Joel Townsley Rogers - The Red Right Hand

This is classic piece of crime fiction which may be overlooked today. It is a haunting psychological thriller that delivers an unsettling and surreal experience, reminiscent of a David Lynch film. With its intricate plot twists, shifting identities, and a sense of creeping dread, it leaves readers questioning everything they think they know.

The novel follows a complex web of characters, with a central focus on a soon to be husband and wife who are travelling to get married but are stopped by a hobo who kills her lover and leaves with the car. But like in best crime novels, things are not what they seem, and what starts as as a straightforward mystery quickly morphs into a deeper exploration of the human psyche. The narrative is filled with unexpected turns, particularly as the husband of the victim is revealed as the killer. The pacing of the book is deliberately slow, building tension with every page, as the characters and their motives come into focus. While the surreal elements can sometimes leave readers confused, it’s clear that this disorientation is intentional, immersing the reader in a world where nothing is quite as it seems. The final pages are particularly complex, leaving more questions than answers and adding to the book's Lynchian atmosphere. At its core, Red Right Hand is a study of human nature and identity, exploring the lengths to which people will go to hide their darkest secrets. Its mix of noir, suspense, and psychological complexity makes it a captivating read for fans of crime fiction, though it’s not for the faint of heart. The story’s ambiguity and eerie tone stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Foreword by Joe R Landsdale in the preface suggest to be read in one go, as its stream of counciousness by central character, Dr. Ridller is continuosly pushing the story with no brakes in chapters. This novel won french police novel award in 1951. Story blends atmosphere of 1920's era of mystery fiction, hard boiled noir, psychological thriller and horror fiction. Anthony Boucher says that it has tension of Woolrich, fertule plot imagination of Keeler, techical ingenuity of Christie and stern deductions of Carr. In his introduction Landsdale says that it's far more stylistically adventurous than most clue on clue novels, and as a mystery that transcends it genre, operating on a stream of conciousness in the vein of William Faulkner, and presaging the work of Jack Kerouack. Thanks to Otto Penzler, this hidden gem is now again available.

Marc Behm - Eye Of The Beholder

Eye of the Beholder is a psychological thriller that delves into the complex and obsessive nature of human desire. The novel follows an investigator who becomes deeply involved with a woman he is tracking—despite knowing she is a serial killer. His professional investigation quickly turns personal as he grows fascinated with her, blurring the lines between duty and obsession.

The story explores themes of loneliness, control, and the moral ambiguity of human behavior. The investigator’s fascination with the woman isn’t just about solving a crime; it’s about understanding her mind and, perhaps, confronting his own emotional emptiness. As the plot unfolds, the reader is left questioning the nature of obsession and the consequences of trying to connect with someone who might be beyond reach.

A gripping and thought-provoking tale, Eye of the Beholder reveals the dark side of human connection and the dangerous allure of the unknown. It was also made into a french movie Deadly Cuircuit with Isabelle Adjani.

Ethel Lina White - The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White is a gripping crime novel that blends suspense, mystery, and psychological tension. Set aboard a train traveling through Europe, the story follows young Iris Carr, who is on her way home from a holiday. As she rides the train, she befriends an elderly woman named Mrs. Froy, a charming, somewhat eccentric lady. However, after a brief nap, Iris wakes up to find that Mrs. Froy has mysteriously disappeared—vanished without a trace.

As Iris attempts to investigate the disappearance, she faces growing skepticism from the other passengers. Everyone denies having seen Mrs. Froy, and some even suggest that Iris may have imagined her or is losing her sanity. Despite the doubts of those around her, Iris persists, determined to uncover the truth. She finds herself caught in a web of conspiracy, with people actively trying to undermine her efforts.

As the story unfolds, Iris is forced to navigate a complex mystery, where nothing is quite what it seems. She discovers that Mrs. Froy’s disappearance is linked to a larger plot involving espionage, and in a surprising twist, the elderly woman was not just a simple traveler—she was involved in a dangerous game of international intrigue.

The novel explores themes of trust, perception, and the battle between reality and illusion. Through Iris’s eyes, we see how easily reality can be distorted, and how perseverance and courage can ultimately reveal the truth. The ending offers a satisfying resolution, with Iris uncovering the shocking truth about Mrs. Froy's identity and her role in the mystery.

The Lady Vanishes is a masterfully crafted tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, combining elements of psychological thriller and classic crime fiction. It’s a timeless story of mystery and deception, where the line between what’s real and what’s imagined becomes increasingly blurred. It was adapted as a film by Alfred Hitchcock.

Francis Iles - Before The Fact

Before the Fact by Francis Iles (A key figure in development of crime genre) is a psychological thriller that delves into the destructive power of blind love. The story follows Lina McLaidlaw, a wealthy but insecure woman, who marries the charming yet irresponsible Johnny Aysgarth against her family’s wishes. As their marriage progresses, Lina begins to uncover Johnny’s true nature—a liar, a thief, and possibly a murderer.

Despite her growing awareness of Johnny’s crimes, Lina remains deeply in love with him, rationalizing his actions and ignoring the warnings of others. Her obsession leads her into a downward spiral, culminating in a chilling climax where she knowingly becomes a pawn in Johnny’s deadly schemes.

The novel is a haunting exploration of self-deception, moral weakness, and the devastating consequences of unconditional devotion. Its ambiguous ending leaves readers questioning the limits of love and trust. Upon this novel Alfred Hitchcock made the movie Suspicion, but producers wanted a happy end and he had to make it against his will.

Sebastian Japrisot - Trap For Cinderella

In this novel unknown woman awakens in a hospital, suffering from amnesia, head injury and severe burns. As we found out she was caught in a fire in her room, but as the story progresess we don't know who put the fire, or the identity of woman. Very unusual crime novel, somewhat surrealistic, which was made into film Trap For Cinderella (1963). Japrisot wrote two more crime novels, One Deadly Summer and The Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun. He also wrote a screenplay for And Hope To Die (1972), based on novel by David Goodis.

Celia Fremlin - The Long Shadow

Imogen husband has died and now Imogen became a widow. However, when on Christmas all her relatives and friends come in curious things began to happen and it is revealed that her husband was not very much the person they thought they know. Celia Fremlin (1914 - 2009) was a writer only of peculiar domestic thrillers where all the actions are happening in a house. It is fantastic how she make most mundane things scary and dangerous. However, Celia Fremlin's daughter commited suicide, and soon her husband commited suicide, so it is from that tragedies that her novels came upon. This particular novel is on the list of H.R.F. Keating list of best crime novels

C.H.B. Kitchin - Birthday Party

C.H.B. Kitchin (1895-1967) was a british novelist who also wrote detective novels. He was a wealthy man because of his inheritance and also a homosexual. Angry as he was for his novels didn't reach wider audience, he wrote detective novel Death Of My Aunt. People liked it and he continued to write detective novels. He was also a homosexual. This particular book is somewhat a blend of serious literature and detective fiction. It is told in chapters from a point view of four characters. After head of the family died of a gunshot that was rules by suicides, four people except something in return. Ronnie is father son and he hopes to buy the house for his communists friend, but Isabel, father's daughter don't like it. There is also Dora and Stephen Payne who also want a part of a cake. As things progresses, many unusual things happen. Good crime novel which is on the list of H. R. Keating beat crime novels.

Kobo Abe - The Ruined Map

This is a fine example of metaphysical (or postmodern) crime novel. Unnamed private detective get hired by a woman to find her husband. Detective has small clues, just a location of women's brother and some shady dealings with pornography ring. As the novel proceeds, more and more surreal things become, and in the end private investigator himself get lost in a labyrinthine. Quite dreamlike novel, like one of David Lynch's movies.

The Crime Novel : A Deviant Genre - Tony Hilfer

In this book Tony Hilfer explains the crime novel as a genre of its own, contrary to classic detective novel in England and hard-boiled variation in America, where there is a detective who investigate a crime and upon completion restore social order, whereas in crime novel that kind don't exists, we follow the path of the criminal, morality is often relative, and justice fails. In subsequent chapters author gives us an example of either a killer, a victim, a gulty bystander and someone falsely accused. Works by authors such as Patrick Hamilton, Shelly Smith, Cornell Woolrich, Marie Belloc Lowndes, John Franklin Bardin and James M. Cain are analyzed in each chapter. Final chapter is dedicated to Georges Simenon, Patricia Highsmith, Margaret Millar and Jim Thompson. Written in user friendly language, this book is fun to read and lovers of crime fiction will surely enjoy it.

Dennis Lynds - Freak

A wealthy man, owner of computer company hires Dan Fortune to find his missing son who escaped somewhere with his girl. Dan Fortune accepts the offer of a job and stumbles on a web of murder, betrayal, and tragedy. Quite good crime novel from Michael Collins (1924 -2005), winner of many awards and writer of Dan Fortune mysteries. As is written in book 'Private Eyes : 101 Knights', many critics believe Dan Fortune to be the culmination of a maturing process that transformed the private eye from the naturalistic Spade, through the romantic Marlowe, and the psychological Archer to the sociological Fortune.

He is also one of the best private eyes among Lawrence Block, Elmore Leonard, Bill Pronzini, Robert Parker, Joseph Hansen and Joe Gores.

R. Austin Freeman - A Certain Dr Thorndyke

In this novel one man on a ship to Africa buries his friend and assume his identity. Then he finds on the journey home a nice girl and fall in love with her. But he is also a criminal and wants to escape the law, although he isn't quite a criminal, because his sister father stole the gems, and in the process of events, after careful investigation by Dr Thorndyke they are in no worry of arresting. R. Austin Freeman (1862 - 1943) was an inventor of inverted detective story, when we see the crime first and the following of criminal, and in the second part investigation of inspector. R. Austin Freeman was best known for his novels about forensic doctor-investigator Dr Thorndyke and is probably progenitor of all these modern forensic crime writers. Raymond Chandler praised his work, writing in a letter to Hamish Hamilton : "This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer. He has no equal in his genre and he is also a much better writer than you might think, if you were superficially inclined, because in spite of the immense leisure of his writing he accomplishes an even suspense which is quite unexpected."

He also wrote an essay The Art Of The Detective Story, in which he said : "The reader had seen the crime committed, knew all about the criminal, and was in possession of all the facts. It would have seemed that there was nothing left to tell, but I calculated that the reader would be so occupied with the crime that he would overlook the evidence. And so it turned out. The second part, which described the investigation of the crime, had to most readers the effect of new matter."

Freeman paid a great deal of attention to details, and carried out the experiments described in his books to ensure that they worked and would give the expected results. He also went to the trouble of visiting the places he wrote about so that the details in his descriptions were correct.

De Balcam says that "Freeman displays a mastery of craftsmanship" in every story, and that he always used the language of the trade concerned. Freeman is "a man who writes of things that he has seen, handled and understood, and not of things that he has met only in print, or in a hazy, inattentive observation". This is a critical aspect of Freeman - he tested the methods he used.

Elizabeth Sanxay Holding - Lady Killer

Solid crime novel about group of men taking a cruise on the ship. One of them is very curious, and then finds a dead womans body in a cabin of the ship. But nobody believes it and when other things happen, she grow more and more baffled. Why is she so curious? I thought in the end she will prove to be a murderer, but ex-cop who is on the ship describe her as a sick woman looking everywhere for a murder or some crime. In the end it reveals that another woman killed her husband lover, who was planning to get her money and take away to some remote place. Raymond Chandler praised her, calling her 'the top suspense writer of them all'. And literary critic Anthony Boucher said 'that for subtlety, realistic conviction, incredible economy, she's in a class by herself'.

Craig Rice - The Big Midget Murders

Craig Rice (1908 - 1957) was an unusual character in history of crime fiction. She perfectly blended hard-boiled crime fiction and surreal, screwball comedy. Her protagonists are Jake Justus, press agent, Helene Brand, party animal and Joseph Malone, an alcoholic lawyer. There is funny policeman Von Flanagan who barely has no involvement in his case, and is constantly whining about his wish to be somebody else than a policeman. In this particular novel, midget was killed after the show, strangled with a stockings. Trio of detectives decide to remove his body from the casino, and there starts funny incidents, which all lead to hilarious situations. Book critic wrote of her as 'Dorothy Parker of detective fiction, she wrote the binge and lived the hangover'. Unfortunately, she was an alcoholic and made two suicide attempts, before overdosing on barbiturates and alcohol in 1957.

                                                                

Harry Stephen Keeler - The Five Silver Buddhas

This is probably the weirdest crime novel that I read. It revolves around man who bought at an auction figure of buddha, and then story develops as other men bought four other ones. As it turns out, these figurines bring bad luck and in the novel we see some secret weapon stolen from rich man, which could help the war of white people versus yellow. Neil Gaiman said of the Keeler that he was probably best bad writer of all time but that he loves him. All in all, an atypical murder mystery, but rather funny.

A Companion To Crime Fiction - Charles J. Rzepka

This is very informative and insightful book on crime fiction, from the 19th century to 21st century. Great explanation how crime fiction evolved from real life crime cases, good section on golden age of detective story, nice chapter on hard-boiled writers, and on roman noir. There is also very good section on metaphysical detective story that I personally found very intruiging, and chapter about true crime. But section on film and comic books is rather limited, and there are some of my favorite authors who are not listed at all, but I guess that is the case for  these kind of books, a little for everything and nothing for something. But although it's written in somewhat dry, scholarly tone, I found it very interesting and can recommend it for those little bit more interested in crime fiction aside for reading crime novels. 

Vanishing Poinr (1971)

Good car chase road movie about disgruntled ex-cop and driver who decides to race with his car while police are chasing him.

Rolling Thunder (1977)

Good movie about veteran soldier from Vietnam who arrives home, but soon finds out that his house was demolished by Mexicans, and he together with his friend from army goes to Mexico to kill those people. Written by Paul Schrader, it is full of violence and gritty 70's atmosphere.

Poems

 Maggots and Flowers

maggots and flowers
growing from the corpses
I open the door from the chapel
and hideous smell overwhelms me
behind the grave worker stands
and say to me
woman in black has just arrived
I follow her smell
she is standing near the grave with powerful man
they were mourning someone
and that was me
but all I could see
behind her veil
was her horrifying skull
I ran away from her
and in that moment
darkness and rain
began to fell
at the edge of the world

Another night

slowly she came
into my home
with her nephew
and her son
like in a dream
i kissed her lips
though she was my relative
absent mindedly
i did not remember her
and she went home

i met her again
at the bus stop
on summer evening
full of smell
and cool air
young and innocent
she sat beside me
and we had little talk
but sadly
she left
and never came home

another night
new kind of drug
still sore
crushing bones
stripping skin
ecstacy of pain
long tall man
stare at young boy
brutal to brutal
home to home

One kiss before departure

one kiss before departure
through long dark night
going to home
dream desolves
morning comes

couple of days
filled with joy
now in oblivion
now forever gone

memories of drug
long gone
all that remains
is black hollow hole

young boy
playing in the field
under starry sky
night comes
and he goes home
to play with his little toy

distant music
in the streets
people come and go
while little boy
play with his toy

City In Bloom

snow falls
winter sleep
why am I so cold
and without feet

gazing at picture
of my child
makes me wonder
makes me sad

is it a dream
or illusion
all I know
it is a delusion

cold days
cold nights
autumn leaves
rain falls

shiver in bed
shiver in night
when there is no drug
heat is right

sunset gloom
city in bloom
all night long
till the morning
you are in doom

they said you were right
they said you were night
but it turns out
you were hanging all the time so bright

maggot faggot
eating me alive
under ground
under twisted sound

all the while
her left eye
behind the curtain
watch me closely
as i die

Accident

 

It was a hot summer evening when Ben was going home from hard work in ice-cream factory. He was crossing the street but didn't pay attention to traffic lights, so he got hit by big mercedes truck. He was lying on the street with his legs and arms broken, and with brain concussion. People have gathered around him, watching him frightened, the traffic in that street stopped, and one man called ambulance. They quickly came and took Ben to hospital. Doctors helped him, gave him strong cures for pain, and started curing his wounds. After they have done what they could, they leaved him alone in the room. Ben was thinking some time and then he fall asleep. In the morning they brought him breakfast, and doctors visited him to see how is he going on. They predicted quick recovery. They said to him that he will have to stay in the hospital at least a month. Ben was grateful for that and when doctors leaved he took some novel to read so he could pass the time. He read one chapter and put book away, thinking for himself if he could smoke a cigarrette. In that moment, some young beautiful girl walked in his room. She was wearing white coat, had pale skin and deep blue eyes, and she came to him silently. There was something about her that maked Ben horny, but he didn't know what exactly.

"Hi. My name is Miranda. I just started working in this hospital. How are you?"
"I'm good, Miranda. I just have strong pain."
"It will pass, don't worry.", she sat on his bed and touched his leg. Her touch made Ben's dick to grow.
He also noticed some scars on her wrists.
"What kind of scars do you have?", he asked her.
She behaved for some time like she didn't heard his question, she just looked at white sheets, and then she woked up.
"Oh, that. I have attempted suicide some time ago. Luckily, i haven't succeded."
"Why did you try to kill yourself?"
"I don't know. I didn't have some reason, actually. It just happened."
Miranda touched his big cock through the sheets. She massaged it with her delicate fingers.
"Mmm...your cock is so hard...i bet that girls didn't jerked your cock for a long time."
"Yeah...jerk my cock..."
Miranda moved the sheets and took his cock from his pants. She jerked it for some time, and then she swallowed it and began sucking hard. His whole cock was in her mouth.
"You like it when I suck it to the end?"
"Yeah...suck my cock..."
She stripped hers pantaloons and panties and lied on him. She began fucking him. He squeezed her naked tits while she was jumping on his cock. Smell of hospital juices was mixing with smell of sex. She impaled herself on his cock, and bed beneath them was rasping.
They camed together in ecstacy, Ben was filling her pussy with warm cum. Miranda got off of him and started smoking cigarrette. She gave him one cigarrette and he also started smoking.
"I gotta go now. Maybe we will meet again.", she said and leaved room, silently like she came in.
Tommorow Ben was expecting her, but instead Miranda some old woman came in his room. She was giving him breakfast.
"Where is Miranda?", he asked.
Old woman looked at him like he was insane.
"Miranda is dead, young man. She killed herself a week ago. You must have dreamed because of all this narcotics we give you.", she said and leaved room.
Ben was thinking about that while he ate his sandwich. If Miranda is really dead, whom he was talking to and fucked with yesterday? These thoughts were running through his head when he saw Miranda how she stood at the entrance of his room.
"You're..you're a ghost!", he shouted at her.
"Don't shout! Someone can hear you.", she replied while coming near him.
"Why did you lie that you didn't kill yourself?"
"I was afraid that you will be scared. I'm so lonely in this halls. I guess death is not better from life now."
"You didn't have to do that."
"Well, now it's too late."
"Will you come with me when I get better?"
"I can't, I'm chained to this hospital and can't go outside."
She walked to the window and looked at morning sky, filled with red sun and grey clouds.
"Do you like to look at the sky?", she asked him while still looking through the window.
"Yeah, it's nice."
She stayed a while longer and then she walked out of room.
As the days went by, Ben rarely encountered Miranda, and after a month they released him from hospital. He started again with his life, and only in late evening hours he remembered Miranda.

Winter Solstice

 Man with dark hair and green eyes was walking down the street. It was raining and strong wind was blowing, it was late evening, and street lights were iluminating trees scattered across the street. Man was wearing black jacket and pantaloons, and he entered in a bar and closed down the door. He sat by the table and lit his cigarrette. He ordered coffee and soda. Beside him, in bar was sitting some old man and read newspapers. Man begun looking through the window on the street while drinking his coffee and soda. Winter solstice entered early among the streets, and nights were begining very early, by 3 pm. It was so dark that almost nothing could be seen. Some people were walking on the street, carrying with themselves bags and stuff. Then he noticed some young man, he recognized him, it was his old friend. He waved his hand to him and then young man noticed him and entered in bar. He sat before him and they greeted one another.

"Hi, Fred.", man said to him smilling.
"Oh, man, what are you doing here?"
"I came here to drink some coffee. We haven't seen each other long time."
"Yeah, two years almost. What are you doing, are you all right?"
"I'm good, currently working in ice-cream factory. And you?"
"Studying some university and stuff. Hey, look, i gotta go, so if you want to go out with me some day, you have my number, so we can meet, alright?"
"Allright. See ya."
"See ya."
Young man got out of bar and got lost somewhere down the street. Man was still drinking his coffee and smoking cigarrettes. Some pop music was playing on the recorder. When he finished, he paid for coffee and soda and got out of bar. Rain has stopped, and he walked down to the park across the street. Park was surrounded by trees and benches, and in the centre there was fountain and swing. He sat on bench and watched how wind moves trees around him. From the main road he heard sounds of cars and trains, shouting of mens. In park came in some girl, she came out of darkness and begun approaching to the fountain. She drinked some water from the fountain, stood awhile like expecting someone, and then begun approaching him, dressed in teasing clothes. She was an obvious prostitute.
"Hi, sugar. What do you need? Blowjob?"
"I don't need nothing.", he replied, watching her big tits.
She came back and got out of park, like she wasn't in it in the first place. Soon man went to porn cinema that was close to the park. It was surrounded by some abandoned buildings. He went in, bought ticket and sat on seat. Movie was about to begin. On the screen some hot girl was licking balls to some handsome fellow. He begun jerking while watching the film. On the other end of hall there was also some man who jerked. Soon on the sreen appeared someones shadow. It was some girl who entered hall. She sat by the man and begun jerking him off. He squeezed her tits and touched her pussy. When she jerked him off, man left the cinema and begun walking down the street. He stumbled across some theater. There was show at the moment, so he went in and bought ticket. He sat and begun watching. It was a very nighmarish show, which reminded him of his own nightmare. On the stage actors were hanging themselves every five minutes.
At the end of the show, when he was preparing to leave theater, girl actor approached him holding a rope that was used in the show for hangings.
"Hey, I noticed you during the show. You were really carefully watching the show."
"Thank you.", he replied.
"Here, take this, I think it will help you.", she said and gave him the rope. Man thanked her and leaved the theater. He called a taxi and went in the car. Taxi man was some strong guy, with no hair on his head.
"Take me to 23. street."
Taxi went off and man watched the road through the window.
"You know, I don't usually drive homosexuals, but today I'm at good will."
"But I'm not homosexual."
"That's what they all say."
"How you can even work with such harsh criteria?"
"I work alone. I have my own hetero codex."
Man was watching him and asked for himself if this guy is insane. Soon they came to the end of the road, so he paid the guy and got out of taxi on to the street. He stood some time there on the street shrouded in mist and fog. Then he walked across the street and turned to his house, however it was hard for him to find it in all the darkness that surrounded him. On the other end of the street some guy was taking his dog for a walk, wearing glasses.
"I always liked dogs", he thinked for himself. When he went in his house, he didn't realized until now that he was holding with himself that rope from the show that girl actor gave him. He stood on chair, embraced rope around his neck, and hanged himself.