A review by actualresultsmayvary
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Thirty-Nine Steps was an expectedly fun little book which highly resembled the Sherlock Holmes books in it's style. The blurb states that it was the first modern spy thriller and I am happy to believe that is the case and it's very well done if so. I think the little note at the front to Thomas Nelson also adds to the notion that this was just a fun idea thrown together. The story is fast paced and whilst perhaps a little simple and contrived in plot it is still captivating due to the narration style and likable protagonist. 
I do think it's very set in the time it was written and there was probably more to get out of it if you knew about the politics of the time and it is obviously very coloured by the ongoing first world war and it seems quite a bold choice to rewrite the cause of the war in that time.
There was the slightly painful view of the British Empire as a great and bold thing and a sickening patriotism and dotted racism and classism which is common of books of this age but is still very uncomfortable to read and does take away from the enjoyment.