Detour

DETOUR By Martin M. Goldsmith (1939) Alexander Roth finds himself drifting across America, caught in a spiral of increasingly dangerous events beyond his control. The narrative follows his journey from New York to Los Angeles as he pursues both his girlfriend and his dreams of becoming a musician. The story alternates between Roth's perspective and that of Sue Harvey, creating a dual narrative that heightens the mounting tension. Their paths intersect in ways that transform both characters' lives and set them on an inevitable collision course with fate. The book served as source material for the acclaimed 1945 film noir adaptation, though significant changes were made for the screen version. While the film gained recognition as a noir classic, the novel itself remained relatively obscure and eventually went out of print. At its core, Detour explores themes of destiny, choice, and the random nature of misfortune that can derail even the most carefully planned life path.

Readers describe Detour as a taut noir crime thriller with a relentless sense of dread. The book has gained attention after inspiring Edgar G. Ulmer's 1945 film adaptation. Readers highlight: - The tight, economical writing style - The suffocating atmosphere - The psychological tension - The depiction of fate and bad luck - How much suspense builds in such a short novel Common criticisms: - Some find it too bleak - A few note the dated elements - The pacing drags in parts - Character motivations can seem unrealistic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (124 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (48 ratings) Notable reader comments: "A masterclass in paranoia and desperation" - Goodreads reviewer "More psychologically complex than the film version" - Amazon reviewer "The writing style perfectly matches the protagonist's mental state" - LibraryThing reviewer

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy A Depression-era story of desperate characters in Los Angeles pursuing dreams while circumstances spiral into darkness.

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain A drifter becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme with fatal consequences while traveling through California.

You Play the Black and the Red Comes Up by Richard Hallas A man's cross-country pursuit of his wife leads to a series of fateful encounters in Depression-era California.

Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Cornell Woolrich A musician becomes enmeshed in events beyond his control as he moves through a web of coincidence and fate.

In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes A man's journey through Los Angeles becomes a descent into darkness as past and present collide.

🎬 The 1945 film adaptation of "Detour" was made on a shoestring budget of only $117,000 but is now considered a noir classic. 📚 Before writing novels, Martin M. Goldsmith worked as a radio scriptwriter, which helped shape his sharp dialogue and tight narrative pacing. 🌟 The book's unique alternating perspective between two characters was highly innovative for its time, predating many modern psychological thrillers. 🚗 The novel's focus on highways and road travel reflected America's growing car culture and the rise of cross-country travel in the 1930s. 🎨 The book's themes of fate and chance heavily influenced later noir fiction, establishing several tropes that became hallmarks of the genre.