You Live Once (also published as You Kill Me) begins with a classic crime fiction motif of the protagonist, Clint Sewell, waking up to find a beautiful corpse in his closet. All the evidence points to his guilt so much so that Sewell does the logical thing and compounds the evidence of his consciousness of guilt by disposing of the corpse. MacDonald does a couple of things that stand out here. First, he gives Sewell a great narrative voice and makes his entire line of reasoning and body disposal (which ought to be left to professionals) almost humorous. Second, he complicates the matter by making the dead society Girl the mistress of Sewell’s corporate boss and Sewell’s dating her a cover up for the real affair. Moreover, Sewell is bewitched by Mary and wants to really date her. Sewell himself is a bit of a lecher and makes passes at his secretary and spends his mornings staring at her blouse. Third, there’s a bit of corporate intrigue here with Sewell’s boss Dodd being a backstabbing son of a bitch. Mary confides at one point to Sewell that if he were more of a son of a bitch she might go for him. It’s a fast-moving plot with not a great many characters or backstories. Much of it about Sewell trying to clear his name and unmasking the real killer. It’s a fast-moving plot with not a great many characters or backstories. Much of it about Sewell trying to clear his name and unmasking the real killer.
Pulp, Crime, & Mystery Books 