Publication
Penguin Classic (2012), 208 p.
Original publication date
1930
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Description
An excellent story, told in style: Three advertising men decide to kill a colleague to avoid dismissal and the grim prospect of joblessness. Their leader acquires a taste for crime, but eventually gets his comeuppance.Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Ant.Harrison
Another hidden gem from C.S. Forester; one of a short cannon of his early works, this is a dark study of a psychopath and his murderous activities. Charles Morris is the uninspiring advertising agency clerk, who embarks on a murder as the solution to his problems - a one-off event which inevitably
Forester's grasp of his narrative is iron-tight and despite the darkness of the subject matter, displays an ironic humour alongside an antipathy towards his protagonist. Some of the prose feels a bit heavy at times, but this was written in the early 1930s, and is a product of its time in terms of style and the use of language. But don't let this put you off, because this is a fascinating and gripping psychological study of the murderous intent of a man who refuses to be thwarted by the realities and limits of acceptable behaviour.
These days we're used to reading 'why-dunnits', as opposed to 'who-dunnits', but in the 1930s, this depth of characterisation and psychosocial insight was rare in mainstream crime fiction. Forester's long-forgotten and little known early thrillers are must-reads for all lovers of quality crime fiction.
© Koplowitz 2012
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leads to more killings before eventually spiralling out of control. Forester's grasp of his narrative is iron-tight and despite the darkness of the subject matter, displays an ironic humour alongside an antipathy towards his protagonist. Some of the prose feels a bit heavy at times, but this was written in the early 1930s, and is a product of its time in terms of style and the use of language. But don't let this put you off, because this is a fascinating and gripping psychological study of the murderous intent of a man who refuses to be thwarted by the realities and limits of acceptable behaviour.
These days we're used to reading 'why-dunnits', as opposed to 'who-dunnits', but in the 1930s, this depth of characterisation and psychosocial insight was rare in mainstream crime fiction. Forester's long-forgotten and little known early thrillers are must-reads for all lovers of quality crime fiction.
© Koplowitz 2012
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LibraryThing member Helenliz
This isn't so much a whodunit as a whydoneit - and will he get away with it. Published in 1930, this feels older and is of its time. No forensics, no electronic tracking. Charlie Morris is a man with a chip on his shoulder, he feels that he is owed more than he has in life. At the start we find
In a sense it us a bit like Patricia Highsmith's Ripley, you know he's a villain, you are waiting to see what he does next and if he gets away with it. This is told by an omnipresent narrator and we see events and actions that impact on 2 main protagonists. Morris is also a lot less charming than Ripley, you don;t want him to get away with it in quite the same way. I listened to it and I'd certainly read or listen to more by Forester in this vein.
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Morris and two of his colleagues having been discovered in a bribery scam at their advertising agency. It is Guy Fawkes night and this pops an idea in Morris' head - to murder their supervisor who is about to tell the agency boss and get them all fired. He involves both of his colleagues in the act, such that they are both implicated as accessories. From here is continues as a psychological study of how actions build upon each other. In a sense it us a bit like Patricia Highsmith's Ripley, you know he's a villain, you are waiting to see what he does next and if he gets away with it. This is told by an omnipresent narrator and we see events and actions that impact on 2 main protagonists. Morris is also a lot less charming than Ripley, you don;t want him to get away with it in quite the same way. I listened to it and I'd certainly read or listen to more by Forester in this vein.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780141198132
Physical description
208 p.; 5.08 inches
Other editions
Plain Murder by C. S. Forester (Digital audiobook)
Pages
208