This book did not resonate for me quite as much as the BLANK WALL did last week because it centered on a villain that was completely narcissistic if not a sociopath without ever really giving a reason for his villainy. Equally painted in white is his young wife, the title character. She tolerates all the abuse he dishes out, trying to reason with him or at least have a discussion about it.
However the writing was still fine and it was a compelling story.
Jacob Duff spends the entire novel drunk. Thie alcoholism is as close as we get to a reason for his behavior. While drunk, he is either in a rage or feeling sorry for himself. He treats both his young son and young wife with contempt. Most of the novel is concerned with him trying to find a way out of the marriage through various means. Attempts by his aunt to moderate his drinking or attitude are not heeded.
This is a quick novel that I read with pleasure if not quite the adulation I read BLANK WALL. Characters painted in black and white grow tiresome after a while.
Sergio Angelini. MAIGRET SETS A TRAP, Georges Simenon
Patrick Balestar, THE UNQUIET NIGHT, Patricia Carlon (THE RAP SHEET)
Yvette Banek, WHEN IN ROME, Ngaio Marsh
Joe Barone, THE ROSARY MURDERS, William Kienzle
Les Blatt, THE FINAL DEDUCTION, Rex Stout
Brian Busby, Fermez La Porte, On Jele, Rene Carrier
Bill Crider, THE SECRET MASTERS, Gerald Kersch
Curt Evans, DEATH RIDES THE AIRLINE, William Sutherland
Ed Gorman, REMOVERS, Matt Helm
Jerry House, BAD RONALD, John Holbrook Vance
Randy Johnson. THE ODOR OF VIOLETS, Baynard Kendricks
George Kelley, SOFT TOUCH, John D. MacDonald
Margot Kinberg, THE 7th WOMAN, Frederique Molays
Rob Kitchin, DEATH OF A NATIONALIST, Rebecca Pawel
B.F. Lawson, ONE NIGHT'S Mystery, May Agnes Fleming
Evan Lewis, THE LONG RANGER, Big Little Books
Steve Lewis, THE CASE OF THE COPY HOOK KILLING, Royce Howl
Todd Mason, SHIELD FOR MURDER, William P. McGivern
Neer, TOZAI MYSTERY BEST ONE HUNDRED
J.F. Norris, TOO MANY BONES, Ruth Sawtell Wallis
David Rachel, ANYONE'S MY NAME, Seymour Shubin
James Reasoner, THE LURE OF ADVENTURE, Robert Kenneth Jones
Richard Robinson, THE CASE OF THE VAGABOND VIRGIN, Erle Stanley Gardner
Gerard Saylor, BIRDMAN, Mo Hayder
Ron Scheer, THE TRAIL OF '98, Robert Service
Michael Slind, THE BIGGER THEY COME, A.A. Fair
Kerrie Smith, BEAT NOT THE BONES, Charlotte Jay
Kevin Tipple, Daiquiri Dock Murder, Dorothy Francis
TomCat. A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, DeWaal and Baantjer
Prashant Trikannad, THE SNAKE, Mickey Spillane
James Winter, 80 MILLION EYES, Ed McBain
