Sunday, May 30, 2010

Paperback 319: Seven Days Before Dying / Helen Nielsen (Dell 971)

Paperback 319: Dell 971 (1st ptg, 1958)

Title: Seven Days Before Dying
Author: Helen Nielsen
Cover artist: R. Del Rossi

Yours for: $12


Best things about this cover:

  • The amazing detail on the shoes and socks. I would have thought this one of the more boring crime fiction covers, but I looked at the shoes and socks for a while and they're lovingly rendered, and kind of mesmerizing.
  • That lady is either chasing a very clumsy thief or drunkenly stumbling through a public park, chucking her jewelry at schoolchildren for amusement.


Best things about this back cover:
  • There's some blue splatters on it ... for some reason.
  • You know a novel means business when it breaks out the Courier font.

Page 123~

Stu leaned forward and extended his right hand in a greeting that was never acknowledged, whereupon the blonde toppled forward into her drink again. By this time, she was beyond caring anyway, so Stu let her stay there.

Did I mention that Helen Nielsen's a pretty good writer. 'Cause she is.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Is this an Encyclopedia Brown book? I don't recall capital punishment being a typical means of comeuppance in Encyclopedia Brown.

Rick said...

She toppled INTO her drink?

She must have had a very narrow skull, and they must serve very generous drinks...

DemetriosX said...

Speaking of fonts, I find the fonts used for both the title and the tag line to be utterly inappropriate. To me, they both indicate humor and amusement, rather than something gritty and dangerous. The title font is especially bad.

Anonymous said...

But the socks are stunning!

Alix said...

Actually I'm the socks fan... having trouble with all the fancy buttons on the keyboard tonight.

beretta said...

I love "whereupon" -- very classy!