The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

The Postman Always Rings Twice

James M. Cain

116 pages first pub 1934 (editions)

fiction classics mystery dark mysterious fast-paced

Description

Cain's first novel - the subject of an obscenity trial in Boston and the inspiration for Camus's The Stranger - is the fever-pitched tale of a drifter who stumbles into a job, into an erotic obsession, and into a murder.

Community Reviews Summary of 1,895 reviews

Moods

dark 84%
tense 61%
mysterious 40%
sad 20%
adventurous 16%
challenging 13%
emotional 12%
reflective 6%
funny 5%

Pace

fast 68%
medium 27%
slow 4%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 48% | Plot: 32% | Character: 19%

Strong character development?

No: 60% | It's complicated: 24% | Yes: 15%

Loveable characters?

No: 78% | It's complicated: 18% | Yes: 3%

Diverse cast of characters?

No: 86% | Yes: 6% | N/A: 5% | It's complicated: 1%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 82% | It's complicated: 9% | No: 5% | N/A: 2%

Average rating

3.55

See all reviews...

Content Warnings

Submitted by users as part of their reviews

Expand filter menu View summary

See all...