Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Seeing inconsistencies in her behavior, Lora investigates Alice’s background which leads to her to thinking her in-law is involved in something criminal. A friend Lois from Alice’s former life acts trashy as she depends on Alice to bail her out when she gets into trouble. Alice befriends the wife of Bill’s friend, who shortly thereafter commits suicide just prior to Lois being murdered. It is only when Bill is prepared to break the law to abet his wife does Lora act to put an end to Alice’s influence with the help of a very connected criminal who bears no love for Alice.
DIE A LITTLE is a dark urban 1950s Hollywood noir where even honest lawmen break the law if they can get away with it. Lora is a fascinating character who loves her brother too much to let him throw his life away on a criminal and is a bit jealous of the hold Alice has on her sibling. There are no heroes in this book, only people who do what is necessary to get their own way. Megan Abbott is a fine writer who uses the first person narrative as a way of increasing the tension and the gradual feeling of overwhelming foreboding.