“The Valley of Death” is a classic novel in the style of the “Red Pinkerton.” A cold-blooded English spy, a deacon-laid-off, a hypnotizing “counter”-character, his underground army, a mad inventor, a superman—bureaucrat’s slave—with a Cheka identity card and a revolver in his pocket—this motley crew hunts in the novel for a fantastic and deadly substance, experiencing amazing adventures along the way.