The Deep End

by Joseph Hayes

The Viking Press, New York

Hardcover

Published May 31, 1967

Reviews

[Kurt Reichenbaugh]

Published in the late 60's, this novel takes place in 1966. The plot is a simple one, about a young man and woman who invade an upper-middle class lawyer's apartment while his wife is out of town. Perfect set up for noir tropes, but this is more a novel of ideas about Religion, philosophy and generational differences, using Vietnam, Sexual Identities, Wealth and the Law as tools to dissect fragile faiths. It's high-strung and overlong, and often goes way over the line of credibility, but it's well-written. Also, I had a problem rooting for the "hero" of this novel. There really isn't one.

Joseph Hayes wrote the novel and play DESPERATE HOURS which was filmed twice; the 1st time with Humphrey Bogart, and the 2nd time with Mickey Rourke.

[Tim Blake]

I like Hayes, but this one became really tedious. Very much a period piece too, with the hippie and "homosexual" themes stated in rather stilted terms.