Strangle Hold

by Mary McMullen

A mystery novel.

Genres: Mystery, Literature

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Mary McMullen [1920-1986] was a pseudonym of Mary Reilly Wilson, mystery and suspense writer, daughter of mystery writer Helen Reilly and sister of mystery writer Ursula Curliss

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

As Frances Lockridge noted, this is interesting as a portal into the advertising world of the early 1950s. The mystery itself is good, but the pacing is awkward, and the 1950s men just kill me. Did they spend the 1940s incubating and then pop out as fully formed bossy assholes in 1950?

[Raime · Rating 2 out of 5]

1952 Egar award for best first novel. Mild and straightforward upper middle class New York thriller about murderer in an advertising agency. The most interesting part of this book is experiencing high pressure working atmosphere for a female Ad copywriter in the year 1950.

"The riddle of the dead woman, so brutally strangled, must be solved with all possible speed because, first and foremost, she was bad for business."

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set at an ad agency in New York City and the winner of the 1952 Edgar Award for Best First Mystery, this had an entertaining plot and was an interesting look at career women in the fifties.

[Conny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy liviano, sus personajes son muy reales, pero se me hizo demasiado abrupto el final para resolver el misterio. Hace tiempo que no leía un final abierto.

[Matteo Camelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

90% of the book is ok, the final wrap up is completely nonsense

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1951, Strangle Hold takes us into a richly detailed world in which women have taken their places in the world of advertising, but troglodyte attitudes and the absence of sexual harassment laws mean that women must be tough and impassive. This aspect of the book is minor, but it is fascinating to see. The mystery itself is well-plotted, and the writing is good. The book is out of print now, which is too bad because it is so good.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original Mad Men