Night in Manila

Night in Manila, published in 1954 (and first published in 1953 under the title Vicious Circuit), is a noir thriller set in the steamy and seedy environs of Manila, Philippines. The action centers around the merchant ship Alvarado, docked in Manila, and from which a large sum of money has disappeared. Within hours after the cash has vanished, Mallory, the ship’s chief electrician is drugged and left for dead. In addition to Mallory, a number of other desperate people are interested in the recovery of the money: corrupt politicians, dangerous criminals, government treasury agents, and a beautiful Filipina.

Two and a half million pesos ... a lot of cash by any standard — had disappeared from the Alvarado, a merchant marine ship docked in steamy Manila Harbor. A number of grimly determined people were interested in its recovery: political outlaws, vicious criminals, the Philippine Governments Treasury Agents, an inscrutable Filipina of great beauty, and an average sort of joe named Mallory.

Only Mallory, the Alvarado’s chief electrician, didn’t want the money for himself. He was implicated involuntarily and strictly from necessity. His friend had been killed because of the money, and its theft placed his own life in jeopardy. Within hours after the cash had vanished, he had been drugged and left for dead. Next time he might not be so lucky.