What do you think?
Rate this book
Big City Girl
Her husband in jail, a desperate young woman takes refuge among sharecroppers
Once, Cass Neely’s farm stretched across the entire valley, but decades of bad decisions and rotten luck have forced him to sell off nearly every inch. He and his son farm the meager remains of a once-great property, living in a grim downward spiral—until Cass’s daughter-in-law, Joy, moves in. She’s by far the most beautiful thing this county has ever seen, but she’s flat broke since her husband, Sewell, was put away for armed robbery. She’s also prickly, lazy, and vain—traits that don’t sit well with hardscrabble living—and it isn’t long before she starts to get a violent case of cabin fever. As the rains bear down and the river starts to threaten the cotton, Sewell escapes from police custody and heads for home. Come hell or high water, the Neely family will stick together, even if it means disaster.
Once, Cass Neely’s farm stretched across the entire valley, but decades of bad decisions and rotten luck have forced him to sell off nearly every inch. He and his son farm the meager remains of a once-great property, living in a grim downward spiral—until Cass’s daughter-in-law, Joy, moves in. She’s by far the most beautiful thing this county has ever seen, but she’s flat broke since her husband, Sewell, was put away for armed robbery. She’s also prickly, lazy, and vain—traits that don’t sit well with hardscrabble living—and it isn’t long before she starts to get a violent case of cabin fever. As the rains bear down and the river starts to threaten the cotton, Sewell escapes from police custody and heads for home. Come hell or high water, the Neely family will stick together, even if it means disaster.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1951
9 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Charles Williams
33 books100 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Charles Williams
Charles Williams was one of the preeminent authors of American crime fiction. Born in Texas, he dropped out of high school to enlist in the US Merchant Marine, serving for ten years (1929-1939) before leaving to work in the electronics industry. He was a radio inspector during the war years at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington state. At the end of World War II, Williams began writing fiction while living in San Francisco. The success of his backwoods noir Hill Girl (1951) allowed him to quit his job and write fulltime.
Williams’s clean and somewhat casual narrative style distinguishes his novels—which range from hard-boiled, small-town noir to suspense thrillers set at sea and in the Deep South. Although originally published by pulp fiction houses, his work won great critical acclaim, with Hell Hath No Fury (1953) becoming the first paperback original to be reviewed by legendary New York Times critic Anthony Boucher. Many of his novels were adapted for the screen, such as Dead Calm (published in 1963) and Don’t Just Stand There! (published in 1966), for which Williams wrote the screenplay.
After the death of his wife Lasca (m. 1939) from cancer in 1972, Williams purchased property on the California-Oregon border where he lived alone for a time in a trailer. After relocating to Los Angeles, Williams committed suicide in his apartment in the Van Nuys neighborhood in early April 1975. Williams had been depressed since the death of his wife, and his emotional state worsened as sales of his books declined when stand alone thrillers began to lose popularity in the early 70s. He was survived by a daughter, Alison.
Please see: Charles Williams
Charles Williams was one of the preeminent authors of American crime fiction. Born in Texas, he dropped out of high school to enlist in the US Merchant Marine, serving for ten years (1929-1939) before leaving to work in the electronics industry. He was a radio inspector during the war years at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington state. At the end of World War II, Williams began writing fiction while living in San Francisco. The success of his backwoods noir Hill Girl (1951) allowed him to quit his job and write fulltime.
Williams’s clean and somewhat casual narrative style distinguishes his novels—which range from hard-boiled, small-town noir to suspense thrillers set at sea and in the Deep South. Although originally published by pulp fiction houses, his work won great critical acclaim, with Hell Hath No Fury (1953) becoming the first paperback original to be reviewed by legendary New York Times critic Anthony Boucher. Many of his novels were adapted for the screen, such as Dead Calm (published in 1963) and Don’t Just Stand There! (published in 1966), for which Williams wrote the screenplay.
After the death of his wife Lasca (m. 1939) from cancer in 1972, Williams purchased property on the California-Oregon border where he lived alone for a time in a trailer. After relocating to Los Angeles, Williams committed suicide in his apartment in the Van Nuys neighborhood in early April 1975. Williams had been depressed since the death of his wife, and his emotional state worsened as sales of his books declined when stand alone thrillers began to lose popularity in the early 70s. He was survived by a daughter, Alison.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 28, 2024
I’ve never been much tempted by the Kindle Unlimited service, mainly because they don’t seem to offer many books that I would be interested in. However recently Amazon offered me a 3-month trial for £0.99. At that price I thought I may as well give it a go. This novel was offered as part of the subscription, and I was mildly curious about it since I’d seen reviews from GR Friends.
This is an early 1950s novel, and I don’t know whether you would call it Southern noir or Southern pulp. If the latter it’s a lot better written than other books of its type. There are 3 main characters, brothers Sewell and Mitch Neely, and Sewell’s wife Joy. She is the “big city girl” of the title. When Sewell, who is one mean hombre, is sent to prison, an almost penniless Joy travels from Houston to stay with her in laws, who are dirt poor Louisiana sharecroppers. A younger Neely sibling, a teenage girl called Jessie, also plays a significant role.
Modern women might find it hard to relate to Joy, as her self-esteem is closely linked to the interest men show in her, due to her looks. Inwardly she rails against this tendency, but ultimately she can’t help it. Joy’s personality seemed a bit overdone, but if you want a plot, then this one fairly races along. Sewell escapes from custody and despite his crimes the author gets us to identify with him during the “chase” scenes. I found myself willing him to escape – nice work by the author! There’s a good background feel to this one as well.
The ending was maybe a bit implausible, but you can’t really complain given the genre. It's a really good “page-turner”. I might read one or two of the author’s other novels before my trial subscription expires.
This is an early 1950s novel, and I don’t know whether you would call it Southern noir or Southern pulp. If the latter it’s a lot better written than other books of its type. There are 3 main characters, brothers Sewell and Mitch Neely, and Sewell’s wife Joy. She is the “big city girl” of the title. When Sewell, who is one mean hombre, is sent to prison, an almost penniless Joy travels from Houston to stay with her in laws, who are dirt poor Louisiana sharecroppers. A younger Neely sibling, a teenage girl called Jessie, also plays a significant role.
Modern women might find it hard to relate to Joy, as her self-esteem is closely linked to the interest men show in her, due to her looks. Inwardly she rails against this tendency, but ultimately she can’t help it. Joy’s personality seemed a bit overdone, but if you want a plot, then this one fairly races along. Sewell escapes from custody and despite his crimes the author gets us to identify with him during the “chase” scenes. I found myself willing him to escape – nice work by the author! There’s a good background feel to this one as well.
The ending was maybe a bit implausible, but you can’t really complain given the genre. It's a really good “page-turner”. I might read one or two of the author’s other novels before my trial subscription expires.
December 6, 2024
Ever since I watched Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects, I have been curious about books and movies that center around the lives of poor white folk from the American South, often classified as rednecks and hillibillies. Of course, there are the novels of John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Erskine Caldwell and Harry Crews. But I am on the lookout for books that are a lot more obscure, over the top and lurid. The novels of Charles Williams were just what I was looking for. Big City Girl is my twelfth novel by this great writer whose novels are now out of print.
The Neelys are a poor cotton growing rural family, whose lives are turned upside down following the arrival of Joy, the blonde wife of Sewell Neely (convicted of armed robbery and murder), the elder son. Joy, an ex-beauty queen, dealing with demons of her own stemming from her fading beauty, turns Mitch Neely,the younger son against his gullible sister Jessie. The father Cass Neely is in a world of his own, collecting old automobiles and selling the family dog for a radio to keep track of his son Sewell's sentencing. A parallel plot involves Sewell escaping from two cruel policemen who are taking him to penitentiary. This part of the novel is superior to the goings on at the Neely barn. Williams understands what drives these men, who are forces of nature, unable to control their base instincts.
Williams tackles many themes including the vagaries of cotton farming, nature playing games with the Neelys and the advent of mass media and its impact upon these poor folk who live purely on instinct. Big City Girl works as a great "man on the run" novel. The parts with Sewell Nealy on the run were fantastic. As a portrait of the inner life of Mitch Nealy, who is trying to save the cotton crop from grass and floods while trying to stave off the temptations lined up by the scantily clad Joy, it works to a lesser extent, maybe because there are great writers like Steinbeck who have already been there.
The Neelys are a poor cotton growing rural family, whose lives are turned upside down following the arrival of Joy, the blonde wife of Sewell Neely (convicted of armed robbery and murder), the elder son. Joy, an ex-beauty queen, dealing with demons of her own stemming from her fading beauty, turns Mitch Neely,the younger son against his gullible sister Jessie. The father Cass Neely is in a world of his own, collecting old automobiles and selling the family dog for a radio to keep track of his son Sewell's sentencing. A parallel plot involves Sewell escaping from two cruel policemen who are taking him to penitentiary. This part of the novel is superior to the goings on at the Neely barn. Williams understands what drives these men, who are forces of nature, unable to control their base instincts.
Williams tackles many themes including the vagaries of cotton farming, nature playing games with the Neelys and the advent of mass media and its impact upon these poor folk who live purely on instinct. Big City Girl works as a great "man on the run" novel. The parts with Sewell Nealy on the run were fantastic. As a portrait of the inner life of Mitch Nealy, who is trying to save the cotton crop from grass and floods while trying to stave off the temptations lined up by the scantily clad Joy, it works to a lesser extent, maybe because there are great writers like Steinbeck who have already been there.
November 7, 2022
"Big City Girl" was Williams' second published novel in 1951. He did publish three novels that same year, including his first one which was a major hit. "Big City Girl" is at once country pulp (or country blues as one commentator has put it) like Harry Whittington would write and crime thriller.
It is the story of a convicted robber, Sewell, on his way to the state penitentiary for what could be potentially the rest of his life, his bold escape, and his life on the run with every deputy and public minded citizen on the lookout for him. It is also the story of his wife, Joy, the Big City Girl, of the title, who, penniless, leaves the city to live for a time with Sewell's father and siblings on what remains of the farm out in the country. Sewell's father is an old, cantankerous broken down man. His brother is determined to save the farm, despite the fact that it may be only a hope and a prayer that anything will grow there and that the river won't rise and flood the fields. Everything they own has been sold piece by piece. They live in a one bedroom house without much. They are country poor and there isn't much left to sell except maybe the dog.
Joy is the character of the title and she is an aging beauty contest winner who frets that at the ripe old age of twenty-eight she may be too old and used up to attract attention, to attract a man. She is forever talking about her beauty contest days and her modeling days and wearing outfits too skimpy to avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her first husband gambled away everything they owned. Her second husband is on the run from the law. She has only her figure left and she is morose and bitter.
Williams writes wonderfully and takes the reader into this bitter, desolate world with these incredible characters that just come to life on the page. This is a book that is easy to read and just absolutely engrossing. It is not as pulpy as some of his later novels. It is, however, just damn good writing. Highly recommended.
It is the story of a convicted robber, Sewell, on his way to the state penitentiary for what could be potentially the rest of his life, his bold escape, and his life on the run with every deputy and public minded citizen on the lookout for him. It is also the story of his wife, Joy, the Big City Girl, of the title, who, penniless, leaves the city to live for a time with Sewell's father and siblings on what remains of the farm out in the country. Sewell's father is an old, cantankerous broken down man. His brother is determined to save the farm, despite the fact that it may be only a hope and a prayer that anything will grow there and that the river won't rise and flood the fields. Everything they own has been sold piece by piece. They live in a one bedroom house without much. They are country poor and there isn't much left to sell except maybe the dog.
Joy is the character of the title and she is an aging beauty contest winner who frets that at the ripe old age of twenty-eight she may be too old and used up to attract attention, to attract a man. She is forever talking about her beauty contest days and her modeling days and wearing outfits too skimpy to avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her first husband gambled away everything they owned. Her second husband is on the run from the law. She has only her figure left and she is morose and bitter.
Williams writes wonderfully and takes the reader into this bitter, desolate world with these incredible characters that just come to life on the page. This is a book that is easy to read and just absolutely engrossing. It is not as pulpy as some of his later novels. It is, however, just damn good writing. Highly recommended.
April 1, 2008
Big City Girl is not a particularly accurate title for this book, and the cover illustration and tag ("Joy didn't belong in the hill country . . . but there she was") are rather misleading, too. Yes, Joy used to live in Houston and now she lives in the Texas sticks, but she does not spend the novel sexually tormenting the yokels, as the book's cover would have you believe. No doubt all of this was an effort to capitalize on the million-selling success of Charles Williams' debut novel, Hill Girl. In any case, Big City Girl, his second novel, is a clear step forward artistically from its predecessor. Though both novels mine the literary landscape of Erskine Caldwell, Hill Girl is concerned primarily with Caldwellian sexual titillation while Big City Girl moves closer to the world of criminal noir. Well executed and well worth seeking out.
December 4, 2024
amazing. great noir. fine writer.
February 14, 2013
This review is for the 2013 ebook release of Big City Girl. Open Road Integrated Media and Mysterious Press are rereleasing some great, older titles. Books written by Charles Williams are among them.
Thank you NetGalley and Open Road Media for the review copy of this book.
(side note - I love the original cover. Much better than the 2013 ebook version)
This story is titled "Big City Girl" but is told mostly from the perspective of two Neely brothers whose lives are changed because of her.
I am torn. On the one hand I loved going back in time and reading a clear, descriptive tale from days gone by. The story takes place before popular use of television. People still use horse and buggies alongside cars. Communication can take days and information is only shared through the newspaper or radio - if you are lucky enough to own one.
This trip into the past was fun and seemed fresh and exciting. I enjoyed the "new" surroundings and viewpoint. Williams writes wonderful action and scenery. He blends mood into the setting and it practically speaks as another character. That was amazing.
The part I didn't care for was Williams' overdone portrayal of Joy, the big city girl. She is drawn as a scheming, brainless, money hungry, self-absorbed, dumb blonde. She stares in the mirror and frets for hours about losing her looks - she's twenty eight. Williams was too heavy handed with her and it took away from the story. I realize this title was published in 1951 when women were viewed differently, I still think he went way too far.
I also had issue with the timeline. I believe the author made a mistake. In one plotline, weeks pass. In another, only a few days. Then the two stories come together as if on the same schedule. Perhaps Williams or the publishers of the original story didn't think readers would notice.
These rereleases are fun and I'm glad Mysterious Press is offering them. After using my ereader it is difficult to switch back to a paperback, but now we have options of great, older books in electronic format.
Thank you NetGalley and Open Road Media for the review copy of this book.
(side note - I love the original cover. Much better than the 2013 ebook version)
This story is titled "Big City Girl" but is told mostly from the perspective of two Neely brothers whose lives are changed because of her.
I am torn. On the one hand I loved going back in time and reading a clear, descriptive tale from days gone by. The story takes place before popular use of television. People still use horse and buggies alongside cars. Communication can take days and information is only shared through the newspaper or radio - if you are lucky enough to own one.
This trip into the past was fun and seemed fresh and exciting. I enjoyed the "new" surroundings and viewpoint. Williams writes wonderful action and scenery. He blends mood into the setting and it practically speaks as another character. That was amazing.
The part I didn't care for was Williams' overdone portrayal of Joy, the big city girl. She is drawn as a scheming, brainless, money hungry, self-absorbed, dumb blonde. She stares in the mirror and frets for hours about losing her looks - she's twenty eight. Williams was too heavy handed with her and it took away from the story. I realize this title was published in 1951 when women were viewed differently, I still think he went way too far.
I also had issue with the timeline. I believe the author made a mistake. In one plotline, weeks pass. In another, only a few days. Then the two stories come together as if on the same schedule. Perhaps Williams or the publishers of the original story didn't think readers would notice.
These rereleases are fun and I'm glad Mysterious Press is offering them. After using my ereader it is difficult to switch back to a paperback, but now we have options of great, older books in electronic format.
January 10, 2013
This is a darkly comic, tragic thriller of poor whites: a brother and husband turned killer escaped from deputy sheriffs; his brother, trying to keep what is left of his dad’s farm afloat; their 15 year old sister unsure of her brothers and her own future; their dad who has lost his mind, and the killer’s wife, an aging one time beauty queen, broke and living in this couple room shack.
Will the killer escape his police hunters? Will his brother be able to save their tiny cotton crop from a flooding river? Will the killer’s wife be able to escape this dead end life?
This thriller rushes you along until these questions reach their cataclysmic finale. This is a rich period piece reminiscent of Erskine Caldwell’s tales of poor white southerners.
Will the killer escape his police hunters? Will his brother be able to save their tiny cotton crop from a flooding river? Will the killer’s wife be able to escape this dead end life?
This thriller rushes you along until these questions reach their cataclysmic finale. This is a rich period piece reminiscent of Erskine Caldwell’s tales of poor white southerners.
November 18, 2009
At the time this awful mess was published everybody and their sister wrote a bad hillbilly novel to cash in on the millions that Erskine Caldwell made with "God's Little Acre". This is another one for the trash heap. Someone once wrote that the best thing about "Big City Girl" was the cover, and I concur.
July 8, 2016
Charles Williams is one of my many guilty pleasures. Here's my to-read list of his early stuff.
Hill Girl
River Girl (aka The Catfish Tangle)
Hell Hath No Fury (aka The Hot Spot)
Nothing in Her Way
Go Home, Stranger
A Touch of Death (aka Mix Yourself a Redhead)
Hill Girl
River Girl (aka The Catfish Tangle)
Hell Hath No Fury (aka The Hot Spot)
Nothing in Her Way
Go Home, Stranger
A Touch of Death (aka Mix Yourself a Redhead)
April 9, 2022
under-rated. wouldn't have known about him except read an old interview the Master - John D Macdonald and it was his favorite - little known author. HIs books were all made available digitally they have not re-printed. Id love to own a few originals. The Movie Dead Calm ( sailboat movie with a young Nicole Kidman) was based on one of his books. Poor guy committed suicide. I loved all his books so far. if you like John D. do yourself a favor.
May 15, 2025
Bad decisions have meant Cass Nealy had to sell off almost all of his farm. Things are going downwards when his daughter-in law, Joy, moves in after her husband is incarcerated for armed robbery. The story starts about there. I’m not sure what I felt about this novel. It didn’t really feel like noir, it didn’t really grab me, and I felt Joy was a little overdrawn.
June 20, 2020
Southern noir, written decades before the genre came to be recognized. Charles Williams was a superb writer.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
December 21, 2024
I quit at 40% as I was unable to read anymore about grass. A very sleep inducing novel. Maybe a bad novel to start reading this author. I will try his highest rated and most popular novel next.
Read
November 16, 2009dears,
it is a good book and i love it.regards, yours, khan.
it is a good book and i love it.regards, yours, khan.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews