Waiting and waiting in the DMV to renew my driver's license and get a new modified mug shot of a picture done. At least it let me finish this book. Thanks Carol for piquing my interest!

Ira Levin's 1953 debut is a suspense novel. The main character is a cold SOB, a gold-digger who moves forward without remorse. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I became engaged enough to want to know where it was going. What made this character behave and think in this way? There are a few clues, but not enough to convince me that it would motivate someone to commit the crimes our MC did. I also wanted to know why Gant would become so involved. I can't say that I got an answer.

Anyway, I'm glad I read it. It was a little different in how things played out than the typical suspense novel of the day. There wasn't a lot of action, but also no gratuitous sex, obscenities or graphic violence. It proves that you can build suspense and interest without that. It was an interesting read that kept me engaged despite its flaws.

Classic and nearly 5 stars until Part 3.

The overwrought and dramatically staged ending, unfortunately, had a significant impact. It not only seemed outdated, but also lessened the complexity of the plot. The onion-like layers of the duplicitous evil and the perp's self-identity, which were so engaging earlier, were somewhat diminished.

However, this copy had a worthy Introduction that I truly enjoyed. It provided valuable context and set the stage for the story.

This was his debut work, and it's also probably his best. Despite the flaws in the ending, the overall quality of the writing and the depth of the characters make it a memorable read.

It's a shame that the ending didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the rest of the book, but it doesn't overshadow the many strengths that it possesses.

It's a crime and mystery novel written in the 1950s by novelist Ira Levin. This remarkable work was also adapted twice into movies, in 1956 and 1991 respectively. (I've never watched them, though.)

Rating: 5 stars. Authors in the current time simply can't write such well-crafted and wickedly clever things anymore!

First and foremost, this book is an absolute page-turner. The pacing is upbeat and gripping. You're eager to know what will happen next and how the narrator, who is young, handsome, ambitious, and poor yet believes he deserves all the good things in life because he's just soooooo smart, will plan to get rid of his pregnant girlfriend and then get away with murder. How long before his crime catches up with him? Would the victim's resourceful older sister manage to figure out which man is the murderer? All these suspenseful elements can really keep you guessing!

However, I was shocked when the victim's older sister was also killed by the cunning murderer. I really didn't see it coming. I thought this girl would eventually find her younger sister's killer but it doesn't turn out this way.

What I like most is how the author built his story with so many believable details. He narrated half of the story through the murderer's POV, allowing us to see what's in the guy's mind. He also let us readers go through this unlikely murder investigation (conducted by the victim's family and a few headstrong busybodies, hahah) every step of the way alongside the main characters. The ending is quite satisfying as well!!!!

I tell you this, you can't find such a clever little book like this in the Western crime and mystery novel market anymore, except for a few really damn good novelists.

Impressed...

I am utterly impressed...!

How on earth? How on earth did Levin manage to produce this?

Oh my gosh!

I might write an essay on this book for university in the upcoming academic year...

Yes! I might! I really might!

Perhaps I might even consider writing a dissertation on this!

This book has truly left a profound mark on me. The way Levin has crafted the story, the characters, and the entire narrative is simply remarkable.

It makes me wonder about the countless hours of research, planning, and writing that must have gone into creating this masterpiece.

I can't wait to explore the book further and uncover all its hidden gems.

Writing an essay or even a dissertation on it would be a great opportunity to delve deeper into the themes, motifs, and literary devices used by Levin.

I'm excited to see where this journey takes me and what insights I'll gain along the way.

In November 2019, one can't help but be amazed by the level of suspense and unpredictability in Levin's work.

He penned this particular piece when he was a mere 23 years old, back in 1953. At that time, he was already a highly successful playwright. Among his many hits, he had written the popular "Deathtrap".

Surprisingly, he didn't write another novel until 1967, with the release of "Rosemary's Baby". This long gap between novels only adds to the mystery and allure of his literary career.

It makes one wonder what was going on in his life during those intervening years and what led to this significant break in his novel-writing.

Perhaps he was focused on his work as a playwright, honing his skills and creating more memorable stage productions.

Or maybe there were personal or professional challenges that he had to overcome before he could return to the world of novel-writing.

Whatever the reason, the anticipation for his next novel after such a long hiatus was surely palpable among his fans.

And when "Rosemary's Baby" finally hit the shelves, it no doubt made a huge impact, just like his earlier works.

Levin's ability to create captivating stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats is truly remarkable.

It's no wonder that his works continue to be beloved and studied to this day.

Oh. My. Goodness. A KISS BEFORE DYING is truly excellent!

I have a great admiration for Levin. His writing style is so easy to read, which makes it a pleasure to immerse oneself in his stories. The way he plots the route of the evildoer is full of suspense, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing what will happen next.

I must be cautious here as I do not want to give anything away. However, I will say that MURDER is the central theme of the game. The story is set in the years between 1949 - 1951, when tips were only a quarter and young women were often naive and gullible.

Forbidden to attend the same college as her older sister Ellen, a shy Dorothy feels alone and vulnerable in a strange new world, far away from the safety and comfort of her family home. But then, she hesitantly welcomes the attentions of a very handsome and charming young man, who is also a fellow student......yet he has an agenda.

And, that's all I'm going to say about this 1953 classic. It has a wonderful book-cover and a great ending. So, all I can say is......READ IT!

I listened to the downloadable audiobook version from the library. So, this isn't really a book that I read in the traditional sense. Still, I managed to finish listening to it.

I've always had a great love for the 1991 movie that was based on this book. However, after experiencing the novel through the audiobook, I must say that the novel is even better.

The audiobook allowed me to immerse myself in the story while going about my daily activities. It brought the characters and the plot to life in a different way.

The details and the depth of the story in the novel added a new layer of richness that the movie couldn't fully capture. It was a truly enjoyable experience to listen to and discover all the nuances that I might have missed in the movie.

Overall, even though I didn't read the book physically, listening to the audiobook was a great way to engage with this wonderful story and appreciate its true beauty.

"An oldie but a goody!"

This simple phrase holds a world of meaning. It refers to something that may be old or have been around for a while, but it still retains its charm and value.

It could be a classic song that never gets old, a movie that continues to be beloved by generations, or a traditional recipe that is always a hit at family gatherings.

The beauty of an oldie but a goody is that it has stood the test of time. It has endured through changing trends and fads, and still manages to capture our hearts and imaginations.

Sometimes, we may take these old favorites for granted, but when we stop and really think about them, we realize just how special they are.

So, the next time you come across an oldie but a goody, take a moment to appreciate it. Let its familiar warmth and comfort wash over you, and remember why it has remained a favorite for so long.

TW: Language, unplanned pregnancy, smoking, racial slurs, death of parent, cheating, forced abortion, talk of death by suicide, drinking

\\n  *****SPOILERS*****\\n
About the book:
In her first year of university, Dorothy encounters a charming young man who is eyeing her inheritance. They are set to be married, and her life seems destined for bliss. However, Dorothy becomes pregnant, and her fiancé's plans are thrown into disarray. If her father were to discover the truth, she would be disinherited. So, the young man provides her with some pills to solve the problem. Soon, not only will there be no baby, but perhaps no Dorothy either.
Release Date: June 1953
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 224
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
\\t1. I have a deep affection for Ira Levin's books. His works always manage to draw me in and keep me on the edge of my seat.
\\t2. The writing in this book is excellent. Levin has a way with words that makes the story come alive and keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
\\t3. The mystery of who killed Dorothy is captivating. I found myself constantly trying to piece together the clues and figure out the truth.

What I Didn't Like:
\\t1. There were some parts of the book that seemed to ramble on about things that didn't really matter. This made the pacing a bit slow at times and took away from the overall excitement of the story.

Overall Thoughts:
\\n  \\n    {{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}\\n  \\n

I'm extremely excited to be reading my 5th book by Ira Levin. His writing is truly a joy to experience.

There is a particular section in the book where the young man makes racist remarks about a Japanese man, using derogatory terms. This was quite disturbing and took away from my enjoyment of the story.

The actions of the young man towards Dorothy are despicable. He gets her pregnant and then tries to get rid of her, even going so far as to call her a slut. I'm glad that Dorothy managed to mess up his plans by lying about taking the pills.

The moment when he throws Dorothy off the building is truly shocking. I feel so sorry for her. She just wanted to get married and have a happy life, but this man is only interested in her money.

I also found it strange that a newspaper would describe someone as an "attractive" lady. What do they do if they don't think a person is attractive? It just seemed like an odd thing to mention.

I'm curious to see how Ellen figures out that her sister was murdered. She has some clues, but it's not clear how she will piece them all together.

The part where Ellen tries to investigate what happened to her sister and shows up at the building reminds me of the movie Psycho. It has that same sense of mystery and danger.

I love that we don't actually know who the real man is that killed Dorothy. It adds an extra layer of mystery to the story and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

I don't think it could be Powell. The man who killed Dorothy went to great lengths to cover his tracks, so it wouldn't make sense for him to admit to dating Ellen. Plus, he already saw a photo of Dorothy's sisters, so it would be weird for him to ask her out.

The fact that the building still has an unlocked door that can only be used in an emergency is a bit odd. Why would someone go there for an emergency unless there was a fire escape? It seems like a potential safety hazard.

It turns out that Bud is the one who was with Dorothy and killed Powell. Poor Powell was just trying to help Ellen. Now Bud is dating Ellen, which is really creepy.

I'm shocked that Bud actually kills Ellen. I didn't think he would go through with it. He is truly a heartless and evil character.

Marion is the last of Dorothy's sisters, and of course, Bud manages to find his way to her. This guy is determined to get his hands on the family's money. It's also gross that he would date his siblings' boyfriend.

Leo tells Marion that Bud went to both schools that her sisters attended. This is another clue that points to Bud being the culprit.

I'm starting to think that Bud is only in love with his mom. His actions and behavior throughout the book suggest that he has some kind of twisted relationship with her.

The scene where they take Bud to the factory to show him what Leo's company does seems to go on for a while. I understand why it's there, but it could have been shortened a bit.

In the end, Bud kills himself. I feel a bit sorry for his mom, but at the same time, he brought this all upon himself.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The writing style was great, and the mystery kept me engaged. However, I did feel that there could have been more excitement and some of the twists could have been more developed. The fact that the three sisters never really talked to each other about Bud was also a bit hard to believe. But despite these flaws, I still think it's a good read and would recommend it to fans of mystery and thriller novels.

\\n  IG\\n|\\n  Blog\\n

\\n  Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing – Audiobooks for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.\\n

The title 'A Kiss Before Dying' immediately brings to my mind an image of a 1950s pulp thriller.

On the cover, there's a woman with an hourglass figure like the ones from Mad Men and a man in a fedora, perhaps hiding a gun. And that's precisely what it appears to be on the surface. Published in 1953, it's a crime novel about a handsome psychopath who preys on rich young women to get a share of their fathers' fortunes.

However, while Ira Levin's 'A Kiss Before Dying' has all the style and glamour of a noirish American thriller, along with a sensationalist plot, it has many elements that set it apart.

The story starts with an unnamed young man planning the death of his fiancée, Dorothy Kingship, a pretty, rich, and naive college student. He had intended to marry her for her father's money but is enraged when he discovers she's pregnant. In the 1950s, this would likely force them to marry immediately, incurring the wrath of Dorothy's father and potentially leading to her disinheritance. With his master-plan in jeopardy, and after failed attempts to end the pregnancy with pills from a backstreet abortionist, he resorts to murder.

The story is chilling, tense, and evocative of its time and setting, much like the underrated 1950s shocker 'Peyton Place'. It's a decent thriller plot, but then Levin pulls a clever trick. He switches the point of view to Ellen Kingship, who is trying to find out who wronged her younger sister. All she knows is that she's looking for a handsome, charming blond college boy in his mid-20s. There are several contenders, and any of them could be the killer.

Those familiar with Levin's other works, like 'Rosemary's Baby', 'The Boys From Brazil', and 'The Stepford Wives', know that his books stretch plausibility a little. 'A Kiss Before Dying' does this too, but the detailed plotting and spot-on characters make it easy to believe. The writing is sharp, and Levin has built his characters convincingly, giving them credible motivation.

As in his other books, Levin uses 'A Kiss Before Dying' to reveal the dark side of a classic American setting. In his novels, nobody and nothing are what they seem. Reading this book is like stepping into a stylish Hitchcock film, full of beautiful women, fabulous outfits, tension, plot twists, and charming men who may or may not be killers.

Stephen King has described Ira Levin as "the Swiss watchmaker of the suspense novel", and I couldn't agree more.

Rosemary's Baby was great, but this one was a masterpiece, truly a masterpiece. The plot is filled with countless twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, making you extremely anxious to read more. Even when you're not reading, you can't help but think about the story.

I can't say much about the novel without spoiling it. However, "Saving the best for last" is one way to describe it. It's a novel that builds and builds, leading to a climax that will leave you breathless. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a passion for psychological suspense.

This type of novel is not for the faint of heart. It requires a certain level of mental toughness and the ability to handle the unexpected. But if you're up for the challenge, you'll be rewarded with a reading experience that you'll never forget.

So, if you're looking for a thrilling and engaging read, give this novel a try. You won't be disappointed.

I must say that I did enjoy the majority of this. The overall concept and the main plot were quite engaging. However, there were certain aspects that really bothered me. I just hated some of the extra stuff that was added. It seemed completely unnecessary and didn't matter at all in the grand scheme of things. It didn't add any value or depth to the story. In fact, it felt like it was just there to fill up space or maybe to add some sort of artificial complexity. It really detracted from my overall enjoyment of the piece. I think if those elements had been left out, the story would have been much stronger and more enjoyable.