Callaghan was five feet ten and thin. He had sevenpence halfpenny and a heavy smoker's cough. His arms were a little too long for his height and his face was surprising.

Slim Callaghan had been hired by beautiful Cynthis Meraulton to stop her cousins getting her step-father's money. But when the old man is murdered, the only suspect with no alibi and a giant motive is Cynthis.

Slim always played his cases the way they came, but it turned out the Meraulton job had more twists than a hangman's rope.

The Urgent Hangman was originally published in 1938.

'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times

'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times