- Paperback
- Publisher: HarperCollins Canada / Mass Market; Reissue edition (Jan 1 1981)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0380000431
- ISBN-13: 978-0380000432
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,915,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
Laura Hunt was the ideal modern woman: beautiful, elegant, highly ambitious, and utterly mysterious. No man could resist her charms—not even the hardboiled NYPD detective sent to find out who turned her into a faceless corpse. As this tough cop probes the mystery of Laura’s death, he becomes obsessed with her strange power. Soon he realizes he’s been seduced by a dead woman—or has he?
Laura won lasting renown as an Academy Award-nominated 1944 film, the greatest noir romance of all time. Vera Caspary’s equally haunting novel is remarkable for its stylish, hardboiled writing, its electrifying plot twists, and its darkly complex characters—including a woman who stands as the ultimate femme fatale.
About the Author
Vera Caspary (1904-1987) is best known for her skillfully crafted and psychologically complex murder mysteries. Several of her books were made into films, including Laura, Bedelia, and The Man Who Loved His Wife. She was also a playwright and screenwriter, and was an important figure in the radical political causes of her day.
--This text refers to the
Library Binding
edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A CLASSIC MURDER MYSTERY...,
By
This review is from: Laura (Library Binding)
This is a classic, old-fashioned murder mystery that was first published in 1943. As such, it is written in a highly stylistic manner of a long ago era, which may take some getting used to, as it does have a definite anachronistic feel. Still, it is a stunning novel of suspense. The story revolves around Laura Hunt, a beautiful, intelligent, and independent business woman at a time in which such women were rare, indeed. She is someone to whom men are drawn, often obsessively so.When she is apparently murdered on the eve of her marriage, Detective Mark McPherson, a hardboiled, no nonsense, virile officer of the law, is assigned the case, and he finds himself smitten the minute he sees a portrait of Laura Hunt at the scene of the crime. He is determined to bring the murderer of this lovely young woman to justice. As have all the men in Laura's life, McPherson, too, becomes obsessed with her. McPherson goes full speed ahead, as new developments point the finger of suspicion from the least likely to the most likely suspect. Could it be Laura's handsome playboy fiancé? After all, though to the manor born, he has a decided penchant for money and other women. Could it even be Laura's long time friend, mentor, and spurned would be suitor, the effete and prissy, self-styled cynic and writer, Waldo Lydecker? Then a major, mind-boggling twist in the plot casts a new light on the evidence. Just who wanted the lovely Laura Hunt dead? Those who enjoy old fashioned mysteries will certainly like this book, which was made into a wonderful film noir.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful women, well-drawn men, crime done right,
By
This review is from: Laura (Library Binding)
Just finished reading this fabulous book by Vera Caspary in a delightful reprint by Feminist Press. I quite like the old time pulp detective stories with the hard-boiled detectives, the dames, the guns. They feel like comic books.This is not one of these. Though classified as pulp. this is a wonderful character study of a detective story. The plot is absorbing, the mystery is enchanting and I was kept guessing, but the real genius here is in Caspary's character development. Each character is given a voice, and their lives are detailed enough so that you feel as if you can see them. In every case, the interplay between the characters makes the story multi-dimensional, gripping, and beyond expectations. I don't find many books that keep me up at night, reading through slitted eyes that want to close. Or, at least, not many that I am able to remember the plots as I doze in and out, struggling to keep reading. This book did. And bravo to Caspary for making Laura a complex, strong, stand-alone character, not just a hanger for clothing. She was one of the first who did in this genre, and she did it fantastically well. Now I have to get "Bedelia" by the same author. I can't wait.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll fall in love with Laura Hunt,
By FRANCOIS "FCE" (France) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Laura (Paperback)
I watched the film on the French TV on a sunday evening and bought the book on the following day. It's really a tremendous plot, a good old detective novel. You'll identify yourself with the girl or the detective. Read it, or you'll miss something. As great as the best Ellery Queen, William Irish or Mary Roberts Rinehart.
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