THE INNOCENT MRS. DUFF

A story of criminal deviation in genesis and a cumulative development as Jacob Duff, irritated into hatred by his very young wife, Reggie, (who is pretty, obliging and harmless), finds an escape in the artificial limbos of alcohol and fantasy where he builds up his grievances and case against Reggie. Taking action in an unwarranted and abortive attempt to incriminate her with their chauffeur, Nolan, Duff fails -- and inadvertently kills a man. Concealing his crime, he makes further efforts to protect himself, eventually combines with Nolan in a second frame-up which again ends in murder, and Duff, distorted and disintegrated with liquor, fear and self-concern, is helpless when faced with the law. A single-minded, sustained story of indulgence which reaches criminal dissolution, ranking well in the genre of slick character shocker. An Inner Sanctum Mystery Special, the market will be largely in the mystery field.