This
psychological thriller by Margaret Millar remains a classic of the genre nearly
60 years after publication and begins the with dysfunctional family business
heir and (down market!) hotel room recluse, Miss Helen Clarvoe, receiving
a rusing phone call from her old school-mate and short-time sister-in-law,
Evelyn Merrick, which lures her from the sanctity of her closeted environs into
an underworld of extortion, pornography, vengeance, and, of course,
murder. What is notable about this short book is how Millar skilfully
cajoles the reader into seeing (and believing?) her central character's point
of view point throughout the book only to expose the disturbing truth about her
right at the end. Beast in View won the 1955 Edgar Allan Poe Award
for best novel and its author, Margaret Millar, who wrote over 40 books, was
married to maestro crime writer, Ross MacDonald. Ye could do a lot worse!
Sure it's shockin' stuff!
So good in fact I bought it and read it twice! A big influence on The Dualist too!
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