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Native Girl
She was as lovely as a dark-hued orchid...
Exotic as the jungle
Nude as a flame...
She was his friend s wife, it did not matter.
He had a girl back home, it did not matter.
Nothing mattered, once he saw her.
Coles came to the Islands to help his friend and to get a new job, to enable him to marry the girl he was engaged to. He did not intend to betray his friend and his girl, too, to entangle himself in a web of passion and death. He didn t intend to. But he had not seen Lani.
Exotic as the jungle
Nude as a flame...
She was his friend s wife, it did not matter.
He had a girl back home, it did not matter.
Nothing mattered, once he saw her.
Coles came to the Islands to help his friend and to get a new job, to enable him to marry the girl he was engaged to. He did not intend to betray his friend and his girl, too, to entangle himself in a web of passion and death. He didn t intend to. But he had not seen Lani.
143 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Harry Whittington
180 books42 followersHe also wrote under the names Ashley Carter, Harriet Kathryn Myers, and Blaine Stevens, Curt Colman, John Dexter, Tabor Evans, Whit Harrison, Kel Holland, Suzanne Stephens, Clay Stuart, Hondo Wells, Harry White, Hallam Whitney, Henri Whittier, J.X. Williams.
Harry Whittington (February 4, 1915–June 11, 1989) was an American mystery novelist and one of the original founders of the paperback novel. Born in Ocala, Florida, he worked in government jobs before becoming a writer.
His reputation as a prolific writer of pulp fiction novels is supported by his writing of 85 novels in a span of twelve years (as many as seven in a single month) mostly in the crime, suspense, and noir fiction genres. In total, he published over 200 novels. Seven of his writings were produced for the screen, including the television series Lawman. His reputation for being known as 'The King of the Pulps' is shared with author H. Bedford-Jones. Only a handful of Whittington's novels are in print today.
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Harry Whittington (February 4, 1915–June 11, 1989) was an American mystery novelist and one of the original founders of the paperback novel. Born in Ocala, Florida, he worked in government jobs before becoming a writer.
His reputation as a prolific writer of pulp fiction novels is supported by his writing of 85 novels in a span of twelve years (as many as seven in a single month) mostly in the crime, suspense, and noir fiction genres. In total, he published over 200 novels. Seven of his writings were produced for the screen, including the television series Lawman. His reputation for being known as 'The King of the Pulps' is shared with author H. Bedford-Jones. Only a handful of Whittington's novels are in print today.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 21, 2023
What would it be like to everything you ever wanted? A hacienda on Maui with servants. To run your own company and have no one to report to and really never even have to show up? To be married to the most stunning woman imaginable? Would it be like heaven on earth or would it turn into a living hell? Harry Whittington, writing as Whit Harrison, brought us this story, told in the most vivid descriptions, a story of a woman no man could say no to on a magnificent island paradise.
Coles Cameron goes to visit his war-time buddy, Victor, who has a company on an plantation in Maui and running out of the rain into their house sees a naked goddess standing there before a full-length mirror. He is bewitched and knew he should have run back, "Back into the rain. Back to the launch. Back to Oahu. Back to the States." Whittington takes the reader into the hypnotic state that Coles finds himself in even when he suspects where this will all lead. Nothing could have prepared him for meeting Lani or for what she would do to him or what she had done to other's souls. His "head is whirling and mad dervishes were wheeling around behind [his] eyes. Her voice and laughter were music." He explains: "The liquor has done it, but it was more than that. It was the warm rain, the strange land, and Lani, standing, a nude goddess, before her mirror."
Whittington does a masterful job of taking the reader into the hypnotic jungle of Maui, the island paradise and the hot sizzling nightmare that Coles finds himself in. "No man could resist those damp, dark lips, those black eyes where he could read nothing but invitation, invitation swimming up from the depths of them."
This is a terrific noir tale set in the South Pacific and although it has, on its surface, some connection with Postman Always Rings Twice with the newcomer and the wife of his best friend who he can't resist and where that all leads, this story is Whittington's own and is imbued with his enormous writing talent.
Coles Cameron goes to visit his war-time buddy, Victor, who has a company on an plantation in Maui and running out of the rain into their house sees a naked goddess standing there before a full-length mirror. He is bewitched and knew he should have run back, "Back into the rain. Back to the launch. Back to Oahu. Back to the States." Whittington takes the reader into the hypnotic state that Coles finds himself in even when he suspects where this will all lead. Nothing could have prepared him for meeting Lani or for what she would do to him or what she had done to other's souls. His "head is whirling and mad dervishes were wheeling around behind [his] eyes. Her voice and laughter were music." He explains: "The liquor has done it, but it was more than that. It was the warm rain, the strange land, and Lani, standing, a nude goddess, before her mirror."
Whittington does a masterful job of taking the reader into the hypnotic jungle of Maui, the island paradise and the hot sizzling nightmare that Coles finds himself in. "No man could resist those damp, dark lips, those black eyes where he could read nothing but invitation, invitation swimming up from the depths of them."
This is a terrific noir tale set in the South Pacific and although it has, on its surface, some connection with Postman Always Rings Twice with the newcomer and the wife of his best friend who he can't resist and where that all leads, this story is Whittington's own and is imbued with his enormous writing talent.
April 28, 2019
Coles can’t help falling for his best friend’s wife in this steamy tale of sexual obsession. The action takes place in pre-statehood Hawaii, a mysterious place filled with passion and sensuality that practically sweats off the pages, especially during the drunken luau where the fires burning between Coles and the seductive Lani reach their peak. As expected, everything goes horribly wrong in a hurry and Coles find himself trapped by the manipulative Lani as things continue to spiral out of control. Another fine page-turner from Harry Whittington. Recommended.
April 11, 2019
From Paperback Warrior Blog:
During the 1950s, Harry Whittington was so prolific that he employed a cadre of pseudonyms to keep his sales flowing to a variety of paperback publishing houses. His 1952 novel “Savage Love” was published under the pen name Whit Harrison and was later reprinted in 1956 under Whittington’s own name as “Native Girl.” It remains available today as a cheap ebook (free with Kindle Unlimited) under the original title and the pseudonym.
“Savage Love” takes place on the pre-statehood Hawaiian Island of Maui where Coles has just relocated at the urging of his friend Victor who is married to a “native girl” named Lani. From the first page, the reader can smell trouble ahead for these three when Coles, our narrator, describes Lani as a “goddess molded out of fiery golden flesh.” When he accidentally walks in on Lani undressed in front of a full-length mirror, the poor bastard becomes smitten and obsessed with his best buddy’s wife.
Victor owns a pineapple and sugar cane plantation and hires Cole as an overseer of the business operations. When Victor is attacked by a hostile employee, he is waylaid and consigned to rest and recovery under the care of the plantation’s domestic help. However, you’d hardly know the difference between Victor at work and Victor at rest as he is an advocate of the laid back island lifestyle. This enables Cole and Lani to spend some quality time together as Cole learns the ins-and-outs of the business.
As the narrative progresses, we learn more about Cole’s background and the real reason he was willing to leave his girlfriend and accounting career behind on the U.S mainland to start a new life on Maui. The temptation Cole feels for Lani is a white-hot lust coupled with the appropriate guilt and reservations that eventually lead to an explosion of violence and murder. Nobody writes a femme fatale story like Harry Whittington except for maybe James M. Cain. And “Savage Love” probably owes more than a little to Cain’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice” from 1934.
“Savage Love” is seldom cited as among Whittington’s best work, and that’s a shame. This book is a familiar fatal attraction story transplanted into an exotic setting with a Hawaiian temptress, but it’s also a satisfying piece of noir melodrama from a master of the genre. I’d put it up there with Cain’s “Postman” and Gil Brewer’s “The Vengeful Virgin” as among the best of this type. The fact that it remains available as an eBook costing you next to nothing should push smart readers over the edge to pick up this underrated classic. Highly recommended.
During the 1950s, Harry Whittington was so prolific that he employed a cadre of pseudonyms to keep his sales flowing to a variety of paperback publishing houses. His 1952 novel “Savage Love” was published under the pen name Whit Harrison and was later reprinted in 1956 under Whittington’s own name as “Native Girl.” It remains available today as a cheap ebook (free with Kindle Unlimited) under the original title and the pseudonym.
“Savage Love” takes place on the pre-statehood Hawaiian Island of Maui where Coles has just relocated at the urging of his friend Victor who is married to a “native girl” named Lani. From the first page, the reader can smell trouble ahead for these three when Coles, our narrator, describes Lani as a “goddess molded out of fiery golden flesh.” When he accidentally walks in on Lani undressed in front of a full-length mirror, the poor bastard becomes smitten and obsessed with his best buddy’s wife.
Victor owns a pineapple and sugar cane plantation and hires Cole as an overseer of the business operations. When Victor is attacked by a hostile employee, he is waylaid and consigned to rest and recovery under the care of the plantation’s domestic help. However, you’d hardly know the difference between Victor at work and Victor at rest as he is an advocate of the laid back island lifestyle. This enables Cole and Lani to spend some quality time together as Cole learns the ins-and-outs of the business.
As the narrative progresses, we learn more about Cole’s background and the real reason he was willing to leave his girlfriend and accounting career behind on the U.S mainland to start a new life on Maui. The temptation Cole feels for Lani is a white-hot lust coupled with the appropriate guilt and reservations that eventually lead to an explosion of violence and murder. Nobody writes a femme fatale story like Harry Whittington except for maybe James M. Cain. And “Savage Love” probably owes more than a little to Cain’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice” from 1934.
“Savage Love” is seldom cited as among Whittington’s best work, and that’s a shame. This book is a familiar fatal attraction story transplanted into an exotic setting with a Hawaiian temptress, but it’s also a satisfying piece of noir melodrama from a master of the genre. I’d put it up there with Cain’s “Postman” and Gil Brewer’s “The Vengeful Virgin” as among the best of this type. The fact that it remains available as an eBook costing you next to nothing should push smart readers over the edge to pick up this underrated classic. Highly recommended.
July 25, 2020
I've read so many Harry Whittington books that they all seem to blend together in my mind. This book reminded me of his Clay Stuart novel His Brother's Wife, but rather than brothers, the two central figures in the novel are old army buddies. Rather than going home to find his brother has married his old girl friend, a guy goes to Hawaii at the invitation of an old army buddy who is running a pineapple plantation and finds his married to a beautiful South Pacific goddess.
September 17, 2025
An Evil Woman Leaves Ruin In Her Wake
This is a very simple tale of an ambitious woman who uses men to get what she wants and of the broken men she leaves behind. Written by prolific paperback author Harry Whittington under the pseudonym Whit Harrison, it’s told in the first person by the woman’s latest victim, Cole Cameron. Cole becomes obsessed with her the first time he sees her, which happens to be while she’s standing nude in front of a mirror. From that moment on we’re inside his head, which is basically a boiling pot of sexual desire, guilt (the story is set in Hawaii and he has a fiancée back home in New England; also the girl is his best friend’s wife), and delusion (that he can somehow resist her). The book moves at a rapid pace and never lags, though the descriptions of the Hawaiian flora and their aromas do sometimes get repetitive. It’s not one of Whittington’s best, but it’s an entertaining look at a man who can’t control himself and a woman who’s bent on controlling every man she meets.
This is a very simple tale of an ambitious woman who uses men to get what she wants and of the broken men she leaves behind. Written by prolific paperback author Harry Whittington under the pseudonym Whit Harrison, it’s told in the first person by the woman’s latest victim, Cole Cameron. Cole becomes obsessed with her the first time he sees her, which happens to be while she’s standing nude in front of a mirror. From that moment on we’re inside his head, which is basically a boiling pot of sexual desire, guilt (the story is set in Hawaii and he has a fiancée back home in New England; also the girl is his best friend’s wife), and delusion (that he can somehow resist her). The book moves at a rapid pace and never lags, though the descriptions of the Hawaiian flora and their aromas do sometimes get repetitive. It’s not one of Whittington’s best, but it’s an entertaining look at a man who can’t control himself and a woman who’s bent on controlling every man she meets.
April 11, 2019
A version of this review appeared on the Paperback Warrior Blog, the internet’s best resource for vintage hardboiled fiction reviews.
During the 1950s, Harry Whittington was so prolific that he employed a cadre of pseudonyms to keep his sales flowing to a variety of paperback publishing houses. His 1952 novel “Savage Love” was published under the pen name Whit Harrison and was later reprinted in 1956 under Whittington’s own name as “Native Girl.” It remains available today as a cheap ebook (free with Kindle Unlimited) under the original title and the pseudonym.
“Savage Love” takes place on the pre-statehood Hawaiian Island of Maui where Coles has just relocated at the urging of his friend Victor who is married to a “native girl” named Lani. From the first page, the reader can smell trouble ahead for these three when Coles, our narrator, describes Lani as a “goddess molded out of fiery golden flesh.” When he accidentally walks in on Lani undressed in front of a full-length mirror, the poor bastard becomes smitten and obsessed with his best buddy’s wife.
Victor owns a pineapple and sugar cane plantation and hires Cole as an overseer of the business operations. When Victor is attacked by a hostile employee, he is waylaid and consigned to rest and recovery under the care of the plantation’s domestic help. However, you’d hardly know the difference between Victor at work and Victor at rest as he is an advocate of the laid back island lifestyle. This enables Cole and Lani to spend some quality time together as Cole learns the ins-and-outs of the business.
As the narrative progresses, we learn more about Cole’s background and the real reason he was willing to leave his girlfriend and accounting career behind on the U.S mainland to start a new life on Maui. The temptation Cole feels for Lani is a white-hot lust coupled with the appropriate guilt and reservations that eventually lead to an explosion of violence and murder. Nobody writes a femme fatale story like Harry Whittington except for maybe James M. Cain. And “Savage Love” probably owes more than a little to Cain’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice” from 1934.
“Savage Love” is seldom cited as among Whittington’s best work, and that’s a shame. This book is a familiar fatal attraction story transplanted into an exotic setting with a Hawaiian temptress, but it’s also a satisfying piece of noir melodrama from a master of the genre. I’d put it up there with Cain’s “Postman” and Gil Brewer’s “The Vengeful Virgin” as among the best of this type. The fact that it remains available as an eBook costing you next to nothing should push smart readers over the edge to pick up this underrated classic. Highly recommended.
During the 1950s, Harry Whittington was so prolific that he employed a cadre of pseudonyms to keep his sales flowing to a variety of paperback publishing houses. His 1952 novel “Savage Love” was published under the pen name Whit Harrison and was later reprinted in 1956 under Whittington’s own name as “Native Girl.” It remains available today as a cheap ebook (free with Kindle Unlimited) under the original title and the pseudonym.
“Savage Love” takes place on the pre-statehood Hawaiian Island of Maui where Coles has just relocated at the urging of his friend Victor who is married to a “native girl” named Lani. From the first page, the reader can smell trouble ahead for these three when Coles, our narrator, describes Lani as a “goddess molded out of fiery golden flesh.” When he accidentally walks in on Lani undressed in front of a full-length mirror, the poor bastard becomes smitten and obsessed with his best buddy’s wife.
Victor owns a pineapple and sugar cane plantation and hires Cole as an overseer of the business operations. When Victor is attacked by a hostile employee, he is waylaid and consigned to rest and recovery under the care of the plantation’s domestic help. However, you’d hardly know the difference between Victor at work and Victor at rest as he is an advocate of the laid back island lifestyle. This enables Cole and Lani to spend some quality time together as Cole learns the ins-and-outs of the business.
As the narrative progresses, we learn more about Cole’s background and the real reason he was willing to leave his girlfriend and accounting career behind on the U.S mainland to start a new life on Maui. The temptation Cole feels for Lani is a white-hot lust coupled with the appropriate guilt and reservations that eventually lead to an explosion of violence and murder. Nobody writes a femme fatale story like Harry Whittington except for maybe James M. Cain. And “Savage Love” probably owes more than a little to Cain’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice” from 1934.
“Savage Love” is seldom cited as among Whittington’s best work, and that’s a shame. This book is a familiar fatal attraction story transplanted into an exotic setting with a Hawaiian temptress, but it’s also a satisfying piece of noir melodrama from a master of the genre. I’d put it up there with Cain’s “Postman” and Gil Brewer’s “The Vengeful Virgin” as among the best of this type. The fact that it remains available as an eBook costing you next to nothing should push smart readers over the edge to pick up this underrated classic. Highly recommended.
May 19, 2019
Actually written by Harry Whittington. Still, it's a groaner.
Army buddy invites Army buddy to help run his plantation in Hawaii. Guess who is hot for whose wife? Guess who has a chaste fiance back in New England? Guess who is torn between the hot native girl and... blah blah blah?
LOTS of repetition.
Some great backstory gets this to 2*. It's under a pseudonym for a reason.
Army buddy invites Army buddy to help run his plantation in Hawaii. Guess who is hot for whose wife? Guess who has a chaste fiance back in New England? Guess who is torn between the hot native girl and... blah blah blah?
LOTS of repetition.
Some great backstory gets this to 2*. It's under a pseudonym for a reason.
October 25, 2013
This was written by pulp king Harry Whittington. Set in Maui it isn't entirely terrible but is definitely not one of his best books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews