Escape While I Can is a 1944 mystery novel by Melba Marlett. It was reportedly written over the course of two years.[1]

Escape While I Can
AuthorMelba Marlett
LanguageEnglish
PublisherDoubleday
Publication date
1944
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages192

Plot

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Elizabeth marries into a strange and wealthy family plagued by mysterious disappearances and unpleasant rumors. She disentangles herself from the marriage, but is drawn back in several years later due to new evidence of murders.[2]

Publication History

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Escape While I Can was published in December, 1944,[3] by The Crime Club, an imprint of Doubleday. It was reprinted in 1965 by Ace Books as part of its G series (G-568) in 1965.

Reception

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Escape While I Can received positive reviews, being hailed as Marlett's best work so far by some commentators.[4][5] It was lauded by The Tennesseean as a "swift moving brain taxer...with plenty of character and atmosphere."[6] The Greensboro Daily News said Marlett "carries the story to new heights of suspense."[7] While the reviewer for the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel found it "no better than her three previous books," it was still "above par."[8]

A particularly high-profile enforcement was provided by Dorothy B. Hughes, who called Escape While I Can "well written and strongly recommended for those who wait two long between Eberharts."[9]

References

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  1. ^ J.S. "Mayhem, Mystery, and Murder." The Tennesseean Vol. 38 No. 269 p13-B. 4 February 1945. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ F. "Suspense is Held in New Mystery." Greensboro Daily News Vol. LXVI No. 153 S4p3. 17 December 1944. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ The Crime Corner The New York Times. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ Devon, R.S. "Books of Today" (August Derleth ed). The Capital Times Vol. 55 No. 56 p20. 8 February 1945. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ Von Arnim, Henning. "'The Key' Has Amusing Setting And Good Mystery." The Buffalo Evening News Magazine Vol. CXXIX No. 85 p5. 20 January 1945. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ J.S. "Mayhem, Mystery, and Murder." The Tennesseean Vol. 38 No. 269 p13-B. 4 February 1945. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ F. "Suspense is Held in New Mystery." Greensboro Daily News Vol. LXVI No. 153 S4p3. 17 December 1944. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ Hughes, G. "Mystery." Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel. Vol. 43D No. 52 p7. 24 December 1944. Accessed 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ Hughes, Dorothy B. "Report Card of Crime." The Albuquerque Tribune Vol. 23 No. 212 p10. 8 December 1944. Accessed 30 October 2023.
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