The Big Clock
The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing was one of my first reads for 2011 and though I've been reading quite slowly lately, I read this in just a couple of days. The pages just flew by in this stylish crime noir written and set in the 1940s.
George Stroud is an editor for a true crime magazine, one of many under a New York media conglomerate. He starts a short affair with Pauline, the beautiful blond girlfriend of his boss, Earl Janoth. One day, before heading home to his wife, Stroud has a drink with Pauline and takes her antique shopping. After dropping her off at her apartment, he notices Janoth waiting for her in front of her building. The next day, Pauline is found murdered. Janoth knows that there is only one witness who can identify him at the scene of the night of the murder but since it was dark, he doesn't know who the man was. He assigns Stroud, one of his most trusted employees to find this man.
I thought this was a fantastic, unique and first rate thriller, definitely one of the best NYRB books I've read. It was a fun read especially with Fearing using chapters told in the first person by the main characters. I couldn't help but imagine Don Draper of Mad Men in the character of George Stroud. I know this has been made into a film with Ray Milland but it would be wonderful to see it remade soon and hopefully with Jon Hamm who I think just fits the part perfectly.
Thanks for this review, Mrs. B! Been thinking about getting this for a while, since I've read other good reviews of the book. But now that you say it's a first-rate thriller, will bump this up higher on my to-buy list.:)
ReplyDeleteSounds like an extremely intriguing book! Will be on the lookout for this one. Great review Mrs.B! :)
ReplyDeleteI bought The Big Clock as a gift for my co-worker and he loved it. He loved it so much that he brought it back and insisted that I read it. It's sitting on my desk, staring at me as I type this :)
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Kenneth Fearing before reading this review - it sounds like a great novel and I'll be on the look out for it (although I am not meant to be buying any new books this year, in a bid to clear the TBR pile!)
ReplyDeleteThis is a new one to me, too, Mrs. B. I just put it on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you liked this one. It was one of my top reads for 2009.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAnn
This one sounds like a lot of fun, Mrs. B. Amazing how reliable the quality of the NYRB list is, isn't it?
ReplyDelete