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Obit Delayed
The melody of death...Down at the edge of Mexican town, where the pavement gives out and the yellow dust drifts ankle deep over the hard packed adobe, a radio is moaning a dreamy beat into the night. It is the kind of music that needs two people, but only one is listening—a long legged blonde who keeps time to the music while brushing her glistening hair...She drops the brush and reaches for the tall glass that stands on the dressing table—and then she hesitates, peering into the blackness of the room beyond. There is no doubt about the sound...“Frank?” She stands up and moves through the doorway, the name still on her lips. And then she dies...horribly.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1952
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Helen Nielsen
85 books4 followersHelen Nielsen was author of mysteries and television scripts for such television dramas as "Perry Mason" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents".
She studied journalism, art and aeronautical drafting at various schools, including the Chicago Art Institute. Before her writing career, she worked as a draftsman during World War II and contributed to the designs of B-36 and P-80 aircraft. Her stories were often set in Laguna Beach and Oceanside, California where she lived for 60 years.
Some of her novels were reprinted by Black Lizard, including "Detour" and "Sing Me a Murder".
She studied journalism, art and aeronautical drafting at various schools, including the Chicago Art Institute. Before her writing career, she worked as a draftsman during World War II and contributed to the designs of B-36 and P-80 aircraft. Her stories were often set in Laguna Beach and Oceanside, California where she lived for 60 years.
Some of her novels were reprinted by Black Lizard, including "Detour" and "Sing Me a Murder".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 6, 2015
Virginia Wales, waitress at a local diner, always looking for a good time, was bludgeoned to death in her room. The prime suspect is her ex-husband Frank, a quiet man now on the run from the law. The only person who thinks Frank is innocent is his current wife, a worried woman who begs newspaperman Mitch Gorman for help. Mitch isn’t so sure about Frank’s innocence, but he is fascinated by the case, even as his younger editor starts taking control of his story. It’s those niggling details that pique Mitch’s interest: why did Dave Singer, one of the local gangsters, all but panic after hearing of Virginia’s death? Singer has ties to the local arm of organized crime, an organization that trades in seedy nightclubs and narcotics. Mitch needs to find out the truth before the trigger-happy police find Frank Wales—and with his only help being his colleague The Duchess, the newspaper’s witty gossip columnist, Mitch may be in over his head…
Nielsen’s writing reminds me of Dorothy B. Hughes—both are intelligent, witty women who wrote quality noir full of rich atmosphere and fine-tuned prose. That’s about where the comparison ends, because they have completely different styles. Hughes wrote tough, suspenseful stories, all clipped prose and daggers, noir cut down to its raw elements and crushed under immense pressure like a diamond. Nielsen on the other hand displays her wry wit through some ingenious writing—I would not categorize it as humorous or comedic, because it isn’t, in the same way Chandler’s writing wasn’t. But Nielsen has the same kind of hyperbolic similes, the same wry but beautiful observations. Nielsen had some serious writing chops, and I’m at a loss as to why she isn’t more well known—she writes the kind of story I eat up. I should clarify that what Nielsen wrote was noir-lite—mediumboiled?—at best. It has noir and thriller elements, but it’s more in line with a traditional mystery, written with more of a ’40s modern flair that noir fans such as myself will appreciate.
I don’t understand why Helen Nielsen has remained unknown for this long; while not a certifiable classic in the genre, Obit Delayed is a capable and entertaining novel. The plot is nothing new, but it’s deftly handled and well executed, I think the book succeeds on the strengths of Nielsen’s fine writing and sharp dialogue. I have no idea if this is one of her best novels or not—it’s one of the few that have been reviewed, at all, online—but I leave it hopeful that, when I try her other novels, they’ll be this good. In particular, Detour and Sing Me A Murder intrigue me, since they were reprinted in the ’80s as part of the legendary Black Lizard line of mystery-noir novels. The bottom line? Obit Delayed is a pretty good read and a decent mystery, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good dose of wry wit.
Full review, and other mystery-noir reviews, on my blog.
Nielsen’s writing reminds me of Dorothy B. Hughes—both are intelligent, witty women who wrote quality noir full of rich atmosphere and fine-tuned prose. That’s about where the comparison ends, because they have completely different styles. Hughes wrote tough, suspenseful stories, all clipped prose and daggers, noir cut down to its raw elements and crushed under immense pressure like a diamond. Nielsen on the other hand displays her wry wit through some ingenious writing—I would not categorize it as humorous or comedic, because it isn’t, in the same way Chandler’s writing wasn’t. But Nielsen has the same kind of hyperbolic similes, the same wry but beautiful observations. Nielsen had some serious writing chops, and I’m at a loss as to why she isn’t more well known—she writes the kind of story I eat up. I should clarify that what Nielsen wrote was noir-lite—mediumboiled?—at best. It has noir and thriller elements, but it’s more in line with a traditional mystery, written with more of a ’40s modern flair that noir fans such as myself will appreciate.
I don’t understand why Helen Nielsen has remained unknown for this long; while not a certifiable classic in the genre, Obit Delayed is a capable and entertaining novel. The plot is nothing new, but it’s deftly handled and well executed, I think the book succeeds on the strengths of Nielsen’s fine writing and sharp dialogue. I have no idea if this is one of her best novels or not—it’s one of the few that have been reviewed, at all, online—but I leave it hopeful that, when I try her other novels, they’ll be this good. In particular, Detour and Sing Me A Murder intrigue me, since they were reprinted in the ’80s as part of the legendary Black Lizard line of mystery-noir novels. The bottom line? Obit Delayed is a pretty good read and a decent mystery, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good dose of wry wit.
Full review, and other mystery-noir reviews, on my blog.
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October 4, 2018Synopsis: reporter Mitch Gorman is not sure that Frank didn't beat ex-wife Virginia to death but he looks into it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews