The Deadly Climate

by Ursula Curtiss

Caroline Emmett loses her way in the fog and witnesses the brutal murder of a woman on the edge of a quarry. As the killer becomes aware of her through Caroline's cry of terror and seeks her with his flashlight in the darkness, she sees for a split second the plaid lining of his raincoat, nothing else. The murderer, on the other hand, clearly recognizes her face. A breathless hunt begins

Genres: Mystery, Gothic

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Daughter and sister of, respectively, US mystery writers Helen Reilly and Mary McMullen. She worked as a copywriter and columnist before becoming a full-time self employed writer.

Reviews

[Bunta Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of creepiness here from the word go as Caroline Emmett, convalescent, heartsore, vulnerable, and alone, fears for her safety - with reason, it turns out - after witnessing a murder in the mist and taking refuge in the strange house of a pretty strange family. Ursula Curtiss' familiar format - all your nightmares pile in at once - is given intensity by a compressed time-scale of less than twenty-four hours, and Caroline's horror as she realises she is now locked in with the killer, whose face she never saw, without an escape. Fortunately, an attractive man is at hand, willing to forget food and sleep and persevere through the night with a very efficient piece of amateur sleuthing, uncovering murky secrets, unmasking the murderer, securing peace and safety by dawn.
Curtiss paces the plot confidently. Events spin along and the drama never lapses, suspenseful moments abound. Details accumulate and all tally - I found myself doing some flicking back to reread, it's easy to miss significant scraps or get distracted by red herrings and blind alleys. I think the characterisation is sketchy but the mood is taut, claustrophobic and compels interest. I enjoyed this early Curtiss, her later books are often formulaic and lacking energy, but her 1950s and 60s work is worth seeking out for a rainy afternoon.

[Ernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A variation on the Old-Dark-House theme, THE DEADLY CLIMATE concerns a young woman who witnesses a murder while out walking and takes refuge at the nearest house with lighted windows. She is given safe haven by strangers, a response many will find unbelievable, and which was not popular with some in the house. Everyone's a bit nutty, a bit suspect, and the pages turn as Curtiss keeps offering contradictory explanations for unsettling occurrences.
"This enormous child, who was not really a child at all, had asked the question which the others had apparently not considered, the question which was to pry soundlessly at windows and doors through a long black April night: how safe was any of them while they harbored her here?" That's the idea, it's very simple, and few writers could keep me so amused, perplexed, and caught-up in the windy, rainy, wet-leafy, cold dark night for 132 pages in a vintage Pocket Book with priceless cover art from 1955.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Ursula Curtiss suspense novel with gothic overtones was originally published in hardcover in 1954 followed by a Pocket Books paperback edition, same year. Ace released this edition in 1965 with the classic woman running cover art and a back cover blurb by none other than Anthony Boucher, the New York Times mystery/crime book reviewer, who called it ". . . one of the season's best pure thrillers." Not going to argue. The pace was relentless. Atmosphere deliciously detailed. Action and anticipation. Caroline witnessing a murder and running for her life. Carmichael, the journalist, chasing ghosts, believes her when no one else does. Except the killer. Loved this and read at a blistering pace. Eager to read more of Curtiss's earlier novels.

[dmayr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convalescing from pneumonia and a broken heart, Caroline Emmett loses her way one foggy evening and witnesses a murder. She runs for sanctuary at the house of the Olivers, only to realize that the murderer may be very well inside the house. Another cracking read from this author. I just love reading about malicious killers hiding behind a benevolent mask. Masterful casting of suspicion on just about everybody.

[Nattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The Deadly Climate was a heart-pounding read. I would have given it four stars, but the parts just focusing on the guy trying to solve the case dragged a bit.

I was so frightened for Caroline that I found myself holding my breath at times. Imagine going out for a quiet stroll and witnessing a murder, and then having to run for your life in a dark unfamiliar town. If I had been her I probably would have dropped dead where I stood and the killer wouldn't have had to bother.

Intense!

[Stormcrow Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (rounded up)

[Jayashree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! Loved it from page 1. So atmospheric, the imagery is done so well. A fun mystery from the 50's set in a small town in Massachusetts.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable, with an interesting if not always plausible plot, but not especially scintillating. I read this because I liked Curtiss's Forbidden Garden a lot. I would try that first, if you haven't read her.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

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