The Lady Kills

by Bruno Fischer

That body of hers wasn't one I could forget. So far that was all I knew about her.
But even if I had known all about her, what she really was, it wouldn't have changed anything. Because it had already started when she walked into my room in her bathing suit. It had started, all right, and it was a smoldering fire inside me.
And in her own sweet time she came for me.

"A good bet for readers who like plenty of gore in their detective fiction."
-MORNING TELEGRAM

"...skilled craftsmanship..."
-NEW YORK TIMES

THIS IS A GOLD MEDAL BOOK

Genres: Mystery

156 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Bruno Fischer was the author of 25 novels and more than 300 short stories, a contributor to "Black Mask" and "Manhunt" magazines, and the uncrowned king of the notorious 'weird menace' pulps. He wrote also as Russell Gray and Harrison Storm.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic noir is all about compulsion. it's all about being overcome by emotion and passion so strong that the characters are just about drowning in it. Passion, that is, for money and power, seduction and desire. A classic pulp novel is often about a femme fatale and characters who are so bedazzled by her charms they can't think straight even when they know better, even when they've been warned that she's bad to the bone. The Lady Kills is such a story and it's a real good one. As the reader you see where it's all going a mile away. You know there is pretty much no stopping it because with a femme fatale like Beth no man can resist her.

Bruno Fischer is a great writer. This story about a young newspaperman and his publisher's headstrong gorgeous unstoppable daughter is a terrific read. The story is filled with pulpy passion and it's just a terrific example of the good stuff.

There's also some themes here about civic corruption and the newspaper being the last bastion of freedom and justice against the political machine and the thugs employed by it. Nevertheless, the heart and soul of this book is a tortured relationship, strange coverups and frameups, and a slow growth of a young reporter to become someone who maybe gets his balls back. Beth is quite scary and there's pretty much nothing she's not capable of and nothing she can't get a man to do for her. And if you are looking for a classic black widow femme fatale, this is the story for you.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised that Bruno Fischer didn't receive any coverage in Haut's or O'Brien's books on crime noir. Even in Horsley's The Noir Thriller there is just one mention of Fischer, in the Fatal Women chapter, and it is for this book. And I have to say, Beth Antler, is a femme fatale character in all caps, pretty much a textbook example, you could teach a course on the topic using her as an archetype. The noir protagonist is Simon Field and he's an editor working for the newspaper published by Beth's father. The small town is run by gangsters who control the politicians and the newspaper's editorial page is at war with the corruption, which becomes a bigger focus in the second half of the novel. The first half is all about Simon falling under the spell of Beth, even to the point of covering up a murder for her. The plot complications expand out from there, including a nice twist up at the end. Strong characterization, good plot, and the usual noir trappings. The pace was a bit slower than a lot of the Gold Medal era books, but Fischer was a good writer so the less than break-neck paced sections are still interesting reading. Prologue has an eBook version so this is readily available.

[Piker7977 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good noir featuring a nasty femme fatale.

Everything I Know I Learning From A Gold Medal Paperback

[Paperback Papa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 1951 noir focuses on Beth, a young femme fatale who effortlessly captivates any male who ventures into her orbit. From the wealthy and powerful to the uneducated farm boy, she casts her spell everywhere she goes. Simon Field, a young newspaperman, is her current beau. Simon is entranced by her beauty and smoldering sensuality. He can't get enough of her.

But Simon has questions:

Isn't it odd that Beth has been involved in three self-defense killings? What are the odds for someone so young?

Don't some of the so-called facts surrounding those killings seem a little fishy?

Why doesn't Beth seem more torn up about them?

And the biggest question of them all: Could it be that his mesmerizing girlfriend likes killing?

"The Lady Kills" is an outstanding 156-page novel. The writing is smooth and the characters are spot on. The story went places I didn't expect and ended in a way that felt right to me. This was my first excursion into the works of Bruno Fischer. It will not be my last.

[Jeremy Plemmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale of Love and Anger

Fischer, was a great straight forward writer. The Lady Kills fits the bill as a noir story with twists and turns. Simon, the main character, loves with the little head but soon learns he better use the big head or his goose is cooked. I enjoyed this book.

[Hugh B. Weinberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Pulp Fiction

Appropriately trashy. Good if you like this sort of thing (I do, in limited quantities.) The e-book industry has helped save these “paperback originals” for posterity!

[Corey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe 1 1/2 stars. The prose is pretty terrible. And, in this edition, so many typos!

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever wonder how many times a femme fatale can get the same guy to do her dirty work? Well in this book it's difficult to swallow how long it takes this poor sap to learn his lesson.

[Jure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool. Cover blurb quote from New York Times promises "a nice balance of physical and cerebral action" and I tend to agree with it but would add that neither of those are delivered sufficiently. A twist or two wouldn't hurt as far as the cerebral aspect goes and a bit raunchier sex than simple "domestic bliss" would make physical action part more interesting.

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http://a60books.blogspot.ie/2015/12/t...