Reviews

In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes

alexandriaslibrary's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A strangler is on the loose in LA…. so atmospheric, the gritty underbelly of paradise 

A real page turner with a very compelling premise! 

notmle's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

leandrathetbrzero's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

5.0

willmaturi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

emreese1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

pluginsteadman's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

anji444's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

marcymurli's review against another edition

4.0

This is a great read if you enjoy mysteries and film noir (the Bogie film based on this novel is also well worth the watch!). This particular edition, published by the Feminist Press, and with an afterword by Lisa Maria Hogeland, is especially terrific. It's great to read an analysis that places the novel in its historical and gendered context, especially given that the novel's protagonist is a serial rapist/murderer. It's quite intriguing to consider Hughes' strategy for resisting the typical representation of such characters at that time.

bmckillip's review against another edition

5.0

I’ve read plenty of crime, mystery, and noir fiction. From Hammet to Ellroy, Doyle to Horowitz. But Dorothy Hughes’ exploration of crime and evil in post-War LA written in 1947 felt fresh and new. It was unlike a crime novel that I had read before.

Her approach to the story and the character whose point of view the story is told from fasinated me and kept me riveted to the book.

It was one of those experiences that you wish you could go back and relive fresh again. It saddens me that I will never get to read “In A Lonely Place” for the first time again.

chaosjoule's review against another edition

4.5

Much 2 think abt