Virginia Barkeley is a nice,well brought-up girl. So what is she doing wandering through a snow storm in the middle of the night,blind drunk and covered in someone else's bloodWhen Claude Margolis'body is found a quarter of a mile away with half-a-dozen stab wounds to the neck,suddenly Virginia doesn't seem such a nice girl after all. Her only hope is Meecham,the cynical small-town lawyer hired as her defence. But how can he believe in Virginia's innocence when even she can't be sure what happened that night And when the answer seems to fall into his lap,why won't he just walk away
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Pushkin PressISBN: 9781782274797Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
In the whole of crime fiction's distinguished sisterhood,there is no one quite like Margaret MillarOne of the most original and vital voices in all of American crime fictionStunningly originalClever plot,sad characters and a powerful atmosphereA brilliant psychodrama that has a triple-whammy ending... exhilaratingCrime writing of a rare orderIt doesn't get more noir than thisRevived American classic from 1952 conjures up images from Edward Hopper paintings with characters that keep secrets from each other... The terse prose pushes the story along to a shock revealThis subtle,psychological crime thriller crackles with tension and keeps you guessing until the end... A hypnotic novel... Ideal fireside readingWhen you read Vanish in an Instant you wonder why it's been out of print and forgotten for so long,Millar is a fine writer and this novel is a well-honed thriller that will appeal to any serious noir fan... damned goodNo woman in twentieth-century American mystery writing is more important than Margaret MillarMrs Millar doesn't attract fans,she creates addictsShe writes minor classicsVery originalMargaret Millar can build up the sensation of fear so strongly that at the end it literally hits you like a battering ramShe has few peers,and no superior in the art of bamboozlementMillar was the master of the surprise endingOne of the greatest this country has ever producedMargaret Millar is surely one of late twentieth-century crime fiction's best writers,in the sense that the actual writing is her books,the prose,is of superb quality. On almost every page of this one there is some description,whether of a physical thing or a mental state,that sends a sharp ray of extra meaning into the reader's mind.Margaret Millar was one of the pioneers of domestic suspense,a standout chronicler of inner psychology and the human mind. Vanish In an Instant is a perfect gateway to her fiction,after which you'll devour so many more of her classic novels.Margaret Millar is ripe for rediscovery. Compelling characters,evocative settings,subtle and ingenious plots - what more could a crime fan wish forThe real queen of suspense... Millar's psychologically complex,disturbingly dark thrillers always manage to surprise the reader,and offer a fascinating window into fifties America. She can't write a dull sentence,and her endings always deliver a shock.The setting is perfect for the Christmas season,so it is the ideal excuse to purchase for those blistering cold nights! If you are a fan of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction authors,notably Agatha Christie,Margery Allingham,Ngaio Marsh and Josephine Tey,you would love thisMillar is a really skilful writer. Her portrayal of the'imperfection'of human nature was brilliant... It was a pleasure to read the book... I highly recommend itWickedly smart 1950s crime novel... great characters,genius plot and a thoroughly good readFinely tuned and guaranteed to have you on edgeA slow burn mystery that felt like watching a black and white movie,the dialogue,the background,the characters,all quirky and quietly observant. A twisty path to a Poirot-worthy conclusion,Margaret Millar,like Christie,is masterful at misdirectionA superbly plotted tale of murder and deceptionMillar is a brilliant plotter,hooking red herrings left,right and centre,but proves just as sharp at character,grim humour and smart descriptionMillar's novel layers suspense,mystery and psychologyThis is an extraordinarily stylish and skilful novel... Let's hope more of Millar's novels will be reprintedA hell of a nice little mystery... Pushkin Press have saved it from disappearing for good via this gorgeous reprint... The cover is delicious and benefits the handsomely stylish contents within. Highly recommendedLike Chandler,Millar never wasted a single word or sentence and her tight psychological plots are a joy to read time and time again. This is definitely one to read over the festive seasonSuperb writing,superb plotting... bloody marvellousShe was a master of character,a genius of plot twists,and a superb stylistEvery bit as good as everyone has been saying
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