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Before the fact

Anthony Berkeley

1932278 pagesabout 4–6 hours
1932
first published
  • 1932Jill Norman & Hobhouse · 310 pages · ENGISBN 9780906908884
  • 1947Pocket Books · 278 pages · ENG
  • 1978Gollancz · 352 pages · ENGISBN 9780575024601
  • 1979Gregg Press · 310 pages · ENGISBN 9780839825395
  • 1980Perennial Libray · 310 pages · ENGISBN 9780060805173
  • 1985Amereon Ltd · ENGISBN 9780848801717
  • 2000Chivers Audio Books · ENGISBN 9780754004288
  • 1999Pan Books · 336 pagesISBN 9780330373159

"Some women give birth to murderers, some go to bed with them. Lina Aysgarth had lived with her husband for nearly eight years before she realized that she was married to a murderer." Johnny was delightful—and Lina loved him desperately. But his devastating charm was combined with a complete lack of both morals and income. Slowly Lina discovered what such a combination led to. The first indications seemed trivial, especially since, in his childish way, Johnny loved her. Not for along time did she realize that he had killed, and was planning to kill again. Made into the famous Cary Grant-Joan Fontaine motion picture Suspicion, this story has seldom been surpassed for sheer, blood-curdling suspense. As one reviewer said, "it induces such a There-butfor-the-Grace-of-God sensation that one remains shivering for hours."

How it feels

Emotional toneUnflinching
AtmosphereNoir

How it reads

ComplexityLayered

When and where

ThemesJustice

Content notesnot yet assessed

Quotesnone available

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