiscretions is the key behind an attempt by foreign powers to acquire a chemical formula of a substance invaluable in war. Someone onboard the train North is riding is behind the threats and, when that didn't do enough, the murders.

9 The Washington Legation Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1935

Back in Washington, North is on the trail of spies out to acquire the latest in American weapon technology. What he finds is murder, considerable diplomatic hanky-panky, and a skeleton that glows green.

10 The Seven Seas Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1936

A collection of four North adventures taking place around the world. "Shanghai Sanctuary" takes place in the Far East. "The Repeater" is in Africa. Central America is the locale for "Port Of Intrigue". "The Munition Ship Murders" takes place onboard a ship.

11 Captain North's Three Biggest Cases

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1936

Omnibus of three previous novels:
The Vesper Service Murders,
The Yellow Arrow Murders, and
The Branded Spy Murders.

12 The Castle Island Case

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1937

In Bermuda, a group of men and women are conspiring to undertake a multi-million dollar deal that North must find a way to stop.
Note: This was revised in 1960 as The Multimillion Dollar Murders.

13 The Hong Kong Airbase Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1937

It is to Hong Kong that North is sent next. An American airline company has come up with a formula for an emergency fuel compound that can give an aircraft incredible range. North must provide protection for the formula but on the day he arrives, it is stolen and its inventor killed.

14 The Cairo Garter Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1938

North cuts short a well earned vacation in the south of France to hurry to join up with an ocean liner his friend Kilgour is on. The help needed concerned a major gun-running ring that North's friend is following.

15 The Singapore Exile Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1939

The area is Southeast Asia for this assignment which has North going against agents from a good assortment of nations, all vying for control of formula for greatly improved steel used in military armor. North gets promoted to Major.

16 The Bucharest Ballerina Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1940

North finds himself stuck in a gorgeous villa in Romania where murder is the order of the day as numerous parties go in search of a highly covetted formula. He also finds that the exotic Contesse di Bruno is really a Connie Fletcher from Kansas.

17 Military Intelligence - 8

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1941

Omnibus of three previous novels:
The Washington Legation Murders,
The Cairo Garter Murders, and
The Bucharest Ballerina Murders.

18 The Rio Casino Intrigue

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1941

While already on an assignment in Sao Paulo, North is sent a coded directive to head to Rio to assist the State Department in finding a ship, name destination unknown, carrying a large shipment of gold for a would-be dictator planning to overthrow the Brazilian government.

19 Oriental Division G-2

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1942

Omnibus of three previous novels:
The Fort Terror Murders,
The Shanghai Bund Murders, and
The Sulu Sea Murders.

20 The Man From G-2

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1943

Omnibus of three previous novels:
The Yellow Arrow Murders,
The Cairo Garter Murders, and
The Rio Casino Intrigue.

21 Saigon Singer

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1946

From Manila to Saigon, North is hot on the trail of a lady spy who has a list that he must retrieve even as others are as determined to take it from both of them.

22 Dardanelles Derelict

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1949

Somewhere behind the Iron Curtain was an American agent holding plans for the newest Communist jet technology and North has to find him and get him out.

23 Himalayan Assignment

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1952

Jonkhar is a small nation in the Himalayan Mountains that the U.S. wants as a friend but which is ruled by an anti-West leader that North must somehow persuade.

24 Two Tickets For Tangier

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1955

Forced to cut his vacation short, North is in a foul mood when he heads to Tangier to find out what the Soviets are up to in the North African port city. The lovely Marya might help soothe him but then there the fake North causing trouble.

25 The Gracious Lily Affair

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1957

As North tries to find which of five people in Bermuda is the mastermind behind a nefarious plot to start another world war, his own bosses are determined to stop North.

26 The Multimillion Dollar Murders

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1960

This is a rewrite of the earlier novel The Castle Island Case.
In Bermuda, a group of men and women are conspiring to undertake a multi-million dollar deal that North must find a way to stop.

27 Secret Mission To Bangkok

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1960

North's task is to guard an American missile scientist as he heads to Bangkok but the Soviets and the Chinese both want to get their hands on him.

28 Trouble In Burma

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1962

As he seeks a fallen plane with a missile that must be destroyed, North finds that atmosphere in Burma quite unhealthy, especially when near the luscious Madame Bo.

29 Zanzibar Intrigue

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1963

North has but three days to find and rescue a CIA agent hiding in Zanzibar but there are many others looking for him for less noble purposes.

30 Maracaibo Mission

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason, F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1965

Somewhere in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, the Soviets have a secret lab where they have created a lightning weapon that North must steal or destroy.

31 The Deadly Orbit Mission

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1968

The Soviets claim that one of their nuclear missiles has gone crazy and is now orbiting the planet. North must find the truth before the Pentagon launches WWIII.

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories: 8

First Appearance: 1929

Last Appearance: 1937

{{comments}}

1 Anti-Tank

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1929

Published in the 1st April Issue of Three Star Stories
[plot unknown]

2 Kamerad

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1929

Published in the 2nd April Issue of Three Star Stories
[plot unknown]

3 Murder on Swan Island

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1934

Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, May 26, 1934
[plot unknown]

4 Port of Intrigue
aka Port of Peril
Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1934

Published in Short Stories, June 2, 1934
[plot unknown]

5 Crime of the Legion
aka The Repeater
Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1934

Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Dec 8, 1934
[plot unknown]

6 Explosion
aka The Munition Ship Murders
Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1935

Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Mar 30, 1935
[plot unknown]

7 Shanghai Sanctuary

Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1935

Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Dec 10, 1935
[plot unknown]

8 An Enemy at the Dinner Table
aka The Plum-Colored Corpse
Written by F. Van Wyck Mason
Copyright: 1937

Published in Short Stories, Jun 25, 1937
[plot unknown]

RADIO / AUDIO

Number of Episodes: 0

First Appearance: 1945

Last Appearance: 1945

Network: ABC

REGULAR CAST
Staats Cotsworth Hugh North [ 1 ]
Joan Alexander "the girl" [ 1 ]

{{comments}}

1 The Man From G-2

aka Major North - Army Intelligence. The programs contained mysteries taken from adventures depicted in the novels. According to the great book on radio programming by Jim Cox, there were 39 episodes, each 30 minutes long. They ran April 12-May 24, 1945 (Thursday) at 7:30 pm, June 29-Aug. 24, 1945 (Friday) 10 pm, and Sep. 1 1945-Feb. 2, 1946 (Saturday) 8:30 pm.

RELATED LINKS

MY COMMENTS

I would recommend strongly the entire library of Hugh North adventures as not only damn good yarns but also two other noteworthies: very impressive travelogues and quite acceptable modern history books.
As the travelogue, the author painstakingly brings the various regions North visits alive in rich and full detail. Smells, sounds, and just feelings are all captured and passed on to the reader.
As the history book, the author can gain a tremendous feeling of the world before, during, and after the Second World War. Most impressively is the attitude and atmosphere just before hostilities commenced.
The Hugh North chronicles are well worth your time.

GRADE

My Grade: A-

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1			Seeds Of Murder Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1930 Hugh North is a guest at a dinner party of a wealthy stock broker when the broker's partner is found hanged, an apparent suicide. The broker's own death the next night from a stabbing makes North determined to find the killer. Also intriguing are the three seeds found at each site.

2			The Vesper Service Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1931 The attempts on the life of Judge Mackaye seem to be the work of the underworld involved in gang wars but Hugh North believes the truth lies in the true identity of a WWI traitor known as the Vesper.

3			The Fort Terror Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1931 Stopping at an American army post in the Phillipines, Hugh North is one of the guests at a dinner in which the story of a buried treasure is mentioned and one of the fellow guests is certain he holds the answer. When he goes missing, North is pressed into service to find him and solve the murders that ensue.

4			The Yellow Arrow Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1932 Hugh North is pulled off a case involving smuggled machine-guns to investigate the murder of a Naval Intelligence officer in Cuba near Guantanamo. The dead man had been on the trail of a German trouble maker, as had two other agents who had mysteriously disappeared.

5			The Branded Spy Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1932 In Honolulu chasing a possible Russian spy, Hugh North has to change gears when a young woman is found dead, floating off the docks of a powerful steel magnate. Evidence points to espionage but was she spying for the Americans or for the Japanese, and who killed her and why?

6			The Shanghai Bund Murders aka The China Sea Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1933 When North finds hidden in a coin a message detailing Chinese weapon breakthroughs, he knows the agent who last had it was killed and now North has it. Note: This was revised in 1959

7			The Sulu Sea Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1933 As North heads to meet with a Malay former agent for Japan, an American shoots the man and flees to a missile base nearby, making it hard for North to find the killer. Note: This was revised in 1958

8			The Budapest Parade Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1935 Blackmail over past indiscretions is the key behind an attempt by foreign powers to acquire a chemical formula of a substance invaluable in war. Someone onboard the train North is riding is behind the threats and, when that didn't do enough, the murders.

9			The Washington Legation Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1935 Back in Washington, North is on the trail of spies out to acquire the latest in American weapon technology. What he finds is murder, considerable diplomatic hanky-panky, and a skeleton that glows green.

10			The Seven Seas Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1936 A collection of four North adventures taking place around the world. "Shanghai Sanctuary" takes place in the Far East. "The Repeater" is in Africa. Central America is the locale for "Port Of Intrigue". "The Munition Ship Murders" takes place onboard a ship.

11			Captain North's Three Biggest Cases Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1936 Omnibus of three previous novels: The Vesper Service Murders, The Yellow Arrow Murders, and The Branded Spy Murders.

12			The Castle Island Case Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1937 In Bermuda, a group of men and women are conspiring to undertake a multi-million dollar deal that North must find a way to stop. Note: This was revised in 1960 as The Multimillion Dollar Murders.

13			The Hong Kong Airbase Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1937 It is to Hong Kong that North is sent next. An American airline company has come up with a formula for an emergency fuel compound that can give an aircraft incredible range. North must provide protection for the formula but on the day he arrives, it is stolen and its inventor killed.

14			The Cairo Garter Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1938 North cuts short a well earned vacation in the south of France to hurry to join up with an ocean liner his friend Kilgour is on. The help needed concerned a major gun-running ring that North's friend is following.

15			The Singapore Exile Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1939 The area is Southeast Asia for this assignment which has North going against agents from a good assortment of nations, all vying for control of formula for greatly improved steel used in military armor. North gets promoted to Major.

16			The Bucharest Ballerina Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1940 North finds himself stuck in a gorgeous villa in Romania where murder is the order of the day as numerous parties go in search of a highly covetted formula. He also finds that the exotic Contesse di Bruno is really a Connie Fletcher from Kansas.

17			Military Intelligence - 8 Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1941 Omnibus of three previous novels: The Washington Legation Murders, The Cairo Garter Murders, and The Bucharest Ballerina Murders.

18			The Rio Casino Intrigue Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1941 While already on an assignment in Sao Paulo, North is sent a coded directive to head to Rio to assist the State Department in finding a ship, name destination unknown, carrying a large shipment of gold for a would-be dictator planning to overthrow the Brazilian government.

19			Oriental Division G-2 Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1942 Omnibus of three previous novels: The Fort Terror Murders, The Shanghai Bund Murders, and The Sulu Sea Murders.

20			The Man From G-2 Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1943 Omnibus of three previous novels: The Yellow Arrow Murders, The Cairo Garter Murders, and The Rio Casino Intrigue.

21			Saigon Singer Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1946 From Manila to Saigon, North is hot on the trail of a lady spy who has a list that he must retrieve even as others are as determined to take it from both of them.

22			Dardanelles Derelict Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1949 Somewhere behind the Iron Curtain was an American agent holding plans for the newest Communist jet technology and North has to find him and get him out.

23			Himalayan Assignment Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1952 Jonkhar is a small nation in the Himalayan Mountains that the U.S. wants as a friend but which is ruled by an anti-West leader that North must somehow persuade.

24			Two Tickets For Tangier Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1955 Forced to cut his vacation short, North is in a foul mood when he heads to Tangier to find out what the Soviets are up to in the North African port city. The lovely Marya might help soothe him but then there the fake North causing trouble.

25			The Gracious Lily Affair Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1957 As North tries to find which of five people in Bermuda is the mastermind behind a nefarious plot to start another world war, his own bosses are determined to stop North.

26			The Multimillion Dollar Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1960 This is a rewrite of the earlier novel The Castle Island Case. In Bermuda, a group of men and women are conspiring to undertake a multi-million dollar deal that North must find a way to stop.

27			Secret Mission To Bangkok Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1960 North's task is to guard an American missile scientist as he heads to Bangkok but the Soviets and the Chinese both want to get their hands on him.

28			Trouble In Burma Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1962 As he seeks a fallen plane with a missile that must be destroyed, North finds that atmosphere in Burma quite unhealthy, especially when near the luscious Madame Bo.

29			Zanzibar Intrigue Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1963 North has but three days to find and rescue a CIA agent hiding in Zanzibar but there are many others looking for him for less noble purposes.

30			Maracaibo Mission Written by F. Van Wyck Mason, F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1965 Somewhere in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, the Soviets have a secret lab where they have created a lightning weapon that North must steal or destroy.

31			The Deadly Orbit Mission Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1968 The Soviets claim that one of their nuclear missiles has gone crazy and is now orbiting the planet. North must find the truth before the Pentagon launches WWIII.

Number of Stories:	8
First Appearance:	1929
Last Appearance:	1937


1			Anti-Tank Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1929 Published in the 1st April Issue of Three Star Stories [plot unknown]

2			Kamerad Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1929 Published in the 2nd April Issue of Three Star Stories [plot unknown]

3			Murder on Swan Island Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1934 Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, May 26, 1934 [plot unknown]

4			Port of Intrigue aka Port of Peril Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1934 Published in Short Stories, June 2, 1934 [plot unknown]

5			Crime of the Legion aka The Repeater Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1934 Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Dec 8, 1934 [plot unknown]

6			Explosion aka The Munition Ship Murders Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1935 Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Mar 30, 1935 [plot unknown]

7			Shanghai Sanctuary Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1935 Published in Detective Fiction Weekly, Dec 10, 1935 [plot unknown]

8			An Enemy at the Dinner Table aka The Plum-Colored Corpse Written by F. Van Wyck Mason Copyright: 1937 Published in Short Stories, Jun 25, 1937 [plot unknown]


Number of Episodes:	0
First Appearance:	1945
Last Appearance:	1945
Network:	ABC

REGULAR CAST
Staats Cotsworth	Hugh North [ 1 ]
Joan Alexander	"the girl" [ 1 ]


1	The Man From G-2 aka Major North - Army Intelligence. The programs contained mysteries taken from adventures depicted in the novels. According to the great book on radio programming by Jim Cox, there were 39 episodes, each 30 minutes long. They ran April 12-May 24, 1945 (Thursday) at 7:30 pm, June 29-Aug. 24, 1945 (Friday) 10 pm, and Sep. 1 1945-Feb. 2, 1946 (Saturday) 8:30 pm.