Pathway To Paradise is a light novel written in 1941 by popular author of the time Maysie Greig. Although it has adventure, intrigue, romance and scheming Nazis, Maisie's breezy style is (she admits) written as if she is sending an overseas wire at her own expense.
Handsome ladies man Ashley Wood appears to be the British First Secretary in Karpeti, a small town on a beautiful West Indies island. In reality, he is an agent assigned to find out how German submarines resting offshore are being supplied, which the German Minister Herr Schmidt claims he knows nothing about, and Nazis don't lie. His secretary June suspects and supports his secret job, because of course she has always been in love with him. Sometimes in these novels the boss is in love with the secretary and sometimes the secretary is in love with the boss. It is assumed by both of them, and the island at large, that they will one day marry.
Ashley was staking out a warehouse on the deserted side of the island when the American pilot Peter Slade and his fiance Sandra crash their small plane into the beach, and all plans go south when Ashley falls in love with Sandra and Sandra falls in love with Ashley. There are a few complications, such as Sandra being one of the wealthiest heiresses in America and already engaged to Peter, but their love leaves the way clear for Peter and June to become a couple as well. It takes 300 pages, but it's possible they will all see reason and give us a happy ending.
To her credit Maysie throws a few twists I didn't see coming, such as the Germans capturing Ashley on his wedding day and leaving him bound up in a burning house, and Peter crashing his plane again (this time with the two women) deep in the jungle amidst the primitive natives with their wild dancing and voodoo rituals. It's not all rum and sodas at the Embassy. Many times I wondered if Maysie would get them all to the altar on time, and in what combination.
Reading is so interesting, even light novels written solely for entertainment - they all leave an impression. I feel like I know these people and will remember them. From somewhere in 1941 this book has found me, and all I had to do was open it to be introduced to adventures in the West Indies. It was nice to be there for a few days.
My copy is a hardcover Triangle Book, which you know I love to collect, clean and tight with an intact dust jacket. Such a pleasure to read.
My other Maysie Greig reviews:
1941 / Hardcover / 227 pages
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