SINFUL WOMAN. (1947). James M. Cain. **1/2.Cain is mostly remembered as a writer based on his books that were turned into films, but he did publish several shorter works – typically ignored by critics because they were issued in paperback format. It’s probably better that way. This short work – about 110 pages – was a paperback original, though lacking the typical lurid cover. It’s the story of Sylvia Shoreham, a woman we meet in Reno, where she is waiting out a divorce. There was no love lost between her husband and her, and when he turns up dead, she becomes the main suspect. It’s a twisted plot, and a confusing one. I think that Cain got lost several places in the book. He tried to fix it all, but was only moderately effective. There are some good sections, especially his character descriptions, but forget his plot line. You will try and work it all out, but there are big holes in it. If you are a Cain freak, you will probably want to read this anyway, but – remember – you’ve been warned.
