How
Like An Angel by Margaret Millar: A Review By Warren Bull
By the time How Like An Angel was published (1962) the author had already won
an Edgar for her novel Beast in View.
She was named Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America. Ed Gorman described
he work as ..”too good for the mass market.”
Broke, unemployed and alone, Joe
Quinn is dropped off in the desert with a path to follow that leads toward a
religious commune called the Tower. Addicted to gambling despite his inevitable
losses, Quinn is not the sort of guy to get tangled up in other people’s
problems. However, when Sister Blessing offers one hundred and twenty dollars
in cash for Quinn to find out if a man named Patrick O’Gorman still lives in a
town nearby, he accepts the offer with no idea what making inquiries will set
off.
How
Like An Angel is compelling, suspenseful novel that surprises as it depicts
human motivation, obsession, love and hate. Belief versus doubt plays out in
the town as well as in the commune.
This is a well-written study of the
human condition in addition to being a truly satisfying mystery. I am glad to be able to recommend it
highly.
As usual, Warren, you have me running to the bookstore. I'm also a huge fan of her husband Kenneth Millar (Ross Macdonald).
ReplyDeleteAgree with Shari. Good review!
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about this book or the author. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteThis is one I hadn't heard of. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
ReplyDeletePutting it on my TBR list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of her before, either. I'll have to check her out.
ReplyDeleteI like to stop by here and find out about books in the past - some that I've read, but more often, ones I had not read and/or heard about until coming here. This blog has posts for current books, but also includes some oldies from the past.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this. Thank you.