Last week for FFB I reviewed Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s. This week, I’m reviewing the companion volume, Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s. Mischief by Charlotte Armstrong (1950) is the weakest story in this collection. A sociopathic babysitter threatens the child she’s supposed to take care of. In The Blunderer by Patrickia Highsmith (1955) a man commits a murder and another man wants to commit a murder. Their paths cross with unexpected consequences.
The Beast in View by Margaret Millar (1955) is the best mystery in this volume. Millar uses the novel (for the time) device of multiple personalities to tell a compelling story. Millar keeps the reader guessing right until the conclusion. I liked Fools’ Gold by Dolores Hitchens (1958) because Hitchens shows what happens when peer pressure builds to produce murder. Three young people plan a theft, but of course things go wrong and deaths result. Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s offers better novels than the previous volume. I hope the Library of America continues this series.
The Hitchens is the only one of these I haven;t read but they are all great authors from the era – these anthologies are a great idea.
Sergio, I liked Hitchen’s FOOL’S GOLD. BEAST IN VIEW was my favorite in this collection.
I’ve read the Millar, but not the others. The Library of America is doing some interesting things.
Rick, if more LIBRARY OF AMERICA volumes in this series are published, I’ll buy them and read them.
FOOL’S GOLD was used by Godard as the basis for the film BANDE A PARTE.
Dan, I didn’t know that. I’ll have to find a copy of BANDE A PARTE. Thanks for the info!
I read MISCHIEF years ago and saw the movie. Not one of Armstrong’s best. You can’t go wrong with Millar, a terrific writer.
Jeff, MISCHIEF was the weakest choice in this volume. I haven’t seen the movie.
George, I have a book each by Patricia Highsmith and Margaret Millar, though I have read neither. Their stories in this anthology sound interesting, particularly Highsmith’s.
Prashant, Patricia Highsmith is a “chilly” writer. I admire her Ripley novels a lot. Margaret Millar is a top-notch writer.
Norman Mailer disparaged every one of these authors, the cad! It’s taken me awhile to understand how wrong he was, but now…finally I can read them without feeling déclassé.
Mathew, Norman Mailer–like Donald Trump–like to disparage other people. I wouldn’t let Mailer’s opinions hold you back from reading anyone.
What kind of short term memory loss are you suffering, poor blighter? This book just came out. Maybe the books inside this book are oldies, but the book containing the books is new.
George – I pre-ordered this collection so it has been here a few weeks. I look forward to the time when I can read all the novels. Hopefully soon.
Scott, I liked the Holding novel best in the first volume and the Millar best in the second volume.