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Book Review of A Kiss Before Dying

A Kiss Before Dying
wantonvolunteer avatar reviewed on + 84 more book reviews


This suspense novel was written in 1953, it's a shame people can't write like this today anymore. There is no gimmick, no sex or lewd behavior, no profanity, just believable characters in a gripping plot, with incredible tension and suspense. The dedication reads simply to "my parents," the story begins promptly on page 1, with no forward, preface or preamble; and while it ends just 191 pages later, the thrill of this well-told chilling story is lasting.

Like Henry James before him, Ira Levin writes about a sometimes strained relationship between a wealthy accomplished father, his daughter, and the presumed gold digger she attracts. But in this "modern day" version, the interloper is diabolical and sinister! And the daughter has sisters!