Dumb, sexist story. A woman married to a rich man cons a private detective. I liked the ending, where a greedy man gets totally screwed. ( )

Read in 80s. A double book from RE/Search. First exposure to Willeford. ( )

I'm not sure why this was called Wild Wives. There's only a single "wild wife" in the book. Also a somewhat wild teenager. Whatever, this is pure pulp, so don't expect things to make too much sense.

Jacob Blake is a P.I. Florence Weintraub comes to see him to get help in escaping, for a time, from her "father", who is overly controlling. It's not easy, as there are a couple of body guards to avoid. Eventually, there is some success and they go off drinking and stuff together a time or two. Eventually, Jacob learns that Florence is a wife, not a daughter.

Then, there's Barbara Ann Allen (Bobby) who wants to be a P.I. herself, so she tries to get Jacob to give her a job. He gives her a fake one, and she retaliates, calling the police in on him and so forth.

Just pulp, something to while away the time between naps, but actually, half decent pulp.
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Damn, this thing is short. It's one of those pulp novels that were all the rage during the depression - hastily written, cheaply produced. I'm glad I got the opportunity to read one, but I'm really surprised how short it is, not more than 50,000 words.

This one's about a private detective who gets involved with a woman trying to elude the bodyguards her husband's set on her. Meanwhile, there's a subplot about some beatnik chick trying to become his apprentice, and he blows her off sending her on some wild goose chase. Then there's some murder, and some escaping, while he realizes the hot piece of ass he's been hitting is really psycho and unreliable, saying what she wants to get what she wants. She's set him up to think he murdered her husband, when she's really the one who did it. Reminds me a little bit of "McTeague" by Frank Norris.

It's a short read and a bit of history. It's not boring, and it's not spectacular. It's pulp. I recommend it. ( )

Charles Willeford originally published this under the title Until I am Dead and is often paired with [b:High Priest of California|13345117|High Priest of California|Charles Willeford|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519X31LRrnL._SL75_.jpg|16498866]. They bear similarities. In both cases does a man fall under the spell of a demented or wicked woman. Jacob Blake is completely taking in by the “dame” who shows up in his office requesting that he protect her from her bodyguards. Things go from bad to worse as Blake discovers he has been a complete fool. It’s classic noir with the down-trodden P.I. who drinks too much and seems never to get an even break. Very short, quick, read. If you like noir, this is a good example of early Willeford before he started writing the Hoke Mosley series (which is better.)

P.S. You can get these really cheap now for your Kindle. I must admit to liking the more salacious original cover, although I would have covered it with brown paper. Note that the title has absolutely little to do with the story. ( )