kshy44's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alisa4books's review against another edition
Gotta' love any noir novel that begins "I drove out to Glendale.." Quick read! Full of twists. Terse and Action-Packed. Nothing predictable about it either! Can't wait to see the movie and compare.
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
It was short, it was fine, I didn't really understand WTF the main dude was thinking, the movie was better even though my only real memory of it is being distracted by Barbara Stanwyck's weird fringe ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
cedrics_mom's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
I now know the meaning of taut. This classic can be read in one sitting. You may not have a choice. It’s a short one at 114 pages and not a word is wasted. Most novels take a breather in the middle but this story becomes more twisted and dangerous in the middle and then does it again and again; I’m not making this up. Double Indemnity is a (if not the) classic of the noir genre. It’s got it all: deadly women, desperate men, twists and turns, betrayal, and ultimately no way out. That’s not a spoiler. This is noir and we know nothing ends well. The only question is how bad will the end be? Because just when you think there might be a merciful ending, the worst comes around the corner.
James Cain also wrote the Postman Always Rings Twice and Mildred Pierce.
I now know the meaning of taut. This classic can be read in one sitting. You may not have a choice. It’s a short one at 114 pages and not a word is wasted. Most novels take a breather in the middle but this story becomes more twisted and dangerous in the middle and then does it again and again; I’m not making this up. Double Indemnity is a (if not the) classic of the noir genre. It’s got it all: deadly women, desperate men, twists and turns, betrayal, and ultimately no way out. That’s not a spoiler. This is noir and we know nothing ends well. The only question is how bad will the end be? Because just when you think there might be a merciful ending, the worst comes around the corner.
James Cain also wrote the Postman Always Rings Twice and Mildred Pierce.
devlinwav's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
silenceinthelibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
readwithfrish's review against another edition
4.0
For such a short novel this book is WILD.
Double indemnity follows Walter Neff an insurance agent who falls in love with a mans wife and then proceeds to plan the perfect murder to kill him. This novel is the perfect example of greed meets lust and shows just how far humans ( or men) are willing to go for a beautiful woman and a fat pay check.
If you like me love a nice murder mystery with twists and turns around every corner then you will love this book. It’s short and sweet, but packs a punch!
Double indemnity follows Walter Neff an insurance agent who falls in love with a mans wife and then proceeds to plan the perfect murder to kill him. This novel is the perfect example of greed meets lust and shows just how far humans ( or men) are willing to go for a beautiful woman and a fat pay check.
If you like me love a nice murder mystery with twists and turns around every corner then you will love this book. It’s short and sweet, but packs a punch!
worm_variations's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4 stars. The first act felt too easy, but the story isn’t about the setup, it’s about everything that follows. And that was exactly the kind of chef’s-kiss, grade-A, dirty, amoral, horny noir I was hoping for.
“Maybe I'm crazy. But there's something in me that loves Death. I think of myself as Death, sometimes. In a scarlet shroud, floating through the night. I'm so beautiful, then. And sad. And hungry to make the whole world happy, by taking them out where I am, into the night, away from all trouble, all unhappiness…”
“Maybe I'm crazy. But there's something in me that loves Death. I think of myself as Death, sometimes. In a scarlet shroud, floating through the night. I'm so beautiful, then. And sad. And hungry to make the whole world happy, by taking them out where I am, into the night, away from all trouble, all unhappiness…”
wendoxford's review against another edition
4.0
Classic crime or an early version of hard boiled noir? Certainly nothing cosy about these nasties but written in 1936 (as a magazine serial) so a classic of sorts.
This simply told, yet plotted so deftly, tale of insurance fraud and murder almost implies that anyone smart can get away with it. However the small cast of characters duck and dive with each other in attempts to allay suspicion of each other and to outside observers.
The broad stroke characters are filled so wonderfully by their actions that I certainly found the suspense totally held me in its grasp . A fabulous example of cherchez la femme!
This simply told, yet plotted so deftly, tale of insurance fraud and murder almost implies that anyone smart can get away with it. However the small cast of characters duck and dive with each other in attempts to allay suspicion of each other and to outside observers.
The broad stroke characters are filled so wonderfully by their actions that I certainly found the suspense totally held me in its grasp . A fabulous example of cherchez la femme!