"This striking suspense story of an elderly woman living a dual nightmare delivers a subtle wallop".--SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. "This Australian psychodrama is not only an excruciatingly exact study in terror but a subtle lesson in the horrendous difficulties of communication".--THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
This Australian psychological drama was first published in Britain in 1969. It describes the terror of a paralyzed stroke victim, Sarah Oatland, who cannot move or speak, but who overhears voices through the wall plotting a murder. Sarah manages at last to communicate her knowledge via eye-blinks to a young girl who visits. When the villains discover that she knows their plan, Sarah's life is in imminent danger, and the suspense and terror build.
Australian Carlon (The Souvenir) ratchets up the psychological suspense in this story of a victim who is unable to react to a gradually realized threat until pushed to the limit. Sarah Oatland, a well-to-do widow bedridden by a stroke, can't move or speak, but she can see, hear and think. She is tended by her greedy niece-in-law Gwenyth Oatland and a patronizing nurse, Cornelia Bragg. Gwenyth divides Sarah's house into three apartments, renting one to a single mother and her inquisitive 10-year-old daughter, Rose. Valma and Murray Phipps move into the rooms beneath Sarah's bedroom, where a vent in the wall allows her to overhear their conversations. With Sarah, we learn the Phippses plan to murder Valma's stepfather, former singing idol Roderick Palmer, and we experience Sarah's frustration at her helplessness. Rose discovers that Sarah can blink in response to questions; as their communication ends Sarah's isolation, the book subtly loses its claustrophobic tone. But the Phippses realize Sarah knows their plot and determine to kill her, too. With enormous effort, using letter games and Scrabble, Sarah attempts to warn Roderick. From her sure-handed establishing of Sarah's awareness and limitations to the dramatic climax, Carlon proves herself as masterful a wielder of suspense as Patricia Highsmith, Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine, and Margaret Millar.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 6.39
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 5.00
Within U.S.A.
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004124244
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: river break books, Fort benton, MT, U.S.A.
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Paperback is very clean throughout, square along the edges, and tightly bound. Appears unused and bright throughout. Seller Inventory # 007702
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Basement Seller 101, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 230315095
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: books4less (Versandantiquariat Petra Gros GmbH & Co. KG), Welling, Germany
Taschenbuch. Condition: Gut. Auflage: New Ed. 216 Seiten In ENGLISCHER Sprache. Der Erhaltungszustand des hier angebotenen Werks ist trotz seiner Bibliotheksnutzung sehr sauber. Es befindet sich neben dem Rückenschild lediglich ein Bibliotheksstempel im Buch; ordnungsgemäß entwidmet. Einbandkanten sind leicht bestoßen. Leichte altersbedingte Anbräunung des Papiers. Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 200. Seller Inventory # 1708043
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Syber's Books, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Softcover (Illustrated). Condition: Very Good. Darren Pryce -- Cover Art (illustrator). First Edition. Colour illustrated paperback binding, by Darren Pryce, with black, pale apricot and white coloured titles to the front panel and pale apricot coloured titles to the backstrip. Sarah Oatland is confined to her bed by a stroke, believed to be comatose and in a vegetative state. But she is acutely aware of her state, and, surrounded by greedy relatives, a sly nurse and disinterested doctor, Sarah is just starting to gain some control of her eye lids, when she hears a murder plot. It is up to Sarah to foil the plot and to save her own life. A little creasing of the corners with rubbing of the book edges and panels. Some age toning of the text block edges and pages. First edition of the work in this format and binding, and/or set or series. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 205, [5] pages. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Illustrator: Darren Pryce -- Cover Art. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Crime Fiction; ISBN: 1862542805. ISBN/EAN: 9781862542808. Inventory No: 0130620. Seller Inventory # 0130620
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Aucott & Thomas, Ibstock, United Kingdom
Softcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition Thus. Clean and tightly bound paperback, no inscriptions, spine uncreased, appears little used. 206 pages, cover by Darren Pryce. Seller Inventory # 66694
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Adelaide Booksellers, Clarence Gardens, SA, Australia
Softcover. 1st thus. Octavo Size [approx 15.5 x 22.8cm]. Very Good condition. Previous owner's neat details to half-title page. Robust, professional packaging and tracking provided for all parcels. 205 pages. Wakefield Crime Classics series. First published in 1969. Seller Inventory # 288358
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Springwood Book Lounge, SPRINGWOOD, NSW, Australia
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Note: 1st edition thus. Originally published in 1969. Edge wear to cover with sunning to spine (title partially illegible); mild tanning to pages (more marked on edges). Part of the Wakefield Crime Classics series featuring Australian crime authors. Seller Inventory # 022883
Quantity: 1 available