Miss Callaghan Comes to Grief is a classic noir thriller by James Hadley Chase, originally published in 1941. Set in a gritty underworld of vice, blackmail, and betrayal, the novel is a raw, fast-paced journey through the darkest alleys of crime and human corruption. The story follows journalist and investigator Dirk Williams, who is drawn into a web of deception after he begins looking into the mysterious disappearance of young girls in the city. At the heart of this sinister plot is Miss Callaghan, a beautiful and cunning woman who runs a so-called "modeling agency" that is in fact a front for one of the most dangerous and well-organized rackets in town. As Williams digs deeper, he finds himself up against corrupt officials, violent enforcers, and a system designed to silence those who come too close to the truth. The stakes become personal, and Williams must choose between walking away or risking everything to expose the truth behind Miss Callaghan's empire. Chase's prose is sharp, uncompromising, and atmospheric. He creates a world where morality is blurred, and survival often means playing dirty. The novel's taut dialogue and relentless pacing keep readers gripped from beginning to end, making it a standout in the British author's early American-set crime fiction. A chilling portrait of urban vice and systemic rot, Miss Callaghan Comes to Grief is one of Chase's most hard-hitting and socially conscious thrillers—both a gripping noir and a brutal commentary on exploitation and power.