Francis decides to pretend to have been married to one of Grandison's wards, Matilda, who died when her ship went down during a sea voyage to Bermuda. Then, weeks later, Matilda shows up, having survived the ship going down. This description makes the plot sounds so complex as to be unbelievable, but the story moves quickly enough to be convincing.
I have only read two books by Charlotte Armstrong in the last few years. Both have been books that she wrote early in her career, and I liked both of them. She published mysteries from 1942 to 1970, and this one was published in 1946. She became well known for her novels of psychological suspense, often featuring women as amateur sleuths.
The story is told in a linear fashion, but it does hop around and gets a tad confusing. That could be just me, and it certainly did not ruin the story for me. We see the story from different points of view as it progresses, often from Francis's point of view or Matilda's.
Enjoyment of this book may depend on how much the reader can suspend disbelief and buy into the effect that the charismatic Grandison has on most people. I have never particularly cared for people "going undercover" or assuming false identities to prove that a crime has been committed, but this time it worked for me.
To see some of the lovely black and white photography in the film, go to this post at The Nitrate Diva.
For other reviews of the book, see this review at Dead Yesterday, which goes into more detail about the story than I do, and Ryan's review at Wordsmithsonia.
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Publisher: Pocket Books, 1947 (orig. pub. 1946)
Length: 218 pages
Format: Paperback
Setting: US
Genre: Mystery
Source: I bought my copy.
16 comments:
I've heard of it, but that's the most I can say. I've read one or two of her books, but did't particularly like them, I don't think they were a "good fit" for me, somehow. I had an omnibus, and didn't read the other two books nor did I keep it. However, I'm glad you're enjoying her earlier novels. I must say the plot here does sound awfully complicated.
Oh, another Charlotte Armstrong. I'm very glad you reviewed this one, Tracy. I keep meaning to read more of her work, and this sounds like a solid novel of psychological suspense. I appreciate the nudge.
A very timely review given the book's recent reprint in the US. I've dabbled in Armstrong's work, but not read this one. Which others ones have you read by her?
I don't think her stories suit everyone, Rick. I was surprised I liked the two I have read so much, because the ones I read when I was younger made me tense. So I will keep trying them for a while. And yes, the plot was complicated but it was hard to tell it well and keep it brief.
So far I am enjoying her books, Margot, and this one especially. Mischief is in the Library of America's Women Crime Writers of the 1940's and 50's, so I will try that sometime.
The other one I read recently was The Case of the Weird Sisters, a MacDougal Duff book. I liked that one too, but not as well as this one. I read some when I was younger (in my twenties or thirties?), maybe some of her later ones. I cannot remember the titles or the plots. I have 6 more to try, from 1945 to 1970 publication dates, so should be interesting.
I've not read the book, but the movie adaptation is excellent. I don't think it's easy to find. It was part of last year's Noir Film Festival and a copy of the print made its way to Chicago last summer when they routinely visit us. In the movie Rains plays Grandison, the host of a radio show about crime cases. He's not at all like the book version of Grandison, I gather. But the hanging death and the reappearance of the supposedly dead woman are most definitely part of the story. Audrey Totter and Constance Bennett are two of the better actors in an exceptionally well made and acted movie. I'm curious if Grandison's private recording system is part of the book or if that was an invention of the screenwriter. I won't go into any more detail than that. If it's in the book then you know what I'm talking about. If not, then the movie is hugely different from its source material. I loved it. New York and a couple of other places I think. You ought to see if it's available via streaming or a DVD. Highly recommended.
As for Armstrong's books around the 1950s she veered away from detective and mystery novels and started writing suspense fiction. I read a lot of her 1960s books when I was a teen (THE BALLOON MAN, THE LEMON IN THE BASKET, THE GIFT SHOP) because that was all our local town library had. MISCHIEF is a novel of psychological terror. It was also made into an excellent movie with Marilyn Monroe in one of her finest dramatic roles as the disturbed babysitter. I think Richard Widmark is in it, too. The movie is called DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK. That one is easy to get a hold of. I saw a video version of it long time ago, I'm sure it's on DVD by now.
I'm a big fan of Armstrong's Edgar winning book A DRAM OF POISON. Pure suspense, not real mystery. Amazing idea for a story. Person plans a murder and puts a clear poison in an olive oil jar. But then the jar (with the brand label still intact) is lost on a bus. How to get it back before someone finds it and decides to keep it and use it in their cooking?
I'm reading Lay on MacDuff for next week, Tracy, thanks to your recent review of The Case of the Weird Sisters. I'd not known of Armstrong. Now I think I'm also going to get the DVD for Unexpected. You and John, might have lured me into becoming an Armstrong fan.
John, Thanks so much for all the information about the film version of The Unsuspected. In the book I don't remember the use of a recording system (although it has been a few months since I read it and sometimes I don't retain everything).
I don't know if I will like MISCHIEF if it is psychological terror, but I will try it anyway. And look for the film, Don't Bother to Knock. I don't yet have a copy of A DRAM OF POISON, but I will find one, based on your recommendation.
I hope you like Lay on MacDuff, Mathew. Armstrong's books are well worth trying, but they are not everyone's cup of tea.
I'd definitely second John's recommendation for A Dram of Poison. I read it last year and remember enjoying it a lot.
Probably not one for me I'm afraid.
Great, two votes for that one, I will have to start searching for a copy right away.
Probably not, Col. although you might like the film if you ran into it.
I liked this one too - I think I got it because of you, did you mention it before? I watched the film too. I always so enjoy being able to do that. I will be doing a blogpost on it at some point.
I read this one back in November, and talked about it briefly in my summary post for that month. I loved how this one was written, how we get to see how Matilda's view of Grandison changes over time. I look forward to your blogpost.
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