i enjoy caspary very much. _laura_ is probably her most famous book, and is also a wonderful film with gene tierney. but any of her other books are still well worth reading for their psychological complexity.

_evvie_ is set in the twenties and one has to wonder if there are any autobiographical details in it. the characters are well drawn, the plot sails along, the solution is at once tragic and banal, not a bad feat. but what hypnotized me was the way the habits and the atmosphere of the roaring 20s were presented. former hippies, eat your hearts out, your grandparents were swingers with a vengeance.

its a great pity that caspary is out of print. apparently, from the list, some titles were reprinted in the 80s, as well as the paperbacks from the 70s. but, except for fans of old films and gene tierny, few people are likely to know about caspary, although most mystery fans will have heard of her contemporaries such as hammet, chandler, and cain. she is not as bloody, but she is at least as perceptive as any of them.

_bedelia_ another of her titles, may be the first mystery about a female serial killer. its just as fascinating as _laura_.

I watched the film on the French TV on a sunday evening and bought the book on the following day. It's really a tremendous plot, a good old detective novel. You'll identify yourself with the girl or the detective. Read it, or you'll miss something. As great as the best Ellery Queen, William Irish or Mary Roberts Rinehart.

Though written in 1943 and made into the classic film by Otto Preminger this classic murder mystery/romance is as fresh today as it was then. If you have not read this you are in for a real treat.

It is the story of a detective investigating the shotgun murder of Laura Hunt. During the course of Detective Mark McPherson's investigation he moves uneasily into the high society crowd that was Laura's world. McPherson writes most of the narrative and we see through his eyes the shallow affectations of the upper class, and like the detective we begin to wonder how a girl like Laura ended up a society page murder sensation.

Who killed Laura is only part of the story as McPherson begins to fall in love with the dead girl. Then one rainy night in her apartment while he is reading her diary, something so startling happens that the whole case is turned upside down. This book is a terrific read up until this point. It then turns into the finest murder mystery/romance in American literature.

It is just a fantastic read you will never forget. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this fine classic today.

My Mother bought a used copy of this book last year and she loved it. I read it after she did and I thought it to be a very good piece of a literary work. I also have the movie, which is a favorite of mine and will probably need to be replaced some time soon.