Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
Excellent -- A Definite No Miss
When smalltime insurance salesman Walter Huff meets seductive Phyllis
Nirdlinger, the wife of one of his wealthy clients, it takes him only minutes
to determine that she wants to get rid of her husband--and not much
longer to decide to help her do it. Walter knows that accident insurance
pays double indemnity on railroad mishaps, so he and Phyllis plot
frantically to get Nirdlinger on--and off--a train without arousing the
suspicions of the police, the insurance company, Nirdlingers dishy
daughter, her mysterious boyfriend, or Nirdlinger himself. This brief but
complex novel is a perfect example of the ordinary-guy-gone-disastrously-
wrong story that Cain always pulls off brilliantly.
Personal Review: Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
Maturation of James Cain's writing between "The Postman Always Rings
Twice" to publication of "Double Indemnity" is obvious. To this reader,
"Double Indemnity" is richer in text, more completely written, and truly
incorporates a more deceitful and thoughtful murder(s).

"I know it's not true. I tell myself it's not true. But there's something in me. I
don't know what. Maybe I'm crazy. But there's something in me that loves
Death. I think of myself as Death, sometimes in a scarlet shroud. . .it
doesn't seem terrible. It seems as though I'm doing something . . . Do you
understand me, Walter?" Walter Neff, our protagonist narrator easily
responds, "No."
By the book's end, in the last 15 pages, we learn a great deal about the
meaning behind every word of every sentence of that paragraph. This
paragraph explains Mrs. Phyllis Nirdlinger to us.
Like "Postman", the wife - Mrs. Nirdlinger - in this book is younger than
her husband, she is pretty, came from Iowa and moved to then edenistic
California. And, like "Postman", the protagonist is a gun for her to hire.
Unlike "Postman", the woman is a black beauty incarnate. Walter does not
know what to think of her. As he matures and learns more about her, the
more he becomes perplexed. "I loved her like a rabbit loves a rattlesnake."
Eventually, like "Postman" each enters a "Prizzi's Honor" code of conduct -
do unto the other as you would never allow the other to do unto you.
Walter sets up a trap of the widow Nirdlinger, he thoughtfully sets her up
for the kill and discovers, "I wasn't the only one that figured the world
wasn't big enough for two people . . . I had come there to kill her, but . . . "
The next 10-15 pages outline who that woman is, where she has been and
what she has done. Walter understandably acknowledges having been
used, fesses up to his conduct and expects to be escorted to the electric
chair. But like "Postman" the insurance company acquits evil - not with
perjury, but in a manner as artful as the trial in "Postman." And, then. . .
Cain delivers an ending which deciphers the second paragraph of this
review - at that time we and Walter now can respond to her question in the
affirmative. Oh, what a great ending.
Having read this book back-to-back with "Postman", each twists the plot
like an all star mystery, but the more thorough and intellectual approach to
murder described in this novel enticed this reader. And, the writing is more
mature - not just dialogue as done in "Postman." Each is fun, each is great.
I would never hesitate to recommend this book to anyone looking for a
good mystery to read.
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