WILLIAM IRISH – Dilemma of the Useless Girl. Graphic E-book #20; paperback, 1950.
Whereas nowhere the masterpieces that the again cowl claims that these explicit tales are, the work of Irish/Woolrich are all the time thrilling. Wanting again on them, the small print don’t all the time match, however the persons are actual, in nearly actual conditions which might be made to appear actual, conditions the world appears to be collapsing inward. Might it occur to you?
Total score: ***
“Dilemma of the Useless Girl.” An inexpensive criminal with no conscience has to homicide his lady good friend earlier than he can go away France after which has the physique to take care of. Destiny [that follows] says that he’ll die for a homicide that might have been prevented, dedicated to cowl up the primary, which most likely wouldn’t have been revealed. (3)
“The Lie.” The by-now traditional story of a son taking the blame for a homicide he believes his father has dedicated. The clues don’t level to him, nonetheless, and [unfortunately] these pointing to his harmless father are by no means defined. (2)
“The Canine with the Wood Leg.” A narrative of a person and his canine already has so much going for it, but when he unknowingly is made the go-between in a narcotics racket, then you definitely actually have a narrative, The one flaw is the difficult enterprise of their disposing of him as soon as he’s captured by the gang. (4)
“The Blue Ribbon.” The historical past of a fighter, from boyhood to championship, then the autumn from glory to comeback. The faux supernatural ending destroys the temper. (3)
“Subway.” An thrilling chase by means of a subway practice, however occurring solely on the expense of the guard’s intelligence. (2)
Ranking: ***
— February 1969.
