A lethal vintage Book

I have loved Ira Levin ever since I watched a movie in 1982 -Deathtrap- based on his 1978 play. It is a must see for mystery lovers, and A KISS BEFORE DYING- Levin's first novel -written in 1953- is a must read!

The story starts out like many stories do...

Poor boy



meets-

Rich girl



Poor boy and rich girl start dating



Rich girl gets pregnant



...and this is where things get a little interesting-

Poor boy- is actually a psychopath- only dating rich girl so he could marry her for her money. Now that his plans are ruined, he lures her to the top of the tallest building and pushes her off the roof.



Dorothy is the youngest of three sisters (Ellen the middle, Marion the oldest). She is a naive girl from a wealthy family, and meets the man she thinks she wants to marry while studying at Stoddard College- in Blue River, Iowa. Things with Dorothy and her new beau are going perfectly until she announces she is pregnant, and instead of walking down the aisle- she is falling to her death. The police rule it a suicide, but her sister Ellen isn't buying it, and goes to Blue River in search of the truth.

A KISS BEFORE DYING is a suspenseful well-plotted mystery- where one never knows who to trust.