Vanishing Ladies

by Richard Marsten, Ed McBain

A peaceful lake, a cabin in the country, and each other... It looked as though it was going to be an idyllic holiday for Phil Colby and his fiancee Anne. But then Anne disappears from her motel room, and Phil finds a red-haired hooker in her place.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Detective

143 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 1982

About the author

Born and raised as Salvatore Lombino in New York City.
Legally changed name to his pseudonym Evan Hunter.
Best known by his pseudonym Ed McBain.

Reviews

[George K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Εφιαλτική νύχτα στο μοτέλ", εκδόσεις Όμικρον.

Πριν λίγο καιρό, τυχαία έπεσε στην αντίληψη μου το βιβλιαράκι αυτό, ψάχνοντας στο ίντερνετ. Έμαθα ότι το "Ρίτσαρντ Μάρστεν" είναι ψευδώνυμο του Έβαν Χάντερ, ή αλλιώς Εντ Μακμπέιν, και έτσι το έβαλα στην λίστα με τα υπό αναζήτηση βιβλία, μιας και μου αρέσουν τα βιβλία αυτού του τυπά. Τελικά το βρήκα προχθές στο Μοναστηράκι και μέσα σε λίγη ώρα σήμερα, το διάβασα.

Ο νεαρός ντετέκτιβ Φιλ Κόλμπι, ταξιδεύει με την κοπέλα του στην διπλανή πολιτεία, για ολιγοήμερες διακοπές. Πριν καν μπουν στην πόλη του προορισμού τους, ένας επαρχιώτης αστυνομικός τους σταματάει για υπερβολική ταχύτητα. Αφού ξεμπλέκουν, πιάνουν δυο ξεχωριστά δωμάτια σ'ένα απομονωμένο μοτέλ, ώστε να ξεκουραστούν για την νύχτα. Όμως κάποια στιγμή, ο Φιλ θα δει αίματα στον τοίχο του δωματίου του! Θα αναστατώσει τον κόσμο και θα ανακαλύψει ότι η κοπέλα του λείπει από το δωμάτιό της. Θα τα αναφέρει όλα αυτά στον διευθυντή του μοτέλ και έναν αστυνομικό, οι δυο τους όμως θα τον κοιτάξουν περίεργα, λέγοντάς του ότι δεν τον είδαν με καμία κοπέλα...

Κλασικό αστυνομικό παλπ, με γρήγορη πλοκή, λίγο μυστήριο, μια-δυο εκπλήξεις και νουάρ ατμόσφαιρα. Δεν υπάρχει χώρος για ανάπτυξη χαρακτήρων ή περιττολογίες, είναι μια ιστορία που διαβάζεται μονοκοπανιά σε δυο ώρες το πολύ και ξεχνιέται σχετικά εύκολα. Η γραφή είναι καλούτσικη, στο ίδιο στιλ περίπου με τα άλλα βιβλία του συγγραφέα, αν και η μετάφραση δείχνει τα σαράντα πέντε χρονάκια της. Αρκετά καλό, αλλά όχι για όλα τα γούστα. (7/10)

[zpk · Rating 3 out of 5]

leuk boekje om zo snel uit te lezen, niks heel veel speciaals ofzo maar ja das wel te verwachten bij zon klein boekie, in het algemeen heel tof , nooit saai en goeie story👍

[Kevin Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan Hunter/Ed McBain/Richard Marsten has been one of my favorite authors for more than 40 years. Although obviously dated (written in 1957) this book still highlighted Hunter's skill with story and characterization. A short and quick read but a portent of things to come including the legendary 87th Precinct series.

[Pam Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, especially the many things that remind the reader that the story was set in the 50s...phone booths, record players, Frank Sinatra and Elvis, “See the USA in Your Chevrolet”, the sexual morality of the times, etc. And yes, the book is not just set in the 50’s, it was written in the 50’s. However, the plot and characters were interesting and like any good mystery, whenever it is written, I was drawn into what was happening, why, and how would it turn out. Quick, fun read.

[Stimpson J. Kat esq... · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had this one for years on paperback and i finally got off my ass and read it i dunno why it took me so long to read i mean i have had it for over 20 damn years! it's a MUST read it's a bit slow at first but once it starts up it's worth it

[Michael Prendergast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a weak plot and the ending felt a little rushed it kept me reading right to the end. A great little crime noir by the master

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

McBain book 83

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this slim little paperback up a few years ago after the first line in the synopsis on the back reads "They played me for a sucker..." That kind of voice is just about all it takes to hook me and make me drop the two bucks down for it. Chances are always there that I could be played for a sucker as well. I learned later that the author is Ed McBain, one of my favorites. Ed McBain is another name for Evan Hunter which is yet another name for Salvatore Albert Lombino. It's a fascinating hall of mirrors for names which is is off track as far as a review for this book goes.

Philip Colby is a young city cop who takes his girlfriend Ann for a vacation in the mountains. As soon as they reach the small town of Sullivan's Point they're pulled over for speeding by a local deputy. Colby is accused of stealing the borrowed car he and Ann are driving in and is forced to meet with the local justice of the peace. So far, no one is impressed that Colby is a "big city" detective. After paying the speeding fine and straightening out the "stolen" car issue, Colby and Ann check in to a lake side motel in the county. Being unmarried they take two separate cabins, thank you. Within no time flat Colby's cabin is visited by a working girl in a purple dress, he finds blood on seeping through the shared wall of his cabin and the one next to his, and quickly discovers his girlfriend Ann missing! To make things worse, no one admits to even seeing Ann in the first place. Not the motel manager, the prostitute, the justice of the peace, or even the deputy who pulled them over for speeding earlier that day. "My girl had vanished!" Colby tells us.

VANISHING LADIES is a decent caper from 1957. It's farfetched and violent. There are duplicitous babes and vicious thugs swirling about this little hick-town named Sullivan's Point. Come for the clean country air and don't forget to pack yer gat!

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Иногда красивые диалоги, больше ничего.