Good, but not that great (by Highsmith standards). A pair of murders. 1st - Kimmel, bookseller of Newark, kills his wife when she gets off at a rest area from being on a long bus ride. 2nd- Walter Stackhouse reads of this story, surmises what happened and begins to consider this plan for his own wife. Finally she does take the fateful bus ride and dies having fallen off a cliff. Did Walter do it? He doesn't think so- he doesn't remember doing it- but probably he did? Tenacious police fellow Corby begins pursuing the matter with increasing intensity- eventually badgering - and physically beating Kimmel into submission. We learn Kimmel rather likes this submissive state (an odd tangent that isn't further explored). No one gives in, but eventually the increasing tension of all involved results in a bloodbath/conclusion as Kimmel was stalking Stackhouse and they collide ... The story itself isn't that great, but the trademark Highsmith portrayal of increasing dislocation from reality and self harm of Stackhouse (the "blunderer") is fascinating as usual. ( )

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Der Buchhändler Kimmel hat seine untreue Frau Helen umgebracht, sich dabei aber ein so stichfestes Alibi besorgt, daß kein Verdacht auf ihn fällt. Auch Anwalt Stackhouse führt eine unglückliche Ehe. Seitdem er einen Zeitungsartikel über den unaufgeklärten Kimmel-Mord gelesen und den fröhlichen Witwer besucht hat, spielt er mit düsteren Gedanken. Doch seine Frau kommt ihm zuvor... Ein Roman über den feinen Grat zwischen Schuld und Unschuld, über Reue und die ewige Angst vor sich selber.

(Spanish Edition)

Good suspense, but pretty loathsome characters all round. ( )