A crime novel from the 30s? I was actually excited to read this one, though I did find it odd that the cover of my particular edition mentioned the fact that it was banned in Boston.
This novel follows the exploits of Frank Chambers. As the narrator of the book as well as the main star, the story is skewed to his point of view. Frank is a drifter with a questionable past. Things have gone wrong for him on many occasions, but he hopes for a new start. To that end, he hitches a ride to a roadside diner along the highway in California. Frank ends up working at the diner for Cora (who he falls for right away) and Nick "the Greek" Papadikis, her husband. Cora and Frank begin an affair which is characterized by Cora's initial request for Frank to bite her lip, which does, drawing blood. Just weird. The two then hatch a scheme to kill nick so Cora will inherit the diner and Frank will stay, happily ever after.
The first attempt on Nick's life fails, almost comically. A passing police office sees the power suddenly go out and comes up to check, eventually discovering, with Frank's help, that a cat killed itself on a bare wire. Cora manages to injure Nick severely, but he recovers - though with sufficient amnesia so as to have no memory of his attacker. A new plan is devised in which they'll go for a drive, get drunk and get into an accident, where they'll kill Nick and make it look like he died in the accident. Well, the accident plan sorta works, Nick dies, but Frank and Cora are both injured and the local DA smells a rat.
In a bizarre trial development, only Cora is tried for Nick's murder. The DA's ploy fails, and Cora's plea allows her to get off no time served. Things have been rough for Frank and Cora, and just as I was thinking that, finally, the two were finally going to find some happiness, Cora dies in a car accident! While completely not Frank's fault, the similarity to Nick's death and the fact that Frank now would own the diner serves as sufficient evidence to convict Frank.
The novel ends with the revelation that Frank is writing in jail while awaiting his execution.
Just as an interesting point, there are no postmen in the novel and no one ever rings anything! While the novel is well written, I can't say as how I was left with a feeling of enjoyment. I know that not every novel ends with a happy ending, but usually at least someone comes out for the better! In this case, all the main characters die off and the only one who ends up happy is the DA for finally getting Frank. I suppose, while Love Conquers All has been done before, does this novel imply Justice Conquers All?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment