Dorothy meets a handsome young man with an eye for her inheritance while she is in her sophomore year. They are to be married and her life will be blissful; but Dorothy is pregnant and her fiancé's plans are ruined, for Dorothy would be disinherited if her father discovered the truth. So the young man provides his bride to be with some pills that will solve the problem. Soon there will be no baby - and perhaps no Dorothy either... A Kiss before Dying, Levin's first novel, earned him the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and is regarded as a modern classic.
A Kiss Before Dying
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"Remarkably constructed...in episodes of chilling horror."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Ira Levin's award-winning first novel reissued with a new introduction by Chelsea Cain.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent read, the sort of book that would hold your interest on a long and tiring flight or at the dentist if he's a couple of hours late. Dorothy Kingship has fallen for a young man and is pregnant by him. For him, this is very bad news - he is much less innocent than he seems and his motives in pursuing Dorothy are entirely selfish. What to do? He forms a plan and carries it out. As the book moves on, Dorothy's two sisters, Ellen and Marion, become involved. There are plots and danger and quite a number of surprises, one of which I absolutely could not have predicted. With this kind of book, which is a murder mystery, I cannot be more specific about the plot - plot is everything here - but it is pacily written, very easy to read, and nicely recreates the world of post-War USA (it was written in 1952), where, for example, Ellen is startled and concerned when her date, who is strapped for cash, forks out a whole $18 for dinner for two! Levin does not pull punches (he wrote 'Rosemary's Baby', after all) and some of the events are nasty, but then, that's as you would expect it to be. Good fun, this - recommended.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Probably one of the best thrillers I have ever read, and I only wish I hadn't taken quite so many years to get around to it. The killer twist (pardon the pun) is how long it takes before the murderer's identity is revealed, so if you haven't yet read the plot summary on the Amazon page - don't!
A well constructed story, very well told, and it thunders along so that even when you do find out whodunnit you will still be gripped.
A well constructed story, very well told, and it thunders along so that even when you do find out whodunnit you will still be gripped.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The old cliche of 'unable to put it down' was definately true of this. With twists and turns that left my mouth literally open, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Levin's narrative is easy and uncluttered, allowing you to sail through the story, adding to the pace of the tale.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 29 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
This was really good
I read boys from brazil when I was young and really enjoyed it. A series of cut price offers on kindle books meant I ordered this and I haven't regretted it, a page turner with... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Katy May
3.0 out of 5 stars
bookish
My wife bought this and says it's a good read. I haven't read it so can't comment. The service as always from Amazon was great.
Published 4 months ago by Ozonedog
5.0 out of 5 stars
ahead of it's time
This is the kind of book you wouldn't be sure of the era it was written in (if you didn't know). Fashions and styles aside, the story could be set at any time and will never date. Read more
Published 4 months ago by newyorker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific
I loved this book. Good writing, a very clever structure, and twists that keep you saying 'just one more chapter' to yourself as you sit up in bed until 2am. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. D. E. Calladine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic noir
I last read this book more than a decade ago and it's a true reflection of its power to haunt the reader that scenes and phrases from it are still fresh in my mind. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tense thriller that had me hooked
This was an excellent, taut thriller which really gripped me. I don't want to give away spoilers, but the murderer is certainly one of the most cunning, ruthless, cool and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by John Hopper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never been surpassed!
I first read this many, many years ago. I asked a friend to recommend a book. He didn't hesitate. "A Kiss Before Dying", he said. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jonisuncle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stylish 50s noir thriller by a master of suspense
The title 'A Kiss Before Dying' conjures up, for me, an image of a 1950s pulp thriller with a fabulous, stylish cover featuring a woman who looks like the hourglassy one from Mad... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Joanne Sheppard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great crime-thriller
A Kiss Before Dying is one of the best crime-thriller's I've ever read. It's a story about a handsome, charming and clever young boy who has alternative motives in his... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
A decent chiller
Reminds me of one of Hitchcock's mid productions (but not his master pieces); skillful enough, some clever turns, a decent, entertaining chiller. Read more
Published 15 months ago by pennywho
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
