“Don’t look now,” John said to his wife, “but there are a couple of old girls two tables away who are trying to hypnotise me.” (pg 1)
In DuMaurier’s novella, Don’t Look Now, Venice is an eerie place, a bewildering maze, a place of confusing bridges and canals. John and his wife Laura are on vacation in the city trying to recover from the death of their young daughter, when they meet elderly twin sisters, one of whom is blind and claims to be psychic. Most of the story centers on John, who is dismissive of the psychic’s claim to see their daughter with them. But then mysterious events start to occur and I at least was wondering if John was going nuts or really saw what he thought he did – his wife alone in the town with the sisters, a child in need of help. To top it off, there’s a killer loose in Venice.
In all honesty, I started to read this before bed one night and decided to put it off until I could read it during the day. It’s not scary, but creepy. The atmosphere is oppressive and the feeling of danger is palpable, even if you can’t quite put your finger on what’s going to happen. The end is shocking but inevitable at the same time.
It’s a mesmerizing story, full of suspense and the nagging notion that reality is not as stable as we think.
4½ out of 5 stars
Venice in February is hosted by Snow Feathers and Dolce Bellezza.
Category: Novella
First published 1971
54 pages
Book Source: Library
DuMaurier is on my list of authors I want to try. I do enjoy creepy from time to time and will keep this one in mind.
It sounds really good…I have not read one of her books in ages.
Gosh you have changed your look I suppose it was ages ago but as you know I have been away and although keeping up sort of via Google reader I have not called by for ages. It looks great I must find a new way of keeping in touch with GFC going for you soon. You have been reading lots of books with an Italian theme recently as well I see. I have so much catching up to do and a few titles such as this one to look out for.
Wow, a lot of changes on your blog! Sometimes I like creepy novellas, thanks for featuring this one!
After reading Rebecca and The Doll, I think I really want this one just based off your review. I will have to get that one.
It’s been so long since I’ve read Rebecca I can’t even compare how the two feel. The book I had had several other stories in it, but this is the only one I read.
This was a very unsettling read – I still remember the last scene vividly. I’ve been trying to get my hands on a copy of the movie, which is supposed to be very good as well.
I haven’t seen the movie – not sure if I want to actually.
Sounds like a great short read. I feel like I’m the only one left who hasn’t read DuMaurier yet. I really should!
I love your ending thought, that ‘reality is not as stable as we think it is”. No one can mess with my sense of reality like Daphne du Maurier. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, much more than McEwan’s The Comfort of Strangers which was similar. But, not.
Always loved Du Maurier – haven’t read any in years – perhaps I should start again…
This is the first I’ve read by her in ages, probably since I read all the paperbacks you had downstairs.
Not sure how I missed this post. I’ve got Don’t Look Now on hold at the library, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get to it this month.
Yeah, I’m running out of month.