Lady Killer — George Harmon Coxe

Smuggling leads to murder, with Kent Murdock caught in the middle

When the Kemnora, a stately liner on her maiden voyage, docks in Boston, Kent Murdock is there to cover the story. He's joined by Harry Felton, a reporter and one-time foreign correspondent in France. As they leave the port, Murdock notices customs officials working over some passengers, but leaves without a second thought. After all, reporters are never bothered at customs.

Only later does Murdock learn that he left with a small package in his camera bag, hidden there by someone on the ship -- and retrieved later by Felton. He goes to ask Felton why he was used as an unwitting smuggler, but finds the reporter dead on the floor of his apartment. Whatever was in that package was worth killing for, and Murdock will find it, even if it means becoming a target himself.