Title: The Girl Who Had to Die / The Blank Wall
Author: Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
Cover artist: Uncredited / Uncredited
Yours for: $11
Best things about this cover:
- There was this floating head that liked to eat sailboats, which made the tall, dark, mysterious man on the beach very sad. The end.
- What is it with the rainy day covers on all these Holding novels? Dreary and decidedly unhot. More skin, please.
- Actually, on third or fourth look, the streaks look less like rain than like the trim on some elaborate fur hat. Or a really, really bad haircut.
Best things about this other cover:
- This is one of my favorite pieces of crime fiction ever written. Ever. Seriously, it's that good. And unusual. Super suspenseful, with really complex and interesting characters. Women that aren't just femmes fatales. Just great. Provides a fascinating glimpse into domestic life during WWII (i.e. while the husband is away at war). Wish it would stay in @#$@ing print!
- More lazy art. Etch-a-sketch posing as op-art. And I think the guy from the other cover just walked through the book and ended up here. That lady is not a very good hider.
Page 123~ (from The Blank Wall)
"Here's something you might be glad of," he said, and held out three little capsules, bright yellow.
~RP
3 comments:
The Blank Wall looks to be in print right now from Academy Chicago in a two-fer with The Innocent Mrs. Duff. You (and Mr. Chandler) have convinced me to order one from my local bookstore tomorrow.
And in the UK/Commonwealth it's available from Persephone, a recoverer of lost classics by women.
I've got a library hold on it. I love the sentence "I recommend for your attention, THE BLANK WALL." Having a bleak day, Mr. Chandler?
Post a Comment