Wed 10 Jun 2020
A Mystery Review by Dan Stumpf: WILLIAM P. McGIVERN – Heaven Ran Last.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[2] Comments
REVIEWED BY DAN STUMPF:
WILLIAM P. McGIVERN – Heaven Ran Last. Dodd Mead, hardcover, 1949. Dell #599, paperback, date?
How many books are there where lovers kill for money and/a freedom? Dozens? Scores? Hundreds maybe? Did the sub-genre start with The Postman Always Rings Twice, or does it go back to Macbeth? Probably good topics for discussion on somebody’s website, but I came across a cute variation on the theme in Heaven Ran Last, by William P McGivern.
In books like this, the killers usually come up with a clever can’t-fail plan, but here Johnny Ford, a Chicago bookie who’s been having it at home with the wife of an overseas war hero, comes up with a scheme to get rid of the inconvenient husband that’s completely half-assed. And as Johnny develops his plan, even the most naive reader will spot holes, maybe-nots and needless complications.
Oddly, this doesn’t weaken the story; it only makes it more compelling, like watching an accident happen. It’s hard to look away from (or put down) Last as the half-smart protagonist gets one bone-head “inspiration” after another, and McGivern gives the whole thing a final, nasty twist. I found the whole thing unexpectedly enjoyable, in a sweet, sick way. Look this one up if you like this sort of thing.
June 10th, 2020 at 7:46 pm
McGivern is almost always worth reading, even of his pulp SF was good.
I’m sure the hard-boiled tale of couples murdering for money was started by Cain, but Agatha Christie had been using some variation of the plot for years before, including DEATH ON THE NILE. In fact one or both pairs of lovers turning out to bee the killer is a Christie trope.
June 10th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
This was McGivern’s second novel, one I’ve never read. As you say, David,he was quite prolific in the 40s as a pulp SF writer before switching over to writing crime novels and then for TV. Among movies based on his work are The Big Heat, Shield for Murder, Rogue Cop, and Night of the Juggler.