Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Book Review Dread Journey by Dorothy Hughes

Dread Journey by Dorothy Hughes

This is a detective throwaway I picked up just before the Pima County libraries closed down.  It is a reprint of a novel published just after the end of WW II and does seem to ride the coattails of Agatha Christie's  Murder on the Orient Express.

In this one a cadre of Hollywood folks board the Super Chief in California for a ride to the Big Apple. We have a big name producer, a big name star, a couple of writers, a band leader, and the porter.  There is lots of angst from all as they seque from the club car, to the dining car, to their compartments.  Lots of smoking and alcohol flows like water. Finally the murder and the surprise ending just before the train arrives in Chicago. The style seems pretty strained to me and the portents of dread a bit over the top.

Shows its age.  Not recommended.


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