****
Sophisticated romantic mystery narrated by three different characters, each of whom is dealing with the murder of a young woman in their own way. One of them, a police detective, has to figure out who is lying, and why -- while meanwhile unraveling a bizarre love quadrangle. Beautifully constructed, introspective and moody, with only enough nuts and bolts detective work to keep things moving. Not hardboiled, but fully on par with with other noir greats from the likes of Hammett, Chandler, and Cain. First published in 1942 as a serial in Collier's, where it ran under the Cain-inspired (yet awful) title Ring Twice for Laura. Made into a film in 1944, starring Gene Tierney.
Sophisticated romantic mystery narrated by three different characters, each of whom is dealing with the murder of a young woman in their own way. One of them, a police detective, has to figure out who is lying, and why -- while meanwhile unraveling a bizarre love quadrangle. Beautifully constructed, introspective and moody, with only enough nuts and bolts detective work to keep things moving. Not hardboiled, but fully on par with with other noir greats from the likes of Hammett, Chandler, and Cain. First published in 1942 as a serial in Collier's, where it ran under the Cain-inspired (yet awful) title Ring Twice for Laura. Made into a film in 1944, starring Gene Tierney.