The Black Angel [Mass Market Paperback]

Cornell Woolrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1982

This hypnotic thriller by the father of noir exposes its heroine to a waking nightmare.

A panic-stricken young wife races against time to prove that her convicted husband did not murder his mistress. Writing in first person from her viewpoint, Woolrich makes us feel her love and anguish and desperation, as she becomes an avenging angel to rescue her husband from execution.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Woolrich was a master of the form.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

Woolrich was a master of the form. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 12, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345306643
• ISBN-13: 978-0345306647
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars wife strives to rescue husband from death row ... dull?, December 20, 2001

By 

lazza (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Angel (Mass Market Paperback)

The Black Angel has a wonderful premise: a married man is falsely convicted of murdering his mistress, with his wife then doing everything conceivable to find the real killer. And Cornell Woolrich certainly has the credentials for writing wonderful "noire" mysteries. But The Black Angel falls flat, at least for this reader. Why?? Well...

The Black Angel is in many ways a series of short stories. Our wife/heroine goes through the mistress/victim's "little black book" to find who might be the real murder. In effect each chapter of the book is a separate mini-story of the heroine confronting some strange (and sometimes dangerous) man. While each mini-story in by itself is often interesting, not enough time is really afforded for character development; it all goes by so quickly and, most often, unsatisfactorily. However The Black Angel is partially redeemed by a good (and surprising) ending.

Bottom line: not one of Woolrich's better efforts, although Woolrich fans will probably find some enjoyment from it. For Woolrich neophytes I recommend starting with one of his classics (such as Waltz Into Darkness).