"Puts Chandler to shame . . . Hughes is the master we keep turning to."—Sara Paretsky, author of the V. I. Warshawski novels"A superb novel by one ...
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Feb 28, 2010
David
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If Mickey Spillane had named one of his heroes "Dix Steele," it would leave me shaking my head and rolling my eyes, but when Dorothy B. Hughes gives the name to a serial rapist and killer, I nod and smile. Hughes can get away with this name because everything else in In a Lonely Place is so restrained. Dix Steele is so scary because he seems so ordinary--which is, of course, why sociopaths are so dangerous: Inwardly they have no conscience, while outwardly they seem the same as you or
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Jan 15, 2009
In a Lonely Place, by Dorothy B. Hughes. A.
This was a wonderful book, first published in 1947. The publishers have included in the updated version I read a long essay on pulp fiction and the place of women in writing it. Actually I found this story to be amazing for a woman to have written as the main character is a male psychopath, Dixon Steele, (Dix), and we see almost all the action through his eyes, with his delusions and calculations. Girls are being strangled in the Los Angeles ar More...
This was a wonderful book, first published in 1947. The publishers have included in the updated version I read a long essay on pulp fiction and the place of women in writing it. Actually I found this story to be amazing for a woman to have written as the main character is a male psychopath, Dixon Steele, (Dix), and we see almost all the action through his eyes, with his delusions and calculations. Girls are being strangled in the Los Angeles ar More...
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Oct 27, 2010
Jack
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In her novel, In a Lonely Place, Dorothy B. Hughes provides a close-up view of Dix Steele, serial rapist and murderer. She takes up residence inside his skull and shows what Dix thinks makes himself tick, convoluted though it may be. Dix straddles a tightrope of normalcy and insanity. Often he seems scarily ordinary, especially around others. He has a sense of humor and can be charming. He says the right things to allay suspicion.
Sometimes Dix comes off a little pushy as when Dix po More...
Sometimes Dix comes off a little pushy as when Dix po More...
Jan 20, 2010
jennifer
rated it:
So very noir that I pictured the whole story in black and white.
Dix Steele (how many pornstar wanna-bes are kicking themselves for not thinking up that name?) is a serial killer, and his best friend, Brum, is a cop. So the mystery isn't one of who did it or who will catch the killer as the reader already knows these things. Instead, Hughes keeps us guessing as to which of the three potential victims offered up will Dix choose next. It just boils down to who does he hate more?
Hughes d More...
Dix Steele (how many pornstar wanna-bes are kicking themselves for not thinking up that name?) is a serial killer, and his best friend, Brum, is a cop. So the mystery isn't one of who did it or who will catch the killer as the reader already knows these things. Instead, Hughes keeps us guessing as to which of the three potential victims offered up will Dix choose next. It just boils down to who does he hate more?
Hughes d More...
May 15, 2011
Beth
rated it: 
A re-release by The Feminist Press --- recapturing women writers of an earlier era. Dorothy Hughes wrote pulp mysteries --- and the argument is that her presentation of a misogynistic serial killer (before the term 'serial killer' was adopted) is an examination of the normal misogynistic male of that era. I think that's pushing it, but it was an interesting read. The story is told completely from the p.o.v. of Dix Steele, an ex-WWII pilot, displaced upon his return to civilian life partially
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Mar 06, 2008
Austin
rated it:
This is one of the creepiest books I've read in recent memory, and even though I had to read this for a class, it was something that I completely enjoyed. For anyone who has an interest in hard-boiled fiction and crime novels, this is definitely worth your effort. That it's fantastically written is one reason, but interestingly enough, this was also written by a woman.
In the hard-boiled pulp days, women wrote a large number of gritty crime novels. (It should also be noted that m More...
In the hard-boiled pulp days, women wrote a large number of gritty crime novels. (It should also be noted that m More...
Oct 13, 2011
David
rated it:
Pulp novel told from the POV of a male serial rapist/killer, written by a woman. Written by a woman in 1947. Suspenseful, disorienting, and very fascinating. I enjoyed the critical essay included at the end, too, placing the novel in context.
Hughes writes very well, and slyly undercuts a lot of the expectations of the genre. I want to check out more books from this series, Femmes Fatales: Women Write Pulp.
Hughes writes very well, and slyly undercuts a lot of the expectations of the genre. I want to check out more books from this series, Femmes Fatales: Women Write Pulp.
May 15, 2010
John
rated it:
Nicholas Ray's 1950 movie In a Lonely Place is based on Dorothy B. Hughes' novel and it is justifiably a classic. Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame are at their best in this film noir favorite. However, Hollywood changed the story, as is so often does, and what a great story Hughes provided. Any fan of hardboiled psychological suspense from the noir era should love this book.
Apr 17, 2009
Kyle
rated it: 
A decent story. A story that cannibalized some earlier suspenseful writings, Poe being one source, only to be cannibalized itself by works like American Psycho. The writing was awkward at time but Hughes was successful and creating a pro-female serial killer tale.
I read this for a class taught by Hogeland, the woman who wrote the afterword, and her insight in it was highly interesting but ultimately encapsulated in the afterword.
I read this for a class taught by Hogeland, the woman who wrote the afterword, and her insight in it was highly interesting but ultimately encapsulated in the afterword.
Dec 16, 2008
Sara
rated it:
My second Noir book. Good stuff so far.
Now that I've finished it...
Really fun book. Compared to the last one (The Big Clock) it was less campy and a more riveting mystery. Told completely from the point of view of the killer, very well-done.
Now that I've finished it...
Really fun book. Compared to the last one (The Big Clock) it was less campy and a more riveting mystery. Told completely from the point of view of the killer, very well-done.
Jan 11, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
Reminded me very much of The Talented Mr Ripley. This was an extremely well written and insightful piece of fiction about the workings of the mind of a serial killer in the 1940's post war America.
Didn't think I was going to like this one but 2 pages in just couldn't put it down.
Didn't think I was going to like this one but 2 pages in just couldn't put it down.
Jan 09, 2009
Christine
rated it:
This book had been on my nightstand for years -- finally pulled it out last night and am really enjoying it. The vintage LA setting is just what I needed in on a cold winter day. A strangler is on the loose, spotting lone women as they wait at bus stops (in LA!) and . . .
May 11, 2010
Patrick
rated it:
Noir. Yup. Los Angeles even. There's a midnight strangler. There's a cop. There's a plot. It thickens. Saw the ending coming a mile away. Ain't like I'm clairvoyant. Now I'm jonesing for black coffee, cigarettes, cool dames, and a shot of rye.
Dec 17, 2009
Greg
rated it:
Good 40's-era noir, repackaged by a feminist press because of its female author and her unusual choice to tell the tale from the P.O.V. of a male serial rapist/killer. The book's not as gruesome as it sounds - any scene of sex of violence gets the usual period film "fade out" - but it's terrific page-turning stuff nonetheless.
The excessively academic afterword is something to be skipped, though, unless you enjoy parenthetical citations to the BOOK YOU JUST FINISHED and sen More...
The excessively academic afterword is something to be skipped, though, unless you enjoy parenthetical citations to the BOOK YOU JUST FINISHED and sen More...
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Feb 20, 2012
Molly
rated it:
"A tale of American machismo gone mad!" A fairly stark, vivid pulp noir. It is most interesting for its description of its female characters as seen through the eyes of the protagonist. I enjoyed it more in retrospect and after reading the feminist critique that's included in this edition published by the Feminist Press.
Sep 02, 2011
Martin
rated it:
a really good novel. los angeles, 1947 - the perfect noir-setting with a perfect cast of noir-characters expertly handled by the author.
Jul 20, 2009
Ahead of its time - a very brave book. In my opinion, very well written, and incredibly engaging.
Sep 26, 2010
Jane
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Except for a somewhat weak ending, this book was very well written. Now I'm going to have to read all of her other mysteries.
Apr 09, 2010
Zoë
rated it:
Eeerie in its depiction of the point of view of rapist/murderer, believable and terribly sad.
Sep 11, 2010
Kit
rated it:
Both a great serial killer crime novel as well as an extraordinary trip into the mind of a misogynistic looks-like-everyone-else-but-is-actually-a-madman type of character. Dorothy Hughes creates a rich and frightening protagonist whose actions are sickening but whose mind is still lucid in a fractured, damaged sort of way. Highly recommended for hard-boiled fans.
Jun 20, 2010
Judy
rated it:
Feminism meets femme noir.
It was interesting to look at a book about a serial rapist from a feminist perspective. I would like to get some more of these pulp fiction works, but they are very pricey.
It was interesting to look at a book about a serial rapist from a feminist perspective. I would like to get some more of these pulp fiction works, but they are very pricey.
Aug 28, 2008
Aberlowitz
rated it:
You're inside the head of a serial killer and it is a claustrophobic as well as a lonely place. Plenty of suspense without graphic descriptions of blood, gore and perversion. This pulp has great post WWII LA atmosphere. And it was written by a woman!
Apr 17, 2008
Tosh
rated it:
The great Dorothy Hughes wrote the ultimate Los Angeles noir novel that needs to be re-discovered. A serial killer (the ultimate outsider that looks like an insider) strikes and Hughes gets into his 'head.'
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Jan 18, 2009
Jessica
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A superlative example of how to use what's unsaid to create narrative tension - rock solid and a true lost gem from one of the great women of noir.
