Thin Air

by Howard Browne

Returning late at night from a summer vacation trip with her husband and young daughter, Leona Coryell disappears without a trace

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Howard Browne (April 15, 1908–October 28, 1999) was a science fiction editor and mystery writer. He also wrote for several television series and films. Some of his work appeared over the pseudonyms John Evans, Alexander Blade, Lawrence Chandler, Ivar Jorgensen, and Lee Francis.

Beginning in 1942, Browne worked as managing editor for Ziff-Davis publications on Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures, both under Raymond A. Palmer's editorship. When Palmer left the magazines in 1949, Browne took over in January 1950. Browne ended the publication of Richard Shaver's Shaver Mystery and oversaw the change in Amazing from a pulp magazine to a digest. He left the magazines in 1956 to move to Hollywood.

In Hollywood, Browne wrote for television shows including Maverick, Ben Casey, and The Virginian. His last credit was for the film Capone (1975), starring Ben Gazzara.

Reviews

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, that flies by.
As the husband unloads the car, his wife walks into the house and disappears.
Really well paced and an enjoyable read.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with this older crime novel. Browne is a terrific writer. The setup is better than the ending, but it doesn't detract from the quality of the hard-boiled prose. The protagonist is an advertising executive whose wife "disappears," and he plays private eye while searching for her.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first third, this seems like the best book you ever read. Man comes home from vacation, wife vanishes. Just that quickly. And just that quickly, the smooth, edgy writing gives way to nonsensical explanations and details, and the ride is over. You'll stay to the end, but it's too bad he couldn't maintain the pace.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, loaded with clever twists. When an advertising exec’s wife disappears into thin air, he quickly becomes dissatisfied with the methodical pace of the police investigation and takes on the case himself. Browne puts his agency experience to work as the protagonist creates a media blitz in an attempt to locate his wife. The campaign mechanics are interesting but ultimately end up padding a novel that would have been a chapter short without them.

[Paul Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Victor Gollancz Limited] (1955). HB/DJ. 1/1. 209 Pages. Purchased from Lyndsey Greenslade.

Reasonably entertaining. Amusing in places:

“And you’re supposed to find my wife! Why, you small-town flatfoot, you couldn’t find your shoes in a plate of soup. All you know how to do is sit on your fat can and ask a lot of dumb questions. What’re you waiting for - a fast fifty bucks under the table?”

The plot’s marred by implausible elements.

Not a patch on James Hadley Chase.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely gripping and suspenseful novel about a man trying to find out what has happened to his wife, who has seemingly vanished in the middle of the night as they returned from a family vacation. Can't say much about it since I don't want to post any spoilers, but this is a really excellent book.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick enjoyable read. A man comes home from a vacation, his wife walks into the house while he unloads and dissappears.

[Emeis · Rating 3 out of 5]

we'll see.

[Pietro De Palma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good novel who begins with a locked room and ends as a harboiled.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: returning late at night from vacation with her husband and daughter, Leona Coryell disappeared.