Blue City by Kenneth Millar is the story of a young man, just returned from service World War II to his hometown to find his estranged father murdered, with a new and very young widow and no suspects.
Author | Kenneth Millar |
Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication Date (initial) | August 18, 1947 |
Overview
Joe Weather returns to his corrupt home town after completing his service in the U.S. Army in the European theater. He has been estranged from his father for some time and in returning home, Joe hopes to reconnect with his father. Instead, he finds that his father has been murdered and left a very young and very attractive widow. He also finds a town more corrupt than ever, and the police are no help. They have no suspects for the murder of Joe’s father and Joe soon learns they are not his friend. The more Joe investigates the murder, the more evil he uncovers and the more danger he finds himself in.
Observations
While this isn’t Millar’s finest novel, it is significant in that it fulfilled a long-held dream: Kenneth Millar’s book was published by the publisher he had held in esteem since he was a high-school student: Alfred A. Knopf. The relationship with the publisher, which also grew into a friendship, would last for the rest of Millar’s life.
Additional Publication Information
The information is here is accurate to the best knowledge of the site’s author, but should not be presumed to be definitive.
Date | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|
1949 | Cassel and Company, Ltd. | 1st English edition |
1949 | Dell | 3rd edition |
1950 | Mondadori | 1st Italian edition |
1958 | Bantam | 4th edition, also Canada reprinting. Reprinted 1968 |
1962 | Transworld Corgi (UK) | 5th edition |
1975 | Mondadori | 2nd Italian edition |
1981 | Collins (London) | 6th edition for Crime Club Famous Firsts Collection: Ross Macdonald |
1992 | Warner Books | unknown |
2011 | Vintage Crime/Black Lizard; Vintage Books | 1st Vintage Crime/Black Lizard edition |
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