In the doorway of an elegant New York apartment, blood seeps over silk negligee, over polished wood floors and plush carpet: a beautiful young woman lies dead, her face disfigured by a single gun shot. But who was Laura? What power did she hold over the very different men in her life? How does her portrait bewitch even Mark McPherson, the hard-bitten detective assigned to find her murderer? One stormy night, Mark's investigation takes an unexpected turn...
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In the doorway of an elegant New York apartment, blood seeps over silk negligee, over polished wood floors and plush carpet: a beautiful young woman lies dead, her face disfigured by a single gun shot. But who was Laura? What power did she hold over the very different men in her life? How does her portrait bewitch even Mark McPherson, the hard-bitten detective assigned to find her murderer? One stormy night, Mark's investigation takes an unexpected turn...
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Add this copy of Laura to cart. $8.15, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Vintage Classics.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $8.18, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Vintage Classics.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $11.80, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Random House.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $13.23, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Josef Weinberger Plays.
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Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $24.38, very good condition, Sold by Dodman Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Morston, NORFOLK, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1943 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Very Good. No Jacket. The increasingly sought-after 1943 book club edition of this influential noir novel, successfully filmed in 1944. Very light toning to stock, but otherwise all in VG order throughout. Binding is tight and pages are clean and bright. No inscriptions. Brown tint to top of block, to match smart boards, with darker brown titling. These looking good, with very light wear only. An attractive copy. 8vo. 237pp.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $339.72, very good condition, Sold by Rooke Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BATH, SOMERSET, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1943 by Lawrence E. Spivak.
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None. Very Good Indeed. The very scarce Mystery Books edition of Vera Caspary's popular crime novel, published in the same year as the first edition. Published in the same year as the first edition in book form, this is the very scarce 'Bestseller Mystery' edition of Vera Caspary's detective novel, in the exceptionally bright publisher's original paper wraps. 'Laura' initially ran in Colliers in winter 1942, as a seven part serial titled 'Ring Twice for Laura'. No. 74 of publisher Lawrence Spivak's 'Bestseller Mystery' series. In 1937, Spivak founded Mercury Publications Inc. and created a number of imprints from which to published inexpensive, digest sized paperback editions of popular crime and detective works. In 1944, Caspary's novel was adapted into a popular film of the same name, starring Gene Tierney in the titular role. The novel concerns the apparent murder of the title character, a successful New York advertiser killed in the doorway of her apartment with a shotgun blast that obliterated her face. In the publisher's original paper wraps. Light shelf wear to back strip head and tail, with wraps exceptionally bright. Small mark to head of front wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages age toned due to paper type, but clean. Very Good Indeed.
Add this copy of Laura (Master Crime) to cart. $4.82, very good condition, Sold by Zardoz Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Westbury, WILTS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1987 by Everyman Ltd.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $6.04, very good condition, Sold by Zardoz Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Westbury, WILTS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1949 by Pan Books.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $9.85, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPricesUK5 rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Castle Donington, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2012 by Vintage Classics.
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New. B-format paperback. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Laura to cart. $11.25, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2012 by Vintage Classics.
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New. 2012. Paperback. In the doorway of an elegant New York apartment, blood seeps over silk negligee, over polished wood floors and plush carpet: a beautiful young woman lies dead, her face disfigured by a single gun shot. But who was Laura? What power did she hold over the very different men in her life? Num Pages: 176 pages. BIC Classification: FF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 127 x 197 x 12. Weight in Grams: 134......We ship daily from our Bookshop.
The Library of America has released a two-volume box set, "Women Crime Writers" which includes eight suspense novels written by women, with four books from the 1940's and four books from the 1950's. The collection opens with Vera Caspary's "Laura" published in 1942-1943. Otto Preminger's eponymous 1945 film has become famous and has overshadowed the book. But Caspary's novel is worth reading in its own right. Sarah Weinman, the editor of the LOA volumes, made an inspired choice by opening the collection with "Laura".
"Laura" is a complex multi-dimensional novel set in New York City in the early 1940s. Pigeonholing literature can be deceiving, and it would be a mistake to consider "Laura" a noir novel. It is more akin to a suspense, detective story and features a detective as a primary character. It is also a romance and a story of a woman making her way in the world.
The book revolves around the apparent murder of Laura Hunt, a single woman of 29 who has achieved success working for an advertising agency in New York City. The story is tightly-knit and includes four primary characters, Laura herself, Waldo Lydecker, 52, a pudgy collector of antiques and a renowned columnist, Shelby Carpenter, 32, Laura's fiancé, and Mark McPherson, the young detective assigned to solve Laura's murder. McPherson must solve the murder from a small group of suspects. In the process, he becomes emotionally attracted to the woman whose death he is called upon to resolve.
The book shows depth in its handling of character, particularly of the ambitious and emotionally vulnerable Laura and of the taciturn, self-educated, and deeply romantic detective. Laura, an independent career woman before this became a norm, is sociable and also looking for love. She has been the friend of the pudgy, eccentric Lydecker for many years who has harbored romantic designs on her. Carpenter is Laura's junior at the advertising agency and he has a strong tendency to wander to other women.
The story builds slowly with many twists and turns. Lydecker, McPherson, and Laura each tell part of the tale in the first person from their own perspectives. Caspary has an excellent ear for voice and character, with each section of the story revealing a great deal about the teller as well as moving along the plot. The book offers glimpses of 1940's New York City, primarily in upper-class neighborhoods, businesses, and restaurants but with scenes of hardscrabble life in the poorer sections as well.
The LOA volume offers background on the book and its author. "Laura" was first published in serialized form in 1942 before the publication of the book in 1943. It was dramatized and produced on stage before Hollywood bought the movie rights leading to Preminger's film. The book has been in and out of print over the years, while the movie has become a classic. Caspary (1899 -- 1987) led a long eventful life and first became a writer while holding a series of commercial jobs. She wrote several novels before and after "Laura" together with an autobiography. Caspary became a member of the communist party in the 1930s, travelled to Russia, and attempted to resign from the party. Her radicalism and association with communism lead to difficulty in the l1940s and 1950s. There is an element of social criticism in "Laura", but in its writing and understanding of loneliness and the human condition, the book readily transcends ideology. As often happens in literature, the author in "Laura" is wiser than her creed.
"Laura" is a classic American suspense novel worthy of its new place in the Library of America. The LOA kindly sent me a review copy of its new anthology of "Women Crime Writers".
Robin Friedman
mrmoto2
Aug 13, 2009
I saw the movie, loved it . Read the book loved it,but not as much as the movie. Its a good read.
Betsywestie
Feb 22, 2008
Laura
I enjoyed this book. However, this is one of the few times that I think the movie was better than the book. The book has the feel of a typical mystery novel. The movie had a very haunting quality to it . Beautiful,ethereal Gene Tierney was perfectly cast as Laura and of course, there is the wonderful classic theme music. That said, the book is still worth the read.
Sammy
Aug 9, 2007
Classic Mystery
Although this book has very little blood and gore as do the more modern mysteries, it is a classic story on which an equally classic movie was based. Well worth the read .
