Reviews

High Priest of California/Wild Wives by Charles Willeford

psteve's review

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3.0

I've read these before, some time ago. Fairly typical pulp novels of the early 50s, they only show in some places how great Willeford can be. High Priest of California is the story of a used car salesman in San Francisco, and the woman he seduces then dumps. It's pretty gritty stuff, and the main character isn't given a lot of motivation. It's a quick read, and a good one. Wild Wives is the story of a private detective in San Francisco and the young woman who comes to him complaining about her over-protecive fathers. She's lying, and continues to lie, with disastrous consequences. Fun Willeford, but not his best.

myxomycetes's review

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3.0

For Willeford fans only.

"High Priest" reads like a warm-up for "The Woman Chaser", and "Wild Wives" is a pretty standard detective + femme fatale on the run story.
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