"Prolific noir writer Dorothy B. Hughes has 14 novels to her name, but, for its daring first-person narrative told from the perspective of a serial killer, In a Lonely Place is perhaps her most memorable work. The story follows Dix Steele, a World War II fighter pilot who winds up in Los Angeles exploiting wealthy acquaintances and living lavishly. The protagonist is chasing the thrills he felt during his wartime efforts, but finds himself without the same sense of purpose—so he soon turns his frustrations to senselessly murdering women. The 1947 novel traces the psychology of Steele’s motives and why he chooses his victims in a way that shaped the genre and paved the way for subsequent serial killer narratives from Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley to Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho. In a Lonely Place was also adapted into a 1950 film of the same name, directed by Nicholas Ray and fronted by Humphrey Bogart. Hughes further cemented her status influence on the genre when she became the 1978 Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America." —Armani Syed for Time magazine

Stop by the Reference Desk after the previous month’s meeting to pick up a copy of the title. If this title is not available, we've requested copies of her other works, including the movie adaptation of this title. There are also ebooks available via Libby.

Supplemental Reading:

Wikipedia overview of the novel and background HERE.

Book Club Background:

Join us in person or online to look at the history of Mystery as a book genre.

It has been almost 200 years since the publication of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” and since then, mystery as a genre has exploded in form, length, language, and more. From The Lady in White, Wilkie Collins’ novel that is considered the first of the genre, through the serialized adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the Golden Age of Agatha Christie, the advent of noir, the rise of thrillers, romantic suspense, and an international cast of characters ranging from retired police officers to meddling sleuths, some famous twins, and armchair detectives.

TIME MAGAZINE PICKS THE 100 BEST MYSTERY NOVELS OF ALL TIME

Each month we might read an article, a short story, a book, or a selection from the same author or the same country. We’ll look at award winners and debut novelists, the standard bearers and the rule breakers. We may talk about movies and TV, too.  We’ll work our way through the decades, looking at similar themes, exotic settings, and recent innovations in a genre that is both familiar and new.

Some of the authors we’ll cover: Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, Mary Higgins Clark, Alexander McCall Smith, Jo Nesbo, and more!

Check out the recent Edgar Award winners HERE.

We’ll run this group as hybrid, so anyone can join. Please click below to register for the program, and you'll receive the Zoom link. Returning readers do not need to register unless they need the Zoom link. THE ZOOM LINK WILL BE SENT TWO HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.

At the end of the day, the butler may have done it, but we’ll decide if he was justified!