Books matching: femme fatale
100 result(s)
- #1
Save:Death Chases Me, the first book in the Fatale series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, blends horror, mystery, and noir in a story that follows Nicolas Lash, a present-day family friend of a deceased novelist, who encounters an ageless woman named Josephine. The narrative also delves into 1956, where the same enigmatic woman crosses paths with a reporter named Hank Raines, leading to a tale of secrets, deaths, and a blend of noir and Lovecraftian horror. The book's art by Sean Phillips sets a dark and mysterious mood reminiscent of a film noir, complementing Brubaker's intricate storytelling that weaves together elements of crime, mystery, and the occult.
Waltz Into Darkness by William Irish (Cornell Woolrich) is a dark suspense novel set in the late nineteenth century American South, portraying a tale of obsessive passion, criminality, amorality, and violence in a long-distance epistolary romance gone terribly wrong. The story follows Louis Durant, a businessman hoping to marry a mail-order bride, who falls victim to the charms of a beautiful young woman named Julia, leading to a downward spiral of deception, betrayal, and tragic consequences. Woolrich's writing style is described as wryly observant, with a fundamentally cynical view of human nature, particularly women's deviousness and men's foolishness and lust, creating a noir atmosphere that keeps readers engaged until the unexpected redemptive ending.
In his bachelor quarters on St. Charles Street, Louis Durand was getting dressed. Not for the first time that day, for the sun was already high and he’d been up and about for hours; but for the great ...- #3
Save:In 'Double Indemnity', insurance salesman Walter Huff becomes entangled with the femme fatale Phyllis Nirdlinger, leading to a plot to murder her husband for the insurance money. The story unfolds with intricate murder plots, double crosses, and a dark, twisted tale of crime set in 1930s Los Angeles. Written in a hard-boiled style, the book delves into themes of murder, betrayal, revenge, and questions about human nature, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
I drove out to Glendale to put three new truck drivers on a brewery company bond, and then I remembered this renewal over in Hollywoodland. I decided to run over there. That was how I came to this Hou... - #4
Save:The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing is a noir novel set in the NYC publishing world of the 1940s. The story follows George Stroud, a man who works for a conglomerate and gets entangled in a conspiracy when he has an affair with his boss's girlfriend, who ends up murdered. As George tries to prove his innocence, a cat and mouse game ensues, leading to a tense and suspenseful narrative. The book is narrated from multiple first-person viewpoints, adding complexity to the plot and creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. The writing style combines elements of thriller, noir, and social satire, keeping readers hooked as the story unfolds.
I FIRST met Pauline Delos at one of those substantial parties Earl Janoth liked to give every two or three months, attended by members of the staff, his personal friends, private moguls, and public no... - #5
Save:San Francisco toxicologist Caleb Maddox finds himself entangled in a web of obsession and mystery after a chance encounter with the alluring Emmeline. As Caleb investigates a series of gruesome killings, his own dark past resurfaces, leading to a chilling revelation that connects all the threads of the story. The narrative unfolds in the dead of night, amidst fog and rain, creating a noir mystery filled with suspense and psychological horror. Jonathan Moore's writing style paints a vivid picture of San Francisco, adding depth to the eerie atmosphere and complex characters like Caleb and Emmeline.
AFTER HE CHECKED in and got up to his room, Caleb stood in front of the full-length mirror screwed to the bathroom door and looked at his forehead. In the back of the cab he’d stopped the bleeding by ... - #6
Save:The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski is a fast-paced thriller set in Philadelphia, where the narrative follows journalist Jack Eisley who is poisoned by a mysterious blonde at an airport bar. To survive, Jack must stay by her side as she is infected with nanotechnology that will kill her if she is more than 10 feet away from someone. Meanwhile, a supersecret operative named Mike Kowalski is on a mission to find a scientist and bring back his head, all while dealing with the dangerous nanotechnology tracking device. The book is filled with action, intrigue, and a race against time, with multiple plotlines converging in a night of chaos and danger.
The writing style of Swierczynski in The Blonde is described as lightning-fast, with intricate plotting and pseudo near-future technology that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The narrative is full of hard-boiled dialogue, local color, and unlikely twists and turns, creating a thrilling and entertaining reading experience that is both fast-paced and immersive.
“Two parts adrenaline rush, one part medical thriller, this twisted story starts with a bang and rarely slows down. Full of offbeat characters, excruciatingly reckless twists, and sardonic humor, this... - #7
Save:'Sunburn' by Laura Lippman follows the story of Polly Costello, a mysterious woman with a troubled past, who leaves her family and ends up in a small town in Delaware. There, she meets Adam, a private investigator hired to follow her, and as they become emotionally involved, their secrets gradually unravel. The plot unfolds slowly, revealing layers of deception, betrayal, and unexpected twists reminiscent of classic noir fiction. Lippman's writing style intricately weaves details about the characters' pasts, motivations, and relationships, creating a compelling and suspenseful narrative that keeps readers engrossed until the surprising conclusion.
It’s the sunburned shoulders that get him. Pink, peeling. The burn is two days old, he gauges. Earned on Friday, painful to the touch yesterday, today an itchy soreness that’s hard not to keep fingeri... - #8
Save:'After Dark, My Sweet' by Jim Thompson is a noir crime novel that follows the story of William Collins, a former boxer and escaped mental patient, who gets involved in a kidnapping plot orchestrated by a femme fatale named Fay and her uncle, a con artist. The plot unfolds with dark and gritty elements, filled with unredeemable characters and a sense of impending doom. The narrative is told from Collins' unreliable point of view, keeping the reader on edge with its unpredictable and violent nature. Thompson's writing style delves into the twisted minds of the characters, creating a warped and crazy world where trust is a rare commodity.
The book is known for its gripping and engaging storyline that keeps the reader's interest until its final, unpredictable ending. Thompson's mastery of the noir genre shines through in his portrayal of morally complex characters and the dark atmosphere he creates. The plot, filled with double-crosses and tension, is complimented by the author's skillful writing that immerses the reader into the paranoid and violent world of the protagonist.
I rode a streetcar to the edge of the city limits, then I started to walk, swinging the old thumb whenever I saw a car coming. I was dressed pretty good—white shirt, brown slacks and sport shoes. I’d ... - #9
Save:"The Girl with a Clock for a Heart" by Peter Swanson is a mystery thriller that follows George Foss, a man in his thirties who gets entangled in the dangerous world of his former college flame, Liana Dector, who reappears in his life after twenty years. The book alternates between present dilemmas and flashbacks, revealing a complex and fast-paced plot that keeps the reader guessing. George's gullibility and his past history with Liana add layers of intrigue and danger to the story, leading to a series of twists and turns that culminate in a suspenseful and gripping narrative.
Swanson's writing style in this debut novel is described as clipped and dry, reminiscent of authors like Dennis Lehane and Walter Mosley. The narrative unfolds rapidly, with a twisting plot that keeps the reader on edge until the last few pages. The book delves into themes of obsessive love, deception, and the consequences of past actions, creating a compelling and immersive reading experience that blends elements of noir with literary fiction.
At five minutes past five on a Friday night, George Foss walked directly from his office to Jack Crow’s Tavern through the gluey air of a Boston heat wave. He’d spent the final three hours of work met... - #10
Save:The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett follows the Continental Op as he investigates a series of mysterious deaths surrounding Gabrielle Dain Leggett, a young woman believed to be cursed. The plot weaves together elements of murder, theft, cults, and the occult, creating a complex and fast-paced narrative that keeps readers engaged. Hammett's writing style is characterized by short, terse sentences that maintain a sense of urgency and intrigue throughout the novel, with a structure that consists of three interconnected mysteries that are eventually resolved in a satisfying manner.
It was a diamond all right, shining in the grass half a dozen feet from the blue brick wall. It was small, not more than a quarter of a carat in weight, and unmounted. I put it in my pocket and began ...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Continental Op )
