Gaston Max Series by Sax Rohmer

The elusive Oriental villain known as Mr. King masterminds an insidious plot to hold London's wealthy at his mercy. His henchmen have already killed one socialite, and more are threatened. Hot on the trail are two of Sax Rohmer's greatest detectives, Gaston Max and Inspector Dunbar, as they undertake a case that threatens to destroy the cream of British society.

Four brilliant men have died mysteriously -- and the only clue is the carved tail of a golden scorpion, left beside their bodies. The man behind the horror calls himself "The Scorpion," and he clearly is a man of superior cunning. "Scorpion!" Years before the whispered word had thrilled and alarmed Dr. Stuart. He had watched the Scorpion pass--a terrifying figure, in his monkish cowl and green veil, through which baleful eyes glittered... moreFour brilliant men have died mysteriously -- and the only clue is the carved tail of a golden scorpion, left beside their bodies. The man behind the horror calls himself "The Scorpion," and he clearly is a man of superior cunning. "Scorpion!" Years before the whispered word had thrilled and alarmed Dr. Stuart. He had watched the Scorpion pass--a terrifying figure, in his monkish cowl and green veil, through which baleful eyes glittered. Now the scorpion had come again, in the form of a golden fragment, innocent enough in appearance, but in fact the symbol of a malevolent and desperate. It is up to the finest detectives of France and England join forces to stop the Scorpion and the twisting trail takes them through the haunts of London's underworld to the seamy opium dens of Chinatown -- and from there into "the Lair of the Scorpion." less

'From high above my head came a rhythmic whirring; not that of a flight of birds nor that of an airplane propeller: rather the amplified hum of a mosquito. I stood still and stared upwards.'Descending with a hawklike motion was a gigantic bat!'It had a sort of vague luminosity. The incredibly long body was of a gleaming purplish-gray color... more'From high above my head came a rhythmic whirring; not that of a flight of birds nor that of an airplane propeller: rather the amplified hum of a mosquito. I stood still and stared upwards.'Descending with a hawklike motion was a gigantic bat!'It had a sort of vague luminosity. The incredibly long body was of a gleaming purplish-gray color. The wing span was no less than four yards, the legless body was close upon six feet!'Such was the start of an adventure in suspense, super-science, and sheer deviltry such as only Sax Rohmer could pen. The story of the plot to destroy all life on Earth is a page-by-page thriller you won't be able to put down. less