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272nd out of 3,368 books
—
7,794 voters
A Kiss Before Dying
by
Ira Levin,
Otto Penzler (Goodreads Author)
A Kiss Before Dying not only debuted the talent of best-selling novelist Ira Levin to rave reviews, it also set a new standard in the art of mystery and suspense. Now a modern classic, as gripping in its tautly plotted action as it is penetrating in its exploration of a criminal mind, it tells the shocking tale of a young man who will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
April 7th 2003
by Carroll & Graf
(first published 1953)
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Stephen King calls Ira Levin “the Swiss watchmaker of suspense novels”, and with good reason. In all four Levin novels I’ve read, he has done an incredible job ratcheting up the tension as the story builds. But “A Kiss Before Dying” is the first Levin novel where I didn’t know the twist going in, which made it even more gripping.
Written and set in the 1950s, “A Kiss Before Dying” is about a handsome and charming war vet who has a plan to ensure his financial future — a plan that hits a snag when...more
Written and set in the 1950s, “A Kiss Before Dying” is about a handsome and charming war vet who has a plan to ensure his financial future — a plan that hits a snag when...more
The title 'A Kiss Before Dying' conjures up, for me, an image of a 1950s pulp thriller with a fabulous, stylish cover featuring a woman who looks like the hourglassy one from Mad Men and a man in a fedora concealing a gun. And indeed, that's pretty much exactly what A Kiss Before Dying is, on the face of it - it's a crime novel published in 1953 about a handsome psychopath who preys upon a series of rich young women in a bid to secure a stake in their father's fortune.
And yet, while A Kiss Befor...more
And yet, while A Kiss Befor...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A young college man is dating Dorothy, the daughter of a wealthy copper tycoon, hoping to marry her and eventually inherit her father's money. His plan hits a roadblock when Dorothy tells him that she's pregnant and they must marry right away. Not only that but her father will disown her for getting pregnant out of wedlock - that means no money for the young man. The only way the man can get out of this predicament is to kill Dorothy. If only that was the end of his problems...
A Kiss Before Dyin...more
A Kiss Before Dyin...more
What a great thriller. I discovered A Kiss Before Dying by accident. It was on sale for 99p in Kindle format. I had been having a break from reading crime novels. I had got bored with so many of the mediocre crime novels that are being published at the moment; police procedurals that vied with each other as to who could produce the most dysfunctional detective or describe the most sadistic of murders most gruesomely, all the while bewildering me with constant changes of point of view, head-hoppi...more
As usual, I don't like to go in to many details about plot, especially in a book like this, where part of the appeal is the suspense, and not knowing what is going to happen next. The book is classified by a lot of people as mystery/thriller, but that is a mistake, in my opinion. We know who did it. There is no mystery for the reader. Yes, there are thrills to be had. The time period is noir-ish, and there is a murder. That is where the similarities with Hammet and Chandler stop.
This, like a lot...more
This, like a lot...more
It's a popular thriller but a very interesting one. I always liked the film but the book is better. The editor complains in the preface that she hates the author for writing this when aged 23 and I know what she means. It is so well-plotted. I love the fact that we start in the murderer's head and then almost half way into the book we switch to news reports and letters before following events through the mind of a heroine. And so it continues with changing perspectives. The dialogue is so natura...more
This is quite an old book now but it was a really good read. This is the same author who wrote Rosemary's Baby, and Boys From Brazil, both made into films. It was only after I started reading I realized that A Kiss Before Dying was also a film I'd seen many years ago, starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward. It was an excellent film and I remembered it quite well, although that did not spoil the book for me.
The story is quite well advanced before we know who the murderer is, so it has the mys...more
The story is quite well advanced before we know who the murderer is, so it has the mys...more
I felt as though Ira Levin really got into the characters' heads, especially reformed party-girl Ellen and spinster-in-training Marion, although it could be that their relative depth was a relief after lovestruck wannabe-wed Dorothy. The novel was peppered with newspaper items relating to the various crimes of the story. They were all pretty tongue-in-cheek and served as nice palate-cleansers between the point of view changes. The thing that sets this book apart from other, similarly plotted sus...more
This book was good. and felt very bad for the mother. "Where's bud?" (view spoiler)
This book is about a man, who was born in a poor family. He dates a rich collage girl, but gets her pregnant. This is not good, because she is only 19 and her father will disown her. Meaning no money for him. All action has consequences, and things goes good to bad to good to bad. Its very exciting and i find myself finishing it a few hours.
The books st...more
This book is about a man, who was born in a poor family. He dates a rich collage girl, but gets her pregnant. This is not good, because she is only 19 and her father will disown her. Meaning no money for him. All action has consequences, and things goes good to bad to good to bad. Its very exciting and i find myself finishing it a few hours.
The books st...more
It's a well written mystery with nice turns that was written in the 50's. It was nice to read it again after a very very long time! The first time I read it was in High School and I liked it then and I still do now.
Bud Corliss is a handsome young man without a conscience who wants to become very rich without too much effort.
His first victim is the young and naive Dorothy Kingship who is very much in love with him. She's pregnant and wants to marry the 'poor nobody' Bud, but this would result i...more
Bud Corliss is a handsome young man without a conscience who wants to become very rich without too much effort.
His first victim is the young and naive Dorothy Kingship who is very much in love with him. She's pregnant and wants to marry the 'poor nobody' Bud, but this would result i...more
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Dec 23, 2010
Jack Cheng
added it
This is a terrific thriller but don't read the introduction (slight spoiler therein). Divided into three parts, the first part is fine, although somewhat pedestrian. The second part is great, with a lot of tension and ends on a twist and in the third part, I was left just hoping that there would be a happy ending.
What to say about this book without giving anything away? The Kingship family and other characters are well drawn, there are techniques that are operating like clockwork (hints and fore...more
What to say about this book without giving anything away? The Kingship family and other characters are well drawn, there are techniques that are operating like clockwork (hints and fore...more
Absolute perfection. Mr. Levin has captured the sociopathic personality perfectly. The 'bad guy' is devious, manipulative, charming, cruel, meticulous, selfish, and narcissistic. This storyline flows smoothly. The writing is impeccable.
The characters are well developed, believable, complex, and incredibly human. The narratives are perfect. There is no "drag" whatsoever in dialogue or description.
A Kiss Before Dying is one of the most suspenseful novels I've ever read. I felt expectation and drea...more
The characters are well developed, believable, complex, and incredibly human. The narratives are perfect. There is no "drag" whatsoever in dialogue or description.
A Kiss Before Dying is one of the most suspenseful novels I've ever read. I felt expectation and drea...more
I call this "the double sucker-punch" novel for the clever way it was structured. Just as we are following the story from the point of view of the anonymous antagonist and gasps at the casual murder of his girlfriend, the book switches the point of view halfway through the book and now we see events from the murdered girl's sister. That's the first sucker-punch. Now every handsome man with blond hair whom she encounters could be the murderer. Then when we are sure the suspects have been narrowed...more
somewhere between Jim Thompson and An American Tragedy... minus the fun and terror of the first and the weight and scope of the second. i don't really get what ira levin's all about. like Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives, this book is ingeniously designed and executed but never feels like a damn thing.
At first it seemed this was derivative of Dreiser's "An American Tragedy." But the book is a plot driven tale of intricate design and unexpected twists. That this was written by a 24 year old seems uncommon, as it seems to reflect a master's touch in it's architecture. That said, the women characters are hopelessly trusting and foolish, the Gordon Gant character too sophisticated and cool, the father too willing to talk to the young "hero" of the novel. The wrap up of the book expounds too much...more
It's The Great Gatsby meets Psycho.
Actually, it's better than that. Ira Levin's first novel is a nearly flawless accomplishment: taut & suspenseful, written in the terse, direct style that would become Levin's trademark. Levin gives us an unflinching look inside the mind of a remorseless psychopath who will stop at nothing to win the life he thinks he deserves.
A Kiss Before Dying is very much a product of its era- published in 1953- but it holds up well. It's emotionally bleak, roman noir st...more
Actually, it's better than that. Ira Levin's first novel is a nearly flawless accomplishment: taut & suspenseful, written in the terse, direct style that would become Levin's trademark. Levin gives us an unflinching look inside the mind of a remorseless psychopath who will stop at nothing to win the life he thinks he deserves.
A Kiss Before Dying is very much a product of its era- published in 1953- but it holds up well. It's emotionally bleak, roman noir st...more
Dec 27, 2012
Roberta
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ebook,
bibliography-levin
It should be 3.5 stars. I loved the part about the first sister, Dorothy, but grew less enthusiastic with Ellen and Marion. At first he seemes such a cool murder but then he turn into a pompous young man.
The part about Ellen is my least favourite: she's clever and she's the only one connecting all the clues, but she's also a little bit of a know-it-all and doesn't realize all the guys she met are making her doing what they want.
Marion... Marion is in love, and no one wants to see her prince cha...more
The part about Ellen is my least favourite: she's clever and she's the only one connecting all the clues, but she's also a little bit of a know-it-all and doesn't realize all the guys she met are making her doing what they want.
Marion... Marion is in love, and no one wants to see her prince cha...more
A great little thriller, somewhat spoiled by an introduction that gives away much of the book.
Why do publishers do this? Infuriating!!! If you want to have some other writer waxing lyrical about how great the novel is while giving away plot twists, then do it as an afterword, not an introduction.
Plus, I'll now look up who wrote the intro and make sure NEVER to read any of her books.
Anyhow. A great, chilling and tense thriller about a determined, callous young man, his quest for wealth, and his...more
Why do publishers do this? Infuriating!!! If you want to have some other writer waxing lyrical about how great the novel is while giving away plot twists, then do it as an afterword, not an introduction.
Plus, I'll now look up who wrote the intro and make sure NEVER to read any of her books.
Anyhow. A great, chilling and tense thriller about a determined, callous young man, his quest for wealth, and his...more
Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.
Sometimes I make myself go back and read classic novels instead of my favorite Urban Fantasy or YA Dystopias, and I picked this up because The Stepford Wives was checked out at my library. I’m so glad I did.
A Kiss Before Dying is a true psychological thriller, though I have to say there’s more f*cked up psychological insight on the serial killer at the center of the story than there are thrills. It’s incredibly messed up as we follow the killer from his...more
Sometimes I make myself go back and read classic novels instead of my favorite Urban Fantasy or YA Dystopias, and I picked this up because The Stepford Wives was checked out at my library. I’m so glad I did.
A Kiss Before Dying is a true psychological thriller, though I have to say there’s more f*cked up psychological insight on the serial killer at the center of the story than there are thrills. It’s incredibly messed up as we follow the killer from his...more
As I read this I suddenly thought, Oh hey! This is that movie! Which then confused me a little since the three men in this story are all blondes and the movie starred brunette Robert Wagner (1956).
The way the book is set up, even if you've seen the movie, you still won't know whom the murderer is in part two. Very ingenious formatting.
Prospective writers might want to read this as a masterclass in how to direct--and misdirect--the reader.
For readers, if you like murder mysteries, especially ones...more
The way the book is set up, even if you've seen the movie, you still won't know whom the murderer is in part two. Very ingenious formatting.
Prospective writers might want to read this as a masterclass in how to direct--and misdirect--the reader.
For readers, if you like murder mysteries, especially ones...more
In 1917 the copper bosses killed Joe Hill. This novel has not much to do with that murder, but I had to think about it.
The novel is about a guy, let's call him X (how original!) to avoid spoilers. X is said to be very good looking, his mother spoiled him and enhanced his narcissistic personality. He learned to use his good looking for manipulate people, especially women. And in WWII he learned the pleasure of killing. We would call him a sociopath. But when Ira Levin wrote his first novell in 1...more
The novel is about a guy, let's call him X (how original!) to avoid spoilers. X is said to be very good looking, his mother spoiled him and enhanced his narcissistic personality. He learned to use his good looking for manipulate people, especially women. And in WWII he learned the pleasure of killing. We would call him a sociopath. But when Ira Levin wrote his first novell in 1...more
Oct 17, 2012
Jim
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Mystery fans, 1950's aficionados
Shelves:
mystery-thriller,
read-2012
This was an interesting book to read. Going into the plot any further than the synopsis already provided would involve revealing plot details that could lesson your enjoyment. The lead character is a sociopath and we get to see the inner workings of his mind. We also get a look into the past - how different our country was in 1950 - no cell phones, not everyone has a car, the cost of everything is so much lower. But, without an interesting story, these things would not hold your attention. Ira L...more
Sep 24, 2011
Izabela
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
murder,
twist-ending
This book was a fun and thrilling read. It's the story of a young man who just wants to be rich and live a good life but ends up destroying any hope of that for himself. He realizes that he is not smart enough or well-connected enough to create a rich life on his own, so he seeks a woman that is rich and can provide him with a good life. He meets that young girl, but unfortunately they get pregnant and he must make a choice -- kill the girl and look for another rich one or marry her and end up p...more
Levin is one of the greatest writers in terms of plot construction that I have ever read. He only wrote seven novels, and at least five of them are classics of their genre. ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE STEPFORD WIVES are the two he's remembered for, but this novel, his first, is well worth a read.
It's a noir-influenced tale very much of its time (although I'm sure the movie updated it). Part I is told from the viewpoint of the killer. Part II switches to that of the victim's sister, who is determined...more
It's a noir-influenced tale very much of its time (although I'm sure the movie updated it). Part I is told from the viewpoint of the killer. Part II switches to that of the victim's sister, who is determined...more
A Kiss Before Dying is one of the best crime-thriller's I've ever read. It's a story about a handsome, charming and clever young boy who has alternative motives in his relationships. It's set on a small-town college campus. The main characters in this book are all young, full of potential and hopes for life.
The story starts with the relationship between Bud and Dorothy. Great opening with two lovers in bed and from the very start it is made clear to readers that Bud is evil, a manipulative psych...more
The story starts with the relationship between Bud and Dorothy. Great opening with two lovers in bed and from the very start it is made clear to readers that Bud is evil, a manipulative psych...more
A great whodunit from the midcentury. A terrible secret that has to be covered up at all costs and the wealthy family drawn into danger and intrigue. The twists and turns are truly unexpected and to do more than allude to them would give away too much. Ira Levin writes in a gripping fashion and you might want to read through the night to see what will happen. I think there might be some language issues but my copy had them all blacked out (thanks Krisette for your "cleaned up" version.
They don't write 'em like this anymore.
Plot driven well constructed "Noir" classic. The story grabs you from the start, and is so engrossing, that I did not realize that Levin never named his main character in part 1. As the story shifts perspective, the plot chugs along until the surprising reveal.
Yes, the story is a bit dated, with the 50's social mores front and center. If, however, you get past that, go with the ride. A quick, suspenseful read, and classic murder thriller.
Plot driven well constructed "Noir" classic. The story grabs you from the start, and is so engrossing, that I did not realize that Levin never named his main character in part 1. As the story shifts perspective, the plot chugs along until the surprising reveal.
Yes, the story is a bit dated, with the 50's social mores front and center. If, however, you get past that, go with the ride. A quick, suspenseful read, and classic murder thriller.
I like the multiple points of views including Bud's. He is credible as a cold, somewhat mundane psychopath. The female points of views are 50'ish preBetty Friedan of course, and therefore from a modern point of view, too bent on marriage as a final destination in life. I watched the movie version from 1991 and found that it worked very well even as the plot is different from the novel.
As I am not at all an admirer of the genre in general, 3 stars is as high as it goes.
As I am not at all an admirer of the genre in general, 3 stars is as high as it goes.
Mentally prepare yourself to be transported into the 1950's and enjoy the ride in this classic murder/mystery novel. The story line is definitely outdated by today's standards, but it's a fun read nonetheless. A Kiss Before Dying's plot is thin in areas and actually reminds me of sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and watching a half-baked adaptation of a book. But if you're looking for a fun romp through another era, this is a great, quick read.
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Levin graduated from the Horace Mann School and New York University, where he majored in philosophy and English.
After college, he wrote training films and scripts for television.
Levin's first produced play was No Time for Sergeants (adapted from Mac Hyman's novel), a comedy about a hillbilly drafted into the United States Air Force that launched the career of Andy Griffith. The play was turned int...more
More about Ira Levin...
After college, he wrote training films and scripts for television.
Levin's first produced play was No Time for Sergeants (adapted from Mac Hyman's novel), a comedy about a hillbilly drafted into the United States Air Force that launched the career of Andy Griffith. The play was turned int...more
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