Friday, January 9, 2015

Off His Loaf: Wisteria Cottage (1948), by Robert M. Coates

the lurid Dell paperback edition
I love the title of Robert M. Coates' Wisteria Cottage (1948), because it conjures the world of cozy mystery when it is anything but.  The hardcover edition was subtitled a novel of criminal impulse, which gives a clue to what the book is: a sober suspense story about a mentally disintegrating psychopath.

Wisteria Cottage was extremely well-reviewed and went through three paperback editions, including one as late as 1985, but since then seems to have been almost entirely forgotten, one of those vagaries of literary fortune.

I'll be writing about the novel, and Mr. Coates, more this weekend, as well as a novel by another author, one published merely fifteen years ago--imagine!
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8 comments:

  1. Brian BusbyJanuary 9, 2015 at 4:02 AM

    An interesting cover - as disturbing as it is ridiculous. I'm very much looking forward to reading more.

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    1. The Passing TrampJanuary 9, 2015 at 4:04 AM

      The hardcover is more tasteful, but Dell sure knew how to sell paperbacks!

      Delete
  2. J F NorrisJanuary 9, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    The infamous creepy psycho eyes cover! I planned to read and review this last year. You beat me to one again!

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    1. The Passing TrampJanuary 9, 2015 at 10:02 AM

      Cheer up, John, you've beaten me to a lot of others! ;) By, the way, check your email!

      Delete
  3. WeweJanuary 9, 2015 at 11:11 AM

    Scary eyes, for sure!

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  4. ukemonFebruary 27, 2022 at 1:08 PM

    The house and story behind the book?
    http://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2014/05/24/notorious-crime-scene-property-is-for-sale/

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    Replies
    1. The Passing TrampMarch 2, 2022 at 11:23 PM

      That's quite a (revolting) story! But the book had nothing to do with child murder and all those other sicknesses.

      Delete

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