Double Indemnity, by James M. Cain

I had killed a man, for money and a woman. I didn’t have the money and I didn’t have the woman.

A life insurance salesman meets a woman who wants to get rid of her husband; they concoct a perfect plan; God laughs.

This was an odd book to read as it was generally very faithfully adapted into one of my all-time favorite noir movies, so while it’s a very good book it’s impossible not to miss the movie’s performances and direction and dialogue while reading it. Also, even the small changes have a touch of genius; Walter Huff, which is already a good name for the character, is lifted into iconic with the two-letter change into Walter Neff.

( Spoilers )

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