“A gritty suspense story told with great élan.” Stephen King
Description
ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLERS OF ALL TIME.
Bestselling author Ira Levin’s Edgar Award-winning debut novel set a new standard in the art of psychological suspense and is a modern classic.
Published to rave reviews and adapted twice for the big screen—once starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward, and once starring Matt Dillon and Sean Young—A Kiss Before Dying is a dark and thrilling twisty tale of criminal psychopathy.
Known for his looks and charm, a young man obsessed with wealth and status will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He sets his sights on a beautiful and innocent college student named Dorothy, intent on marrying her for her family’s money. But when Dorothy becomes pregnant, his careful plans start to unravel, and he begins to take cold, calculating, and drastic measures to protect his future.
Told in multiple points of view, with a perfectly constructed plot and Levin’s signature economy of phrase, the novel has thrilled millions of readers and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of crime fiction.
Praise
“A gritty suspense story told with great élan.” Stephen King
“Here is not merely an extraordinary first but an extraordinary suspense novel by the highest professional standards; you have an evening of incomparable excitement ahead of you. Levin combines great talent for pure novel writing—full-bodied characterization, subtle psychological exploration, vivid evocation of locale—with strict technical whodunit tricks as dazzling as anything ever brought off by Carr, Rawson, Queen or Christie.” New York Times
“[Contains] one of the greatest clues in a murder mystery.” Anthony Horowitz, award-winning author of Magpie Murders
“The book is a succession of quite legitimate surprises, the suspense is admirably sustained, the detail is thorough and convincing, and the writing is considerably above the level usually associated with fictional crime and passion. A pleasure to recommend.” New Yorker
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Feb 5, 2024 |
| Release Date | February 6, 2024 |
| Release Date Machine | 1707177600 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Literature & Fiction, Classics, Thriller & Suspense, Crime Thrillers, Psychological |
Author Bio
The genre-defining works of novelist-playwright Ira Levin (1929–2007) include such indelible titles as Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil, and Deathtrap—the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history. At home in nearly every genre—horror (Rosemary’s Baby), crime (Edgar-winning A Kiss Before Dying), science fiction (This Perfect Day), comedy (No Time For Sergeants), even a Broadway musical (Drat! The Cat!)—Levin’s enduring works continue to resonate with readers and audiences, serving as iconic cultural and creative touchstones. Learn more at Levin’s official website, IraLevin.org.
Overview
ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLERS OF ALL TIME.
Bestselling author Ira Levin’s Edgar Award-winning debut novel set a new standard in the art of psychological suspense and is a modern classic.
Published to rave reviews and adapted twice for the big screen—once starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward, and once starring Matt Dillon and Sean Young—A Kiss Before Dying is a dark and thrilling twisty tale of criminal psychopathy.
Known for his looks and charm, a young man obsessed with wealth and status will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He sets his sights on a beautiful and innocent college student named Dorothy, intent on marrying her for her family’s money. But when Dorothy becomes pregnant, his careful plans start to unravel, and he begins to take cold, calculating, and drastic measures to protect his future.
Told in multiple points of view, with a perfectly constructed plot and Levin’s signature economy of phrase, the novel has thrilled millions of readers and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of crime fiction.