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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
A murder investigation; no graphic violence
Language
Barely any
Stylish period prose; mild language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Romantic obsession and adult relationships; nothing explicit
Substance Use
Some
Social drinking characteristic of 1940s New York
Emotional Intensity
Some
Obsession — the detective's fixation on a dead woman's portrait; questions of identity and whether any of us can truly know another person
What this book is about
Detective Mark McPherson investigates the murder of Laura Hunt, a beautiful New York advertising executive — and finds himself falling in love with her portrait. Then Laura returns, very much alive, and everything McPherson thought he knew shatters. A landmark of classic noir told from multiple perspectives, exploring obsession, identity, and who we really are versus who others imagine us to be.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
A detective's psychological obsession with a murder victim
Romantic manipulation and adult relationships
Reader Verification
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