...And Presumed Dead

by Lucille Fletcher

Alpenstadt: city of the Alps. Beautiful, smiling, luxurious Alpenstadt.
Deadly Alpenstadt...
Two women went there in search of a man - to find out once and for all if he was still alive. Both of them were name Mrs. Thorpe.
One found love, The other, a different kind of destiny...
In this novel of suspense by Louise Fletcherr, author of the unforgettable Sorry Wrong Number, outdoes herself as a creator of brooding atmosphere, suspicious characters, and a completely gripping plot.

Genres: Novels, Thriller

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Lucille Fletcher is best known for her suspense classic Sorry, Wrong Number, originally a radio play, later a novel, TV play and motion picture. She has written extensively for both screen and television, and is the author of several successful mystery novels, including Blindfold, . . . And Presumed Dead, The Strange Blue Yawl and The Girl in Cabin B54. She is the author of the recently successful Broadway play Night Watch, which was also a motion picture starring Elizabeth Taylor. A native of Brooklyn and a graduate of Vassar College, Lucille Fletcher lived on the eastern shore of Maryland with her husband, novelist Douglass Wallop, until his death in 1985.

This author bio was adapted from the bio on the dust jacket of an Eighty Dollars to Stamford hardcover.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good mystery. It is an older book, but I always enjoy a post WWII story. It has twists and turns and I did not figure out who did it until the very end. A worthy read.

[Robert LoCicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd literary work by author Lucille Fletcher that I have read recently. I find her works filled with imagery and narrative language that is electric and at times pulsing. This latest story is a web of confusion for the protagonist and her mother-in-law concerned about the fate of a husband and son "presumed dead" during an air mission in World War II. The story line moves along with emotional ups and downs for spouse, Julie, as she deals with the strange but affectionate behavior of her husband's mother, Cecilia Thorpe. There are differences in family upbringing and cultural notions which bedevil Julie at times but the two women journey to a Swiss city in the Alps seeking some closure (or so it seems to the reader) on the "death" of husband, Russ. Things are not what they appear I have found in reading these Lucille Fletcher mysteries. The pace can at times be languid and then be roused to a point of hysteria as the reader meld themselves with Julie and her tribulations. This story has some similarities to the author's work, Mirror Image, in that a fraud with deception and horror are methods employed by the criminal characters, all viewed as Satanic by the protagonist. This seems to be a favored narrative creating tension and confusion in the story with usually a satisfying conclusion to the escapade. I found the writing exhilarating in its prose and beauty and once again recommend this author. Her books seem difficult to obtain as my main library (a big well stocked library) needed to reach out to the Inter-library Loan system to procure this volume. Well worth the effort I feel.

[will · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, Tal vez sea por que leí una edición condensada, pero sentí que pasaron muchas cosas muy rápido, me gustó Paul aunque solo se mostró un poco

[John Pitcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good mystery, from the beginning to the end. Too bad this didn’t become a movie.

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dated but good suspense