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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting psychological noir mystery reflecting 1960 mores,
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This review is from: Best Mysteries of All Time: A Stranger in My Grave (The Best Mysteries of All Time) (Hardcover)
The mystery is built on the theme of a married woman who dreams she visits her gravestone which shows her deathday four years earlier.
This novel, written at the start of the 1960s, reflects the social mores of its time. For example, the lead character, an adult woman, is treated as if she were a child who needs guidance from adult males, racially demeaning attitudes are expressed toward those of Mexican descent, mothers try to control and mettle significantly more in their adult daughters lives then occurs in today's stories, etc.. Although the number of characters in this novel is relatively small, the protagonist is a woman, and the story deals primarily with family matters, this is a psychological noir rather than a cozy mystery. The story starts, gently and interestingly, and holds your attention throughout. The mystery unfolds in a satisfactory straight line manner with few "red herrings". However, those who enjoy happy endings may be somewhat disappointed. The physical structure of the story makes this a particularly enjoyable read. The book is divided into three main sections: 'The Graveyard', 'The City', and 'The Stranger'. Within these sections chapters are short, providing a sense of rapid progress through the story and making it easy to pause at a close breakpoint at almost anytime. If you find a cast of characters helpful as you read a novel, you may want to print the following: -Daisy Fielding Harker - The main character and the lady with the dream -Jim Harker - Daisy's husband -Stella - The Harker's maid -Ada Fielding - Daisy's divorced mother -Stan Fielding - Daisy's divorced but now remarried father -Murial Fielding - Stan Fielding's current wife -Steve Pinata - Bail bondsman and private investigator who Daisy hires -Adam Burnett - A lawyer and old friend of Jim Harker -Charles Alston - Neighbor Clinic Director -Carlos Theodore Camilla - Name about which more is sought -Juanita "Nita" Garcia Donelli - A waitress at the Velada Cafe and mother of six -Joe Donelli - Juanita's husband -Filomena Rosario - Juanita's mother -Mrs Brewster - Owner of the Velada Cafe and friend of Juanita's mother
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Family and Social Psychology Novel...,
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This review is from: Best Mysteries of All Time: A Stranger in My Grave (The Best Mysteries of All Time) (Hardcover)
This Reader's Digest Reissue of M. Millar's "Stranger.." is long overdue. Most interestingly, the author is very similar to her late husband, the better known Ross MacDonald (Ken Millar) in exploring hidden family secrets, without the hard-boiled detective (usually Lew Archer) that made her husband famous. But Mrs. Millar is expert at depicting all social classes, including Mexian immigrants, and their family interests, and has a sly humor that keeps this book amusing thruout. Possibly the book drags a bit, but still a top drawer family history suspense novel!
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