Based on a real case whose lurid details scandalized Americans in 1927 and sold millions of newspapers, acclaimed novelist Ron Hansen’s latest work is a tour de force of erotic tension and looming violence. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Ruth Snyder is a voluptuous, reckless, and altogether irresistible woman who wishes not only to escape her husband but that he die—and the sooner the better. No less miserable in his own tedious marriage is Judd Gray, a dapper corset-and-brassiere salesman who travels the Northeast peddling his wares. He meets Ruth in a Manhattan diner, and soon they are conducting a white-hot affair involving hotel rooms, secret letters, clandestine travels, and above all, Ruth’s increasing insistence that Judd kill her husband. Could he do it? Would he? What follows is a thrilling exposition of a murder plan, a police investigation, the lovers’ attempt to escape prosecution, and a final reckoning for both of them that lays bare the horror and sorrow of what they have done. Dazzlingly well-written and artfully constructed, this impossible-to-put-down story marks the return of an American master known for his elegant and vivid novels that cut cleanly to the essence of the human heart, always and at once mysterious and filled with desire.
A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion: A Novel
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Book Description
From the acclaimed author of Atticus and Mariette in Ecstasy comes a stylish novel set in the hard-drinking, fast-living New York City of the Jazz Age that follows two lovers in a torrid affair on an arc of murder and sexual self-destruction.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A gripping, entertaining novel." -Los Angeles Times
“Ron Hansen has written a mordantly funny, vividly compelling and irresistibly readable chronicle of the Twenties." —Joyce Carol Oates
About the Author
Ron Hansen is the author of eight novels and three short story collections. He graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, and went on to the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop where he studied with John Irving. He is now Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J., Professor in Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University in northern California.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What begins with the heedless passion of an extra-marital affair becomes a heinous murder and finally ghostly scenes of execution in New York's electric chair, an account that moves through the reckless fantasies of clandestine trysts, romance mired in a wife's growing resentment that she isn't free to be with her lover. In 1925, Ruth Snyder is considered a "man's woman", a blonde, blue-eyed beauty with a curvaceous figure who revels in the flattery of men. Ruth's marriage to Albert Snyder has come to a point of accommodation, Albert a respected graphic artist who loves opera, card parties with neighbors and working on home projects. Ruth loves the night life, the appreciative glances of men, bored senseless by her mate. In an era when divorce is difficult, the Snyder's remain married for their daughter, Ruth enjoying nights out "with the girls", Albert anesthetizing his discontent with alcohol.
When unhappily married corset salesman Judd Gray meets the enchanting Ruth at an alcohol-enhanced luncheon, the attraction is immediate. An extra-martial encounter afterwards becomes the first of many. As the passion heats up, murder becomes a regular topic of conversation, Ruth adamant that she cannot go on, dazzling her lover with exotic bedroom skills. Increasing amounts of booze quell Judd's conscience, the inevitable confrontation building to an unbearable pitch... and a night of murder. Alcohol is indeed a major player in the unfolding tragedy, Prohibition and heady financial times ushering in a celebratory atmosphere where the public frequently flaunts the law, the spirits flowing, legal or not.... Read more ›
When unhappily married corset salesman Judd Gray meets the enchanting Ruth at an alcohol-enhanced luncheon, the attraction is immediate. An extra-martial encounter afterwards becomes the first of many. As the passion heats up, murder becomes a regular topic of conversation, Ruth adamant that she cannot go on, dazzling her lover with exotic bedroom skills. Increasing amounts of booze quell Judd's conscience, the inevitable confrontation building to an unbearable pitch... and a night of murder. Alcohol is indeed a major player in the unfolding tragedy, Prohibition and heady financial times ushering in a celebratory atmosphere where the public frequently flaunts the law, the spirits flowing, legal or not.... Read more ›
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Based on a true story from the late 1920s. Ruth Snyder was a blond, blue-eyed beauty when she married her husband Albert in 1915. Everywhere she went heads turned. Albert was thirteen years older than Ruth, and together the couple had one daughter. They lived in Queens Village, New York.
Albert was often demeaning to his wife, sometimes drinking too much, and when he had free time, he chose to spend it doing things that he alone enjoyed. Initially, Ruth tried to please her husband, but it wasn't long before, she grew tired of being ignored by her husband. Flirtatious, and aware of the effect her beauty had on men, she got pleasure seeing their reaction to her teasing ways. Judd Gray was one of these men.
Ruth met Judd Gray, a corset salesman in a diner, and the two hit it off. Ruth was ripe for a little excitement in her life, and it wasn't long before the two began a torrid love affair. Judd, like Albert had a drinking problem. He was also unhappy in his own marriage. He finds Ruth totally irresistible. Once Ruth is sure she has Judd under her spell, she begins to plot a way to kill her husband, and the execution of that plan includes Judd. Judd admits, later that he felt, " hypnotized and helplessly dominated by her. "
This novel was addictive. It begins with a bumbled crime scene, and investigation. Along the way the reader learns of Ruth and Arthur's passionless marriage, and more about their life together, followed by the intimate details of Ruth and Judd....A.K.A. "lover boy " and their intense, reckless affair.... Read more ›
Albert was often demeaning to his wife, sometimes drinking too much, and when he had free time, he chose to spend it doing things that he alone enjoyed. Initially, Ruth tried to please her husband, but it wasn't long before, she grew tired of being ignored by her husband. Flirtatious, and aware of the effect her beauty had on men, she got pleasure seeing their reaction to her teasing ways. Judd Gray was one of these men.
Ruth met Judd Gray, a corset salesman in a diner, and the two hit it off. Ruth was ripe for a little excitement in her life, and it wasn't long before the two began a torrid love affair. Judd, like Albert had a drinking problem. He was also unhappy in his own marriage. He finds Ruth totally irresistible. Once Ruth is sure she has Judd under her spell, she begins to plot a way to kill her husband, and the execution of that plan includes Judd. Judd admits, later that he felt, " hypnotized and helplessly dominated by her. "
This novel was addictive. It begins with a bumbled crime scene, and investigation. Along the way the reader learns of Ruth and Arthur's passionless marriage, and more about their life together, followed by the intimate details of Ruth and Judd....A.K.A. "lover boy " and their intense, reckless affair.... Read more ›
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ron Hansen is a brilliant writer. He has taken a story from the twenties of love, lust and murder and helped us to forget the facts and become involved in the story. 'The Postman Rings Twice' is a film that is often talked about as one of the best films of the noir era. This novel takes it from the noir into the tough, hardboiled murder mystery.
Ruth and Judd, as they will become known to all, were lovers, and both of them were married, to other people. Judd was so transfixed with Ruth that he would do anything for her, much to his regret. The story opens with Ruth's nine year old daughter, Lorraine, finding her mother tied up with rope and writhing in he hallway outside her bedroom. She started to untie her mother, but Ruth told her to run across the street and get the neighbor. The neighbors came, Lorraine's father's body was found in the bedroom, and when Ruth was told he was dead, she yelled, "Oh, my darling, Albert". Lorraine thought this was strange since her father had never been a darling to anyone. As the story proceeds we find the story of Ruth and Judd and Lorraine and Albert. Ruth, was hard pressed to really act except to protray her sexy self, and this was appreciated by the police and all who came in contact. However, it gave her away, and no one was a fool. It was not too soon that the story came tumbling out, but not as it was known to Judd.
This is such a well written and human story. Everyone knows the back story, but told in this genre, with such fierceness, the people in the story come to life. I never liked Ruth or Judd, but I came to understand a little of their lives. Lorraine was left at times to fend for herself while Ruth and Judd had their assignations, and this came to the fore at the murder trial.... Read more ›
Ruth and Judd, as they will become known to all, were lovers, and both of them were married, to other people. Judd was so transfixed with Ruth that he would do anything for her, much to his regret. The story opens with Ruth's nine year old daughter, Lorraine, finding her mother tied up with rope and writhing in he hallway outside her bedroom. She started to untie her mother, but Ruth told her to run across the street and get the neighbor. The neighbors came, Lorraine's father's body was found in the bedroom, and when Ruth was told he was dead, she yelled, "Oh, my darling, Albert". Lorraine thought this was strange since her father had never been a darling to anyone. As the story proceeds we find the story of Ruth and Judd and Lorraine and Albert. Ruth, was hard pressed to really act except to protray her sexy self, and this was appreciated by the police and all who came in contact. However, it gave her away, and no one was a fool. It was not too soon that the story came tumbling out, but not as it was known to Judd.
This is such a well written and human story. Everyone knows the back story, but told in this genre, with such fierceness, the people in the story come to life. I never liked Ruth or Judd, but I came to understand a little of their lives. Lorraine was left at times to fend for herself while Ruth and Judd had their assignations, and this came to the fore at the murder trial.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I'd hoped for
Initially, I was drawn to read this book because of its cheesy, overwrought title, and I expected the book to be a fun read based on the couple of reviews I read beforehand. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nancy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quick fun read
Based on a true Story, the author gets your attention and keeps it. I may have been more interested than others because I grew up in Queens New York where most of the story takes... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Barbara Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truth is stranger than fiction
I found this book thrilling, just like one of those you want to read all night, non-stop. We are curious as to what's next, even though we know the outcome of the book, since it... Read more
Published 14 months ago by L. Da Vinci
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read, but James M. Cain Did It First and Better
Having heard about A WILD SURGE OF GUILTY PASSION on NPR, where author Ron Hansen was interviewed, I was pretty fired up to read this novel. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jonathan M. Lampley
2.0 out of 5 stars
Thin
The level of writing is high, and the book is quite readable, but it seemed like a padded magazine article. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Aristophanes
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Sordid Affair...
Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Girl convinces boy to murder her jerk husband. While not your standard love story, it is an easily recognizable literary plotline. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Gregory Zimmerman
3.0 out of 5 stars
It read like a tabloid news story
The premise seemed intriguing enough. I love crime novels (and the book cover certainly grabs attention! Just couldn't get into it, though. Read more
Published 20 months ago by mhcv
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great historical fiction
Ron Hansen never fails to deliver and this story, giving a highlighted glimpse into the past, is fascinating. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Peggy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Monster Within
This is a masterfully crafted novel based on the 1927 murder of Albert Snyder at the hands (quite literally) of his wife Ruth and her lover, Judd Gray. Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. Wallace
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing; smoothly written; but not among Hansen's best
This is the eighth novel Ron Hansen has written and the seventh that I have read. It can fairly be called an historical novel. Read more
Published 22 months ago by R. M. Peterson
