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The Pyx
Elizabeth Lucy was dead, but the evil chain of events that claimed her life was still very much alive...
Most people would have buried the beautiful call-girl and forgotten her. But not Henderson - he was the man who found himself strongly compelled to look into her past - and slowly he learned the secret of Elizabeth's death, the secret of THE PYX...
Most people would have buried the beautiful call-girl and forgotten her. But not Henderson - he was the man who found himself strongly compelled to look into her past - and slowly he learned the secret of Elizabeth's death, the secret of THE PYX...
114 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
3 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
John Buell
6 books2 followersJohn Buell (1927-2013) was a lifelong resident of Montreal, where he taught English and Communication Studies at Concordia University. Upon his retirement in 1987, he was made professor emeritus. Buell's five novels--The Pyx (1959), Four Days (1962), The Shrewsdale Exit (1972), Playground (1976), and A Lot to Make Up For (1990)--were lauded by Edmund Wilson, amongst other prominent critics. Three of Buell's novels have been made into feature films.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 31, 2013
I see that place. It’s a picture of a city, you came here to this city, the big town full of its lights and wonders, you came here or you fled from there, whichever, it doesn’t matter. You push there away, it doesn’t matter, you’re here now, whether you fled or whether you chose a new life and a new you, the past is the past, it’s only here that matters now. You will rebuild yourself here. You cut there away, it’s not there anymore. You live in this new place now. I see that place; I live there too.
Make your life new, make yourself different. You are amazing! The city is amazing, it is full of new and full of different, all gold, a golden path, a long gold ribbon, you have that ribbon between your fingers, you wear that ribbon as a banner. The city is an opera! You are the star, you command the stage and you command the room. It is your room, your walls, your new gold life. You live it. Your walls are full of stories. I hear those stories.
I see that path. You do good things on that path, right? You do, you really do, you do good things again and again. You are a good person. You live your life even as you begin to die. You are still a star, a falling one, you see the earth beneath you, rushing towards you. You don’t want to fall; you fall. You fall like a star, all alone. The city is full of such stars. That golden path, that lonely path, it always ends. A lonely death, yes - but you made the sky bright, in your time, even in your end. I see that path. I see you, I see your path, your life. I honor it.
this one is pulp fiction at its finest. it really impressed me.
Worther or Mrs. Latimer would want the body, but alive, alive to peddle it, to feed it heroin, to dress it up, to make it entertain lechers who had nothing but money and erotic energy, to make it stop belonging to a human being, to make it wind up here with a long jump, or a long push.
She felt, not cut off, but far away from what was happening, the people existed just like a radio you've forgotten was on, and her walking was motion that she wanted to stop soon.
She said very quietly, "Coffee, please," and sat down at a table. A while ago, perhaps years, she would have noticed his action and smiled, enjoying the effect she had. She might even be pleased a little. But now, she couldn't be pleased or flattered by her beauty; it wasn't part of her consciousness; it was just a fact, a thing that was part of her life, something others thought she was lucky enough to have, something others wanted. She had no mental picture of herself as an outwardly visible person; she had only an inner vision of...
"Here's your coffee, miss."
Make your life new, make yourself different. You are amazing! The city is amazing, it is full of new and full of different, all gold, a golden path, a long gold ribbon, you have that ribbon between your fingers, you wear that ribbon as a banner. The city is an opera! You are the star, you command the stage and you command the room. It is your room, your walls, your new gold life. You live it. Your walls are full of stories. I hear those stories.
I see that path. You do good things on that path, right? You do, you really do, you do good things again and again. You are a good person. You live your life even as you begin to die. You are still a star, a falling one, you see the earth beneath you, rushing towards you. You don’t want to fall; you fall. You fall like a star, all alone. The city is full of such stars. That golden path, that lonely path, it always ends. A lonely death, yes - but you made the sky bright, in your time, even in your end. I see that path. I see you, I see your path, your life. I honor it.
this one is pulp fiction at its finest. it really impressed me.
Worther or Mrs. Latimer would want the body, but alive, alive to peddle it, to feed it heroin, to dress it up, to make it entertain lechers who had nothing but money and erotic energy, to make it stop belonging to a human being, to make it wind up here with a long jump, or a long push.
She felt, not cut off, but far away from what was happening, the people existed just like a radio you've forgotten was on, and her walking was motion that she wanted to stop soon.
She said very quietly, "Coffee, please," and sat down at a table. A while ago, perhaps years, she would have noticed his action and smiled, enjoying the effect she had. She might even be pleased a little. But now, she couldn't be pleased or flattered by her beauty; it wasn't part of her consciousness; it was just a fact, a thing that was part of her life, something others thought she was lucky enough to have, something others wanted. She had no mental picture of herself as an outwardly visible person; she had only an inner vision of...
"Here's your coffee, miss."
October 11, 2022
Did Elizabeth Lucy jump from the roof of the penthouse or was she pushed? Detective Henderson tries to find out who the last persons were who saw her alive. The novel had some intriguing moments. People die while the investigation lasts. The showdown at the end has some sinister dialogue but overall the story on this prostitute and her pimp didn't hit me off the rocker. It was okay, had some suspenseful and creepy moment but that was it. Nothing spectacular. The cover was far better. It was okay but there are better books out there.
Want to read
April 26, 2022
Just ordered this 1968 Popular Library mass-market after reading Mark Monday's excellent review.
August 22, 2021
3.5 stars
A body is found in the street seemingly having jumped, or been pushed, from a penthouse apartment. The body is identified as call girl Elizabeth Lucy and Detective Henderson is on the case. The story is told in alternating chapters following Elizabeth in 'The Past' and Henderson in 'The Present' as we find out what happened.
I enjoyed the writing style and the tone of the story which was a mixture of detective story along with a character study of Elizabeth and the life of a call girl. The city setting and cast of characters were all believable and effective. There was a poignant quality to the story especially with regards to Elizabeth and her situation as she is addicted to heroin and knowing any escape from her line of work is futile she resigns herself to her fate. There is a hint of something to do with the black arts but it is quite vague and I found the ending a little confusing. An interesting read nonetheless.
A body is found in the street seemingly having jumped, or been pushed, from a penthouse apartment. The body is identified as call girl Elizabeth Lucy and Detective Henderson is on the case. The story is told in alternating chapters following Elizabeth in 'The Past' and Henderson in 'The Present' as we find out what happened.
I enjoyed the writing style and the tone of the story which was a mixture of detective story along with a character study of Elizabeth and the life of a call girl. The city setting and cast of characters were all believable and effective. There was a poignant quality to the story especially with regards to Elizabeth and her situation as she is addicted to heroin and knowing any escape from her line of work is futile she resigns herself to her fate. There is a hint of something to do with the black arts but it is quite vague and I found the ending a little confusing. An interesting read nonetheless.
August 21, 2023
Maybe 1.75 stars. The cover is the best thing about it. Not badly written at all but too little too late. Full review:
http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....
http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....
September 17, 2023
Not a bad short (novela) murder mystery with a touch of the Satanic.
December 12, 2023
Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
"The eerie novel of a beautiful call girl and her deadly secret."
The Pyx was the debut novel by Montreal author John Buell. Three of his five novels were made into films, including this starring Karen Black and Christopher Plummer in 1973. Not having seen it, I gather that it focuses the ending, making clear what the novel eludes to.
Elizabeth Lucy is seen falling from a penthouse apartment in a white evening dress. The apartment is not hers, set up but not occupied. What brought her to this place? Detective Henderson starts his investigation with the woman who runs a ring of call girls Elizabeth was part of, and the locals at the bar she frequented. Nobody cares. Girls disappear all the time. The story alternates between Henderson and Elizabeth, as we see her live the days before her death. She was specially chosen by secretive Mr. Keenan, instructed her heroin habit was to be increased, told to prepare for an event. Elizabeth has a doomed quality, tired of life and resigned it couldn't change, her only escape a secret apartment she can relax in shared with a gay roommate. Her boss tells her the night has arrived, anxiously helping Elizabeth get ready, providing the white dress, disposing her old clothes - the night she will meet Mr. Keenan in the apartment provided and be given a locket without a picture - a pyx.
This is a sparse and seedy mystery, with a dark secret at the root. Buell holds his cards close to his chest, the secret of that night, keeping it vague enough for interpretation, while exposing the core of it. Although I was there in the room I'm left with unanswered questions. If you've read this far I'll say it deals with satanic rites, and like The Exorcist, powerful enough to not be quelled. There is a dreamy quality about Elizabeth accepting her fate - finally someone has chosen her. Henderson is not jaded but fatigued, leaving the reader to wonder how he dealt with the event, or if he just moves on. There is another interesting character in Jimmy, a college loner rejected by his gay community, cleverly and clearly written between the lines for the readers of the time. Fascinating today, in 1959 this would have been shocking.
Neither the story or the characters are gaudy or salacious, but this is a dark neighbourhood with doomed themes of isolation for those who like a grimy mystery.
"The eerie novel of a beautiful call girl and her deadly secret."
The Pyx was the debut novel by Montreal author John Buell. Three of his five novels were made into films, including this starring Karen Black and Christopher Plummer in 1973. Not having seen it, I gather that it focuses the ending, making clear what the novel eludes to.
Elizabeth Lucy is seen falling from a penthouse apartment in a white evening dress. The apartment is not hers, set up but not occupied. What brought her to this place? Detective Henderson starts his investigation with the woman who runs a ring of call girls Elizabeth was part of, and the locals at the bar she frequented. Nobody cares. Girls disappear all the time. The story alternates between Henderson and Elizabeth, as we see her live the days before her death. She was specially chosen by secretive Mr. Keenan, instructed her heroin habit was to be increased, told to prepare for an event. Elizabeth has a doomed quality, tired of life and resigned it couldn't change, her only escape a secret apartment she can relax in shared with a gay roommate. Her boss tells her the night has arrived, anxiously helping Elizabeth get ready, providing the white dress, disposing her old clothes - the night she will meet Mr. Keenan in the apartment provided and be given a locket without a picture - a pyx.
This is a sparse and seedy mystery, with a dark secret at the root. Buell holds his cards close to his chest, the secret of that night, keeping it vague enough for interpretation, while exposing the core of it. Although I was there in the room I'm left with unanswered questions. If you've read this far I'll say it deals with satanic rites, and like The Exorcist, powerful enough to not be quelled. There is a dreamy quality about Elizabeth accepting her fate - finally someone has chosen her. Henderson is not jaded but fatigued, leaving the reader to wonder how he dealt with the event, or if he just moves on. There is another interesting character in Jimmy, a college loner rejected by his gay community, cleverly and clearly written between the lines for the readers of the time. Fascinating today, in 1959 this would have been shocking.
Neither the story or the characters are gaudy or salacious, but this is a dark neighbourhood with doomed themes of isolation for those who like a grimy mystery.
April 6, 2018
When I saw this book, The Pyx by John Buell I was interested to read it because I had enjoyed the movie based on it very much. It was an easy read but unfortunately didn't live up to the enjoyment I'd felt from the movie.
The story is presented in an interesting fashion. It starts with a possible suicide of a prostitute (falling from a high-rise building to her death) and the investigation by a Montreal police detective. The story wanders from the past, Elizabeth Lucy's weeks leading up to her death, and the present, Ferguson's investigation into the death.
The portion with Elizabeth is often rambling, with Elizabeth's thoughts. She is an addict and this impacts how she thinks. This all builds up to her final climactic scene in the apartment. The detective travels through her life in a much more rational way and has his own climactic scene.
The movie had more detail and implied devil worship. (The Pyx is the holder of the holy host and is used in black masses). The book intimates this but in a much less clear fashion and I'm not sure I would have known if I hadn't seen the movie. All in all, still an interesting book with a moody atmosphere. Glad I read. (3 stars)
The story is presented in an interesting fashion. It starts with a possible suicide of a prostitute (falling from a high-rise building to her death) and the investigation by a Montreal police detective. The story wanders from the past, Elizabeth Lucy's weeks leading up to her death, and the present, Ferguson's investigation into the death.
The portion with Elizabeth is often rambling, with Elizabeth's thoughts. She is an addict and this impacts how she thinks. This all builds up to her final climactic scene in the apartment. The detective travels through her life in a much more rational way and has his own climactic scene.
The movie had more detail and implied devil worship. (The Pyx is the holder of the holy host and is used in black masses). The book intimates this but in a much less clear fashion and I'm not sure I would have known if I hadn't seen the movie. All in all, still an interesting book with a moody atmosphere. Glad I read. (3 stars)
December 18, 2020
The Pyx is a supernatural mystery about a call girls death by John Buell. This novel has 132 pages and was published in 1959 by Farrar, Straus, and Cudahy, there is also a movie that came out in 1973. The Pyx has many ups and downs but it keeps you on your toes and makes you want to keep reading. This book is suited for those interested in crime and mystery.
This novel took place in Montreal where a taxi driver was admiring the apartments on Hillton Rd, when the body of Elizabeth Lucy drops from the balcony of the penthouse suite. The protagonist in this book is Henderson who is the cop investigating Elizabeth Lucy's death. Henderson then went on to interrogate the head of the call girls, but nobody cares. The neighbourhood is filled with a series of unfortunate events. Why was Elizabeth Lucy in the suite if it wasn't hers? Was it a murder or suicide?
This novel is suspenseful, terror, and it has many dark secrets. Elizabeth Lucy was chosen by a rich secretive man who wanted her to increase the amount of heroin she takes, which she ends up doing. When she goes to meet her client she is given a locket without a picture which is a Pyx, and she is dressed up in a white dress. She was a non practicing catholic and at the time of her death she had her Pyx with her. The only time she "escapes" is in her apartment with her gay best friend, and back in 1959 that was not common. Henderson also interrogates the gay best friend whose name was Jimmy, when someone starts shooting at him.
I enjoyed this book because I am into murder mysteries, this book had some boring points but it also had fascinating discoveries. I recommend this book to seniors or anyone who enjoys mysteries, I don't recommend this book to teenagers because they can easily get bored of novels and they don't read between the lines. I found it very frustrating when Meg (the head of the call girls) didn't care about Elizabeth and said that many girls go missing but they came back eventually. I've read better mystery books but this was not bad.
This novel took place in Montreal where a taxi driver was admiring the apartments on Hillton Rd, when the body of Elizabeth Lucy drops from the balcony of the penthouse suite. The protagonist in this book is Henderson who is the cop investigating Elizabeth Lucy's death. Henderson then went on to interrogate the head of the call girls, but nobody cares. The neighbourhood is filled with a series of unfortunate events. Why was Elizabeth Lucy in the suite if it wasn't hers? Was it a murder or suicide?
This novel is suspenseful, terror, and it has many dark secrets. Elizabeth Lucy was chosen by a rich secretive man who wanted her to increase the amount of heroin she takes, which she ends up doing. When she goes to meet her client she is given a locket without a picture which is a Pyx, and she is dressed up in a white dress. She was a non practicing catholic and at the time of her death she had her Pyx with her. The only time she "escapes" is in her apartment with her gay best friend, and back in 1959 that was not common. Henderson also interrogates the gay best friend whose name was Jimmy, when someone starts shooting at him.
I enjoyed this book because I am into murder mysteries, this book had some boring points but it also had fascinating discoveries. I recommend this book to seniors or anyone who enjoys mysteries, I don't recommend this book to teenagers because they can easily get bored of novels and they don't read between the lines. I found it very frustrating when Meg (the head of the call girls) didn't care about Elizabeth and said that many girls go missing but they came back eventually. I've read better mystery books but this was not bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2022
Eloquent writing but ... SPOILER
SPOILER.
The satanic stuff was a tiny chapter at the end of the book. The preceding was a doomed hooker feeling doomed and a homicide detective with no personality and no skin in the game (reminding me of Vera Caspary's Laura and the really interesting detective inb that, Mark McPherson) investigating her apparent suicide. Eh. Again, the writing was pretty, but I didn't find a solid theme in this and was rather bored. It was a short book so I didn't abandon it.
SPOILER.
The satanic stuff was a tiny chapter at the end of the book. The preceding was a doomed hooker feeling doomed and a homicide detective with no personality and no skin in the game (reminding me of Vera Caspary's Laura and the really interesting detective inb that, Mark McPherson) investigating her apparent suicide. Eh. Again, the writing was pretty, but I didn't find a solid theme in this and was rather bored. It was a short book so I didn't abandon it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
This is my second reading of the book. As of my first reading, I wish that there was more of the religious ritual described in the story before the girl died. But if the story included the whole ritual in detail then all of that part would have had to have been glossed over when the movie was made. I'll content myself with other books about the black mass.
April 3, 2022
A heroin addicted call girl falls twelve stories to her death. It looks like suicide, but there may be more the story. So we spend time with the doomed heroine and the standard issue weary cop.
You won’t guess the reason behind the death. You won’t care either.
You won’t guess the reason behind the death. You won’t care either.
September 15, 2022
Okay, not great.
Want to read
March 28, 2019Synopsis: call-girl Elizabeth Lucy is dead; Montreal Police Detective Henderson feels compelled to look into her secret past. Became a cult movie.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews