Dark Window, the

by Thomas Walsh

MYSTERY NOVEL

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Walsh began writing as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun and for the U.S. Army Historical Branch, but by 1933 he retired from journalism and turned to mystery writing. As a self-employed writer for thirty-six years, Walsh published more than fifty short stories and eleven novels--each set in the streets of New York City and depicting various elements of the city's vital population. His 1955 Nightmare in Manhattan, described as maintaining a consistent level of suspense throughout, received an Edgar Award for best first mystery and later became the successful film "Union Station", starring William Holden. Walsh's other novels include, Night Watch, Dark Window, Dangerous Passenger, The Action of the Tiger, and The Eye of the Needle, a 1961 Inner Sanctum Mystery Contest winner.

Reviews

[Jordan Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was charming to me because I enjoy reading books from the early-to-mid 1900’s. This is a film noir style story about a hotel detective suffering from ptsd from an accident earlier in his career. It was decent however all mystery was immediately revealed to the reader, as the story was told from both sides so there was never any doubt as to what was going to happen. I liked the era and style but the story could’ve used some mystery.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dark Window (1956)

This is another Thomas Walsh Irish cop in New York thriller, a couple books after Nightmare in Manhattan (1949). Like Lionel White, Thomas Walsh was a crime reporter and both writers do no romancing when it comes to bad guys. Ray Cassidy is a tough red-headed ex-cop who, after 13 months in a post-shooting body cast, is now a hotel detective. He stumbles onto a plot involving a Bishop who recently escaped from the Iron Curtain, only to be a pawn in a plot involving his look-alike elderly cousin. This is inventive and, at least procedurally, realistic.