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Women Crime Writers: Eight Suspense Novels of the 1940s & 50s: A Library of America Boxed Set Hardcover – September 1, 2015
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Though women crime and suspense writers dominate today’s best seller lists, the extraordinary creations of the mid-century female pioneers of the genre are largely unknown. Their work, influential in its day and still vibrant and extraordinarily riveting, is long overdue for rediscovery. Now The Library of America makes these classic books available in a deluxe two-volume collector’s edition.
From the 1940s, here are Vera Caspary’s famous career girl mystery Laura; Helen Eustis’s intricate campus thriller The Horizontal Man; Dorothy B. Hughes’s In a Lonely Place, the terrifyingly intimate portrait of a serial killer; and Elisabeth Sanxay Holding’s The Blank Wall, in which a wife in wartime is forced to take extreme measures when her family is threatened.
The 1950s volume includes Charlotte Armstrong’s Mischief, the nightmarish drama of a child entrusted to a psychotic babysitter; Patricia Highsmith’s brilliant The Blunderer, which tracks the perverse parallel lives of two men driven toward murder; Margaret Millar’s Beast in View, a relentless study in madness; and Dolores Hitchens’s Fools’ Gold, a hard-edged tale of robbery and redemption.
Boxed set contains:
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1940s (Library of America #268)
Women Crime Writers: Four Suspense Novels of the 1950s (Library of America #269)
Both volumes are available separately in print and e-book editions.
LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.
- Print length1512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherLibrary of America
- Publication dateSeptember 1, 2015
- Dimensions5.38 x 2.77 x 8.52 inches
- ISBN-101598534513
- ISBN-13978-1598534511
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The novels in the anthology are page-turners, every one." —Megan Abbott
"With its gutsy, crackling eight novels, Women Crime Writers challenges the perception of American crime fiction as a genre shaped by men, and dominated by brooding male figures." —Brigit Katz, Women in the World
"A stunning collection." —Nancy Bilyeau, The Big Thrill
"The original female crime writers every Gone Girl fan should know." —Caitlin MacDougall
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Library of America (September 1, 2015)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 1512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1598534513
- ISBN-13 : 978-1598534511
- Item Weight : 3.11 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.38 x 2.77 x 8.52 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,229 in Short Stories Anthologies
- #14,654 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
- #55,034 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
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Top reviews from the United States
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In the mystery-noir genres, I've found myself reading twice through the earlier Crime Novels set (1883011493). And now I'm certain I may read these more than once over the years. I'm very familiar with some of these classics, Laura especially, and I'm discovering some new gems I haven't read before.
I'm writing this review to suggest a way to enjoy this set with a friend. In this case, I'm going through these with my wife, who also loves mysteries. We're reading each one and then we're also watching the classic films made of several of these. If you're thinking about investing in this set, that's a fun way to think about it -- challenge a spouse or a friend to read with you -- and then watch the films together.
Lots of fun!
I'm a Noir Nut, both on the written page and the silver screen. I also really, really like the Library of America publications so when I saw this two volume set was available I rushed right out in a buying frenzy, waving my wallet in the air to get these. Ha, ha. But seriously I have virtually all the Library of America Noir volumes-- Chandler, Hammett, Goodis, Crime Novels of the 30's and 40's, Crime Novels of the 50's and only one author is a woman-- Patricia Highsmith.
So this set fixes this problem nicely. If you love Noir buy these books. Seriously. The stories are top notch with authors I've heard of and some I haven't. Taught suspense and humor, fascinating characters portrayed as real people. And so far no one as depressing as a David Goodis' character can be. Tragic, of course, but no one so darn bleak as to be unreadable. At least so far.
I want to put in a plug for the Library of America. 99 and 44 one hundredths percent American authors, ranging from the Founding Fathers to Science fiction and popular literature bound in books that last and make a 1200 page book manageable to read.
Top reviews from other countries
Vera Caspary - "Laura". Filmed with Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb.
Helen Eustis - "The Horizontal Man." Edgar for Best First Novel.
Dorothy B Hughes - "In a Lonely Place." Filmed with Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame.
Elisabeth Holding - "The Blank Wall." Filmed in 1949 as "The Reckless Moment" and again in 2001 as"The Deep End."
Charlotte Armstrong - "Mischief." Filmed as "Don`t Bother to Knock." with Marilyn Monroe.
Patricia Highsmith - "The Blunderer." Best known for her "Mr. Ripley" novels.
Margaret Millar - "Beast in View." Edgar for Best Novel, 1955. She, along with her husband Ross Macdonald, named Grand Masters by the Mystery Writers of America.
Dolores Hitchens - "Fool`s Gold." Filmed as "Band of Outsiders."
A "must" collection for the mystery fan.

