Tiger by the Tail

Tiger by the Tail is a 1954 thriller novel written by British author James Hadley Chase. There are several films based on this book. Synopsis Banker Ken Holland, encouraged by his close friend Parker, throws caution to the winds and decides to visit a hooker when his wife Ann is away, despite his conscience warning him not to, and when the hooker is murdered mysteriously in her apartment, soon gets into a muddle with gangsters, hard boiled elements, police and politicians which he is left to deal with. Plot Ken Holland is advised by colleague Parker to spend time with a hooker named Fay Carson as his wife Ann is away. Fay Carson and Ken enjoy each other's company throughout the evening, and Fay introduces him to her acquaintances at the bar as well, including the owner Sam Darcy and an ex pal Gilda Dorman, who leaves soon after. That night on returning to her apartment Fay is murdered silently by an unknown assailant with an ice pick. Ken wipes all his traces and flees the apartment in terror. Fay's neighbor Mr Raphael Sweeting, a small time offender looking for a big break, always carrying a pet Pekinese dog with him, sees Ken. Soon the police and politicians in California are on the case. The police find no reason to suspect Ken or Parker. Parker tells Ken not to ever mention his name regarding Fay. Lieutenant Harry Adams and Sergeant Donovan are put on the case, each trying to solve it to advance their careers. Police commissioner Paul Howard and his despised brother-in-law Captain of police Motley are not in good terms, and Motley has married his glamorous sister Gloria to Howard only to get Howard to toe the line, for promotion. Howard tells Adams to carry on with his own investigations.