Books Like...

'Vanish in an Instant' by Margaret Millar is a noir thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of the American Dream, particularly from a female perspective. The plot revolves around a murder mystery where Virginia Barkeley, the daughter of a wealthy and respected woman, is found covered in blood near the body of Claude Margolis. Lawyer Eric Meecham takes on the case to defend Virginia, who claims to have no memory of the events. As Meecham delves deeper into the investigation, unexpected twists and complex characters emerge, leading to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Millar's writing style is described as superb, with intricate plotting, sympathetic characters, and unexpected reveals that keep the reader engaged till the final page.

The plot concerns two women who are on vacation in Mexico City. One woman, Wilma, is a domineering, two-time divorcee who hates the world. The other woman, Amy, is her mousy friend. An eavesdropping housekeeper at the hotel describes Wilma and Amy's relationship. Wilma dies by falling out of a hotel window, and Amy then disappears. The setting then shifts to San Francisco, and the novel is told from the perspective of Amy's brother Gill and her husband Rupert. Gill hires a private investigator to try to find out what really happened to Amy. "THE LISTENING WALLS" is the story of two female friends, one loud and obnoxious, the other mousy and insecure, who go to Mexico for a vacation. The loud obnoxious woman commits suicide, and the other woman mysteriously disappears. The missing woman's brother suspects that his sister's husband has done away with her and hires a P.I. to investigate.

The book is short but what a wild ride! At times, it is hilarious. It unrolls so that the reader gets sufficient information to understand by the ending but is confused along the way. The dynamic between the two women is spot on, as is the creepy relationship between the missing woman and her brother. The men in the club enjoyed the book as much as the women did, which is rare. Millar is very cagey about the details she reveals, which may not seem quite fair if you like a lot of fair play in the mystery. But we thought that this trait was exactly what made the book so suspenseful and made it as much a novel of suspense as a murder mystery.

Cold Caller by Jason Starr follows the story of Bill Moss, a failed advertising executive turned telemarketer living in Manhattan. The book delves into Moss's descent into madness as his life spirals out of control in a New York-based tale of work in a telemarketing company. The narrative is a dark and twisted roller coaster ride, portraying Moss as a serial liar whose life is marred by chaos and violence.

Starr's writing style in Cold Caller is described as seductively easy to read with exquisite plot points that make it hard to put down once started. The book is a noir masterpiece that offers a perfect dive into the mind of a character who rationalizes even the most heinous behaviors, all while maintaining a compelling and queasily captivating quality as the plot unfolds.