The Black Angel (novel)

The Black Angel is a crime fiction novel written by Cornell Woolrich, published in 1943 under the pen name William Irish. It is considered a classic example of noir fiction and is characterized by its dark, suspenseful atmosphere, themes of guilt, mistaken identity, and obsessive pursuit of justice.

The story revolves around Alberta "Kirk" Murray, a woman desperately trying to clear her husband, Kirk, who has been wrongly accused of the murder of his former mistress, a nightclub singer named Mavis Marlowe. Kirk, an alcoholic and consumed by self-pity, is incapable of helping himself, forcing Alberta to take matters into her own hands.

Alberta embarks on a relentless quest to find the real killer, delving into the seedy underbelly of New York City nightlife. Her investigation leads her to a cast of morally ambiguous characters, each with their own secrets and potential motives. She is aided by Martin Blair, Mavis Marlowe's estranged husband, who is deaf and mute. Together, they navigate a treacherous path, facing constant danger and despair as they attempt to uncover the truth.

The novel is notable for its claustrophobic atmosphere, unreliable narration, and exploration of psychological themes. Woolrich masterfully uses suspense and paranoia to create a sense of unease and dread. The ending, while providing a resolution to the mystery, is often considered bleak and ambiguous, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of the characters' fractured lives. The Black Angel has been adapted into a film noir of the same name in 1946.