A Galloping Plot

JULIET DIES TWICE.
By Lange Lewis.
Bobbs-Merrill.
1943. $2.00

John (PRETTY SINISTER BOOKS, November 20, 2013) feels this one is a mixed bag.  Excerpts:

. . . when I encountered three bugaboos of mystery fiction I thought "Uh oh" and the red flags went off for a trip into the land of cliche and run-of-the-mill plotting.

There are a few twists that call to mind some of the best from Agatha Christie’s cabinet of magic tricks.

[However] the story is redeemed by Lewis' crisp writing and her cast of supporting players.

A contemporary opinion (THE SATURDAY REVIEW, February 20, 1943):

Cal. amateur actress fatally bludgeoned in prop room. Girl psychology student finds corpse and Lieut. Tuck carries on from there. - Abnormal human behavior made disturbingly real in plot that gallops through tense situations to startling climax in Hollywood Bowl. - Verdict: Loud applause.

Other Lange Lewis reviews:

MURDER AMONG FRIENDS (1942):
"Out-of-the-ordinary."
"... a heart wrenching story of a woman seemingly doomed by Fate and circumstance ..."

MEAT FOR MURDER (1943):
"Plenty of fantastic local color . . ."

THE BIRTHDAY MURDER (1945):
". . . a solution that may or may not be cricket."

THE PASSIONATE VICTIMS (1952):
"Worthwhile."

Category: Detective fiction