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A Kiss Before Dying
A Kiss Before Dying | Ira Levin
40 posts | 42 read | 44 to read
A modern classic, this novel set a new standard in the art of mystery and suspense in its exploration of the criminal mind A Kiss Before Dying not only debuted the talent of best-selling novelist Ira Levin to rave reviews and an Edgar Award, it also set a new standard in the art of psychological suspense. It tells the shocking tale of a young man who will stop at nothingnot even murderto get where he wants to go. For he has dreams, plans. He also has charm, good looks, intelligence. And he has a problem. Her name is Dorothy; she loves him, and shes pregnant. The solution may demand desperate measures. But, then, he looks like the kind of guy who could get away with murder.
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TheBookgeekFrau
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️💋🖤 1mo
39 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheBookgeekFrau
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Eggs 🩷💋😘 9mo
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Cathythoughts
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#AlphabetGame Letter A @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Your favorite book beginning with A

The tagged book Is one my favorite thrillers. Great writing and suspense. Thanks for the tag @CarolynM

Would you like to join in @EverydayImReading @emmaturi @erzascarletbookgasm

CarolynM I‘m not much of a thriller reader, but I feel like I should try this one sometime, especially as you like it so much. 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM At least it‘s short enough 😂 2y
EverydayImReading I haven‘t read the book but adding it to my stack! The movie was excellent so I‘m excited to read the book 😀 2y
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batsy Such a good book! 2y
Cathythoughts @EverydayImReading I‘ve never seen the movie …but I‘ll keep an eye out for it 👍🏻 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy it really is 👍🏻♥️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Thanks for the tag, Cathy! A good book and an underrated author! 2y
43 likes7 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#JulyJam

Probably not the kind of kissing you want to have on #KissingDay but the book & the movies (956 & 1991) are favorites of mine. 💋💄💋

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 💋📚 2y
Eggs Great collage and post! 2y
44 likes2 comments
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Oryx
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A bit of 50s suspense for a winter's eve 🎄

Caroline2 Oh I‘ve had this on my shelf for agesss. (The exact same edition too! 😆) be interesting to hear what you think of it….! 👍 2y
Oryx @Caroline2 I quite liked it - it's got hints of Tom Ripley or Joe Goldberg (but not at all sympathetic like Joe can be sometimes). Not quite up there with Rosemary's Baby for me, but a decent easy read 2y
Caroline2 Hmm 🤔 I‘ll move it up the pile then. Yeahhh Rosemary‘s Baby is one of my all time favs. 😉 👍 2y
46 likes1 stack add3 comments
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ThisIsAvaRose
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Just started reading this and I'm already making plans to enjoy it.

Cathythoughts One of my favorite thrillers 👍🏻❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts Just be careful of spoilers.. I read a review online & read too much 🙄.. 2y
ThisIsAvaRose Update: This was a great read. Whenever I'm having trouble maintaining my habit of reading regularly, I know I can count on Ira Levin to get me hooked again. His books are always so engrossing and suspenseful. 2y
3 likes3 comments
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aperfectmjk
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DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
TheSpineView Fantastic 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
24 likes4 comments
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veritysalter
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fabulous, Levin keeps the suspense tight throughout the story. We begin in the thoughts of an unnamed killer, then the reader shifts and he becomes one of many possible men, by the third section we know who is is and what he‘s done, but can be be stopped in time. In the Foreword Chelsea Cain distilled the book to a single sentence “Worst boyfriend, ever”. #Scarathlon2020 #TeamSlaughter 15pts + 1pt

veritysalter @LeahBergen did you recommend this one? 3y
LeahBergen No, I have it stacked on my TBR here. It was recommended to me by @Cathythoughts . 😊 3y
veritysalter @LeahBergen I couldn‘t remember, I know it was recommended after I read ‘The Stepford Wives‘. It‘s a chilling read. I‘ve bought ‘The Boys from Brazil‘, I‘m really enjoying Levins style of horror. 3y
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veritysalter @LeahBergen remembered now that you recommend ‘The Other‘ which I enjoyed immensely. 3y
Cathythoughts Great review! I loved it ! I also have The Boys from Brazil ... I must get to it. I‘d love to know the author of The Other‘ ? When you have a minute , I looked it up and I see one by a Thomas Tryon ( is that the book ) 3y
veritysalter @Cathythoughts yes, it‘s the Thomas Tryon one. I am loving these stories with such mounting dread and all too human aspect of horror. ‘A Kiss Before Dying‘ had me anxiously turning the pages. 3y
Cathythoughts Oh great thanks ... I‘m off to treat myself to some mounting dread 😁👍🏻 3y
43 likes7 comments
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batsy
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Pickpick

After bailing on a contemporary thriller, I have to thank @Cathythoughts for recommending this to me (and @erzascarletbookgasm for my copy!) 💜💜

This was exactly what I wanted. Taut, thrilling, & also easy to get right back into when I had to put it down a few times. Somewhere about 3/4 of the way in you have an idea how it'll pan out, but the writing is strong & witty enough that you're dying to know *how*. Addictive & stylish.

batsy Though I do wish the most interesting sister, Ellen, had not met her unfortunate end. And was rooting for Marion to show a bit more gumption, autonomy, and intelligence. 4y
Cathythoughts Great review! Your welcome & it was you who originally sent it to me 😁.... I‘m so glad you liked it. It has always stayed with me as a top class thriller 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Hard to find these days ... (edited) 4y
batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you ? Sent it to you because it was on your tbr, and I had to stack it ? Yes, "top class thriller" sums it up. He got all the basics right! 4y
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Ruthiella Yay! I‘m glad you got your thriller mojo back! 😀 I‘ve only seen the movie of this but have read other Ira Levin novels and enjoyed them. The guy had quite an imagination. 4y
LeahBergen Oh, I see I already have this stacked. 😆 I blame @Cathythoughts 4y
erzascarletbookgasm 👏 ‘Addictive and stylish‘ is accurate description! Happy this is a Pick for you, after your last bailed thriller. 4y
batsy @Ruthiella @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you! It was such a delight. I've never watched the movie and I really want to 🙂 4y
batsy @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts One good turn deserves another 😁💜 4y
vivastory Will definitely have to check this out soon. Dig the cover! 4y
90 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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wonga
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just OK but a great ending. there are at least 2 movies based on this, starring Robert Wagner and Matt Dillon respectively.
#BestMysteriesOfAllTime #Mar2020

Cathythoughts Oh ! I loved this ... one of my all time favorites 4y
47 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DebinHawaii
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#SoaringScores
I think both Robert Wagner & Matt Dillion were #ToDieFor as the murderous main character in the movie versions (1956 & 1991) of Ira Levin‘s 1953 novel.😍

Cinfhen Well done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 4y
Cathythoughts OMG my favourite thriller.... I‘ve never seen this movie ! Looks brilliant 4y
CrowCAH The pictures make it seem suspenseful! 4y
59 likes3 comments
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Cathythoughts
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#7covers7days #covercrush #day4
@Well-ReadNeck would you like to join in.
7 favorite covers in 7 days & no explanations

@CarolynM @MamaGina @Severnmeadows @Hazel0303

youneverarrived Great pop of colour 💕 5y
TrishB I like that 👍🏻 5y
erzascarletbookgasm A good read too! 👍 5y
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CarolynM 😍 I love a good, strong pink. 🙂 5y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I think my all time favorite thriller 👍🏻💕 (edited) 5y
LeahBergen I love this cover (and I‘ll have to hunt down a copy now that I know it‘s your fave thriller!) 💕 5y
Well-ReadNeck I‘m in! 5y
Centique I love this cover! 5y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I‘ll love to hear what you think ! .. whenever you may get there 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Cathythoughts @Well-ReadNeck great stuff 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Cathythoughts @Centique 👍🏻💕💕💕 5y
75 likes12 comments
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Cathythoughts
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MicheleinPhilly I still have to read Milkman and I‘ve NEVER read David Mitchell. 😬 5y
Cathythoughts @MicheleinPhilly I read this David Mitchell for IRL Bookclub , its the only one I read - it‘s very good 👍🏻 5y
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Cathythoughts @emz711 it‘s really good 👍🏻 5y
Cathythoughts @Tamra what are your 6 faves .. Would Murdered House be one ?? 5y
Kalalalatja I really need to read the Winman soon! 5y
Tamra @Cathythoughts I really appreciated Chronicle and am shocked it took decades to be translated. Maybe it was too daunting of a task? Are you talking all time top 6 reads or for the month? 5y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly Mitchell can be hard work, but this one is awesome 👍🏻 great choice 💕 5y
MicheleinPhilly @TrishB I have Black Swan Green and Cloud Atlas unread. #WhatElseIsNew 5y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly not got to Black Swan(have it!) I found Cloud Atlas hard work. 5y
vivastory Great list! Several are pretty high on my TBR 5y
batsy Great stack and quite a few of those on my TBR 😍 5y
Ruthiella I did not realize you‘d already been tagged! Great list! The Bone Clocks was great!😀 5y
Cathythoughts @Tamra sorry should have explained ... top 6 for first half of this year.... 👍🏻 5y
68 likes14 comments
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BiblioLitten
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I look forward to reading these from my #TBRtreasure
All of these are recent #blameitonlitsy reads. The tagged people are to be blamed. 😁😘💕
#jazzyjune @Eggs

Eggs How wonderful!! 5y
lynneamch I listened to Shotgun and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 5y
batsy I'm honoured 😁 I hope you enjoy them all! 5y
JennyM You are going to have a great time reading these, Archana! Enjoy 😘 5y
44 likes4 comments
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Cathythoughts
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a cleverly crafted murder thriller ... I kept looking back to see if I missed something... a work of art ♥️👍🏻written in 1953 when he was 23 yrs old. . his first book. I preferred this one to Stepford Wives.
I‘m in awe of this book ! Excellent
It‘s a Holliday weekend & I have just downloaded Rosemary‘s Baby. .. 😳I‘ll give it a whirl anyway , I imagine I could read almost anything by this writer right now . Thankyou To 👇🏻

Cathythoughts @batsy for this great gift ! & to @erzascarletbookgasm because your review made me stack it 👍🏻♥️ 5y
gradcat I remember this book...I think I would have forgotten all about it if you hadn‘t posted this...thanks! 😊😊😊 5y
Cathythoughts @gradcat it‘s so good 👍🏻♥️ 5y
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JenlovesJT47 I love this book! You should check out the movie with Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward. It‘s a bit cheesy but still awesome! 5y
Cathythoughts @JenlovesJT47 I‘d love to see the movie ! What a great book 💕 5y
Billypar Excited to hear about this review because, while I want to read Rosemary's Baby and Stepford Wives, I'm always a little reluctant when I've already seen the film version. Not so with this one, so I've earmarked it as my first Levin. 5y
Cathythoughts @Billypar I‘ve only seen Stepford movie ( Nicole Kidman one ) having a quiet night , thank god ! About to start Rosemary‘s Baby .... a bit scared , but I‘m looking forward to it 5y
Billypar The original Stepford film adaptation strikes a much different tone- I assume one that is closer to the novel. I'm a big fan of both it and RB, so the novels must be good. 5y
Cathythoughts @Billypar Great ! I‘ll keep you posted on RB 👍🏻 (edited) 5y
Crazeedi Read rosemary's baby years ago! It was so risque then!!! 5y
gradcat @Crazeedi I remember that it was a bit scandalous because of *WHOA* Satan worship. But that movie—with Mia Farrow & John Cassavetes?—fanfreakingtastic! Plus, like @Billypar , I‘ve only seen the original Stepford movie with Katherine Ross & Paula Prentiss (& Tina Louise of “Gilligan‘s Island,” 😂), so can‘t speak to Kidman version, but I loved the 1975 movie! 🎥 & 🍿 & 🥤= 🥰 5y
Cathythoughts @Crazeedi @gradcat I‘m not a Nicole Kidman fan ( preferred the book ) would love to see the earlier version! Never saw RB film .. book is going well , love his writing 5y
gradcat I hope you continue having a productive, if a bit scary (howl), weekend! 🥰 5y
Cathythoughts @gradcat 😳I‘ll keep you posted 😂 5y
Cathythoughts @gradcat I hope I‘m still laughing after the weekend .... 😬 5y
batsy Great review, Cathy! Your review has me excited to read it soon 💜 5y
Cathythoughts @batsy thankyou! And thankyou again for the gift ... what a great surprise this book turned out to be 💕 5y
youneverarrived Sounds good! Stacking 👍 5y
Cathythoughts @youneverarrived it‘s a great thriller , Katie 👍🏻♥️ 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Woohoo! All the stars! 👍 5y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm yes! Loved it 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I‘m on Rosemary‘s Baby now ... it‘s not as good , but I‘ll probably finish it 5y
gradcat Are you still reading? 😂 5y
Cathythoughts @gradcat I finished it & my nights sleep was not the best .... that‘s enough of that for awhile 😬... powerful book 5y
gradcat I‘m not laughing, but I kind of am because isn‘t it funny how books can scare us to death? Okay, I‘m sort of laughing, but I am sorry you didn‘t have a very good night‘s sleep. ♥️ 5y
Cathythoughts @gradcat I never got back to you ! But I meant to .... I think writing that comes up in your dreams - be it good or scary bad - Well , it has definitely made an impact. I loved A Kiss Before Dying ... Rosemary‘s Baby .. not as much. But I appreciate this writer ... he has the gift ( for me anyway ) of hitting just the right cord , he captures my attention 5y
gradcat I‘m really glad that you liked him! And thanks for touching base—that‘s very nice of you. ❤️ 5y
69 likes6 stack adds27 comments
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Cathythoughts
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Just started this one .... I‘m hooked already- excited by the writing/story / suspense ! 👍🏻♥️ a gift from my bookfriend , Suba Thankyou X ... 😀

LeahBergen This sounds so good! 👏🏻 5y
batsy You're most welcome Cathy... I hope it's a good one ❤️ 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Look forward to your review:) 5y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @batsy @erzascarletbookgasm oh man !! It‘s great , I‘m spellbound... only I have to go out now , so reluctantly I‘ll have to wait till tomorrow to find out what happens next 😓👍🏻 loving it 5y
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shanaqui
Mehso-so

Was this more groundbreaking when it was first written? It's carefully structured to deliver the shocks and thrills, but I found myself... I don't know; I knew the outline of the plot before reading, anyway, but something about it just felt so... *done before*. But possibly it's been done since.

Anyway, it's well done, but I'm tired of charming psychopaths. My rating is not about it being a bad book, but it got on a nerve for me.

Clare-Dragonfly Totally fair to be tired of charming psychopaths! 5y
10 likes1 comment
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GidgetsTreasures75
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My 57th finished book! A page turner written in 1953! Mr. Levin also wrote classics like Rosemary‘s Baby and The Stepford Wives. 👍🏼📖#️⃣5️⃣7️⃣

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Clevercactus
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Thank you for all of the Litsy love! @kricheal

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Clevercactus
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Well, I have 6 more books to read and then #litsyatoz2018 is, shall we say, in the books? 📚For “K” I am reading Ira Levin‘s first book, A KISS Before Dying, which was made into a movie in the 50s and the remade in the 90s. #booksintofilm #booksintomovies

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Clevercactus
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Next up- “K” - A Kiss Before Dying, Ira Levin

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

Well worth the hype for me. Once I picked it up, I could hardly put it down. (I stopped only to go to bed, because I didn't want to risk nightmares.) The story marches inexorably on, but it still manages to pack a punch at the end.

32 likes2 stack adds
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rabbitprincess
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"the writing is considerably above the level usually associated with fictional crime and passion"

This part of The New Yorker's blurb comes across as a slightly backhanded compliment ?

tournevis No overt prejudice for genre fiction there. None at all. 🙄 6y
Anton I love Ira Levin, Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives are absolute classics. 6y
rabbitprincess @tournevis The rest of the blurb was perfectly fine! It's like could you just say it was well written and leave it at that?! @Anton I'll have to read those! I really enjoyed this one. 6y
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tournevis @rabbitprincess The NY Times aren't known for their acceptence of anything that's not "literary", which for them means books by and for White men past middle-age. So... 6y
Anton Boys From Brazil is good too! 6y
rwmg @tournevis Ira Levin certainly looks like a White man past middle age 6y
tournevis @rwmg OMG Ira Levine! 🤮 6y
30 likes7 comments
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sophierayton
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Pickpick

I thought the second part was excellent and there are a few times when I really felt that the author had hooked me in. As a feminist, I had to keep reminding myself that this was written and set in the 50's and give the author some grace for his seemingly poor opinion of women. I thought the main character was very well drawn and an interesting look into the mind of what I believe to be a narcissistic sociopath.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

He is a charming, handsome, gold digger-murderous boyfriend. (not a spoiler, we know this from the first chapter). Identifiable character. We get into his head, know his motivation & desires but who is he? It kept me flipping the pages, guessing wrongly! A tensed and suspenseful thriller with a surprise plot twist in the middle, and the shifting viewpoints added to the tension. Highly recommended if you love noir-rish thriller. 👇
#24in48 book 3.

erzascarletbookgasm Clever Levin. I‘m pleasantly surprised this is his first book, written when he was 23 years old! It won an Edgar Allen Poe Award and was considered a crime thriller masterpiece. Having read his other two books, I find this one is overshadowed by his other more famous books. Certainly deserves more attention! 6y
KathyWheeler My favorite of his is This Perfect Day, but I haven‘t read A Kiss Before Dying. I‘ll have to check it out. 6y
batsy Great review! Stacked 👍🏽 6y
Cathythoughts Sounds great ! Stacking 6y
tammysue Ooh stacking! 6y
94 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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That‘s book two and three ✅✅. I think I can most probably clock in a few more hours that‘s all. 🤷‍♀️
#24in48 #readathon

Kalalalatja You go!! 6y
67 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Brie
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Pickpick

A deeply suspenseful crime novel, I found myself holding my breath at certain parts. Two college students, seemingly in love, until the girl becomes pregnant and wants to get married, but her partner has other ideas. The identity of the boyfriend is kept secret for much of the book, adding to the mystery and the shock of the reveal.

54 likes1 stack add
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Didn‘t think pink is the less popular colour for a cover. Or at least, this is the only book I have with pink cover. Still TBR. 😁
#juneitselectrifying #thinkpink

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I don‘t have many either 🤷🏼‍♀️ 6y
vkois88 Me either! I have to try to find some. Will probably be mostly kids books 6y
84 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Day 6 #hallowreads #strangerdanger

He has charm, is handsome, and intelligent. He married her for her inheritance. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. When his wife‘s pregnancy seems to be the obstacle, he resorts to desperate measures. Sometimes you do not know the man you married.

LeeRHarry Ira Levin is great 6y
70 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Anneli
Bdda fr dd | Ira Levin
Pickpick

Lånade hem denna från hotellet där jag hittade den. Bor ju där med jämna mellanrum så det är ju inga problem. Gillade den. Påminner en del om Patricia Highsmiths böcker om Ripley, men i denna känner man inga sympatier för huvudpersonen. Den utspelar sig i universitetsmiljö på 50-talet och handlar om en kille som har som mål att gifta sig rikt och inte skyr några medel för att lyckas - avslöjar inte hur det går.

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Anneli
Bdda fr dd | Ira Levin
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Bredare litterärt utbud på detta hotell. Gjorde en notering till mig själv i söndags om att kolla vilka böcker av Ira Levin jag inte läst. Och här väntade denna!

MyBookLife Jag tror inte jag har läst något av honom. Har du något förslag var man ska börja? 7y
Anneli Jag gillar ju Rosemarys baby (boken och filmen - Polanski), Fruarna i Stepford, Pojkarna från Brasilien. Tror inte jag läst några fler. Man ska ju gilla genren för att uppskatta dem. 7y
3 likes2 comments
review
Jessclay10
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Pickpick

I love when I discover a great classic mystery!!!

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KathleenM
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I enjoyed the audio version of this book and look forward to watching the movie.

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stupiditypopia
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JenlovesJT47
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Pickpick

This book was amazing. Tense and suspenseful, I was transported back in time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Highly recommended!

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JenlovesJT47
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Yes ❤️

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JenlovesJT47
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I've been there! How many missed opportunities do we all have because of fear of rejection?

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thepaulhoa
Pickpick

Fun, quick read. There's a really interesting technique Levin used that added a cool level of mystery and took my by surprise. Highly recommend this as a light snack, especially if you love mysteries and noir. #noir #mystery #suspense

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thepaulhoa
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Brainstorming, that's all.

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thepaulhoa
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Love this cover. Looking forward to diving into this one! #noir

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