STRANGER BESIDE ME

by Mabel Seeley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 1951

Mabel Seeley brings to her novels the same concentrated searching analysis characterizes her crime stories. She explores the very innermost workings of character and motivation but, for me, at least, she fails in that she creates not one ves of sympathy for the characters she has dissected. Once again, as in Woman of Prop (1947), this is an intimate expose of the build-up and break-down of her central figure, in this case a man. Carl Reinn has a small job in a mid-western department store; he also has soaring ambitions to reach the top and no intention of blocking himself by falling in love with a hostess in the store tea room. Christine felt herself a apart because of a birthmark, and that birthmark becomes a goad, to drive them both. Carl moved up; then with challenge came disappointment, a set-back and Christine took over the and won success in her field. At the peak of her achievement- and frustration -- he turns against her in public and attacks her. A melodramatic end leaves the reader shocked and yet somehow untouched emotionally. A strange story of a strange marriage.

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 1951

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1951

Categories: FICTION