In Woolrich's iconic tale, Detective Tom Shawn saves a lovely young woman from a suicide attempt one night and later hears her story. She is in despair because the death of her wealthy father has been predicted by a confidence man seemingly gifted with the power of clairvoyance, a man whose predictions have unerringly aided her father in his business many times before. Shawn and a squad of detectives investigate this dire prediction and try to avert the millionaire businessman from meeting his ordained end at the stroke of midnight.
One of Cornell Woolrich's most influential novels, this classic noir tale of a man struggling with his ability to see the future is arguably the author's best in its depiction of a doomed vision of predestination.
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"My friend who lives in Paris recommenced Woolrich to me. This is his first work I've read and I've since become a huge fan. This is noir fatalism at it's most palpable and inescapable."
— Stephen (4 out of 5 stars)
" Noire but painfully noire. Way too much navel-gazing. "
— Di, 6/7/2013" Overly intricate writing style troubled me throughout this book. It's a interesting tale that is part police procedural and part sci-fi/horror. I'll have to read more by him before I make a final decision on the author. Certainly his works have been made into some classic films, which gives me hope. "
— Patrick, 5/30/2013" Well-written, compelling prose. Not as noir-ish as I thought it might be. Depressing, though. "
— Gail, 5/19/2013Angela Brazil is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and a professional actor who is proud to be a long-standing member of the Resident Acting Company at Trinity Repertory Company. She also teaches at the Brown/Trinity Conservatory.