Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

First published in serial form in Liberty magazine in 1936 before the novelization was released in 1943, Double Indemnity offers a razor-sharp exploration of guilt and deception. It solidified James M. Cain, along with Raymond Chandler, as pivotal figures in ushering in the noir genre.

Walter Huff, an insurance agent, falls for the married Phyllis Nirdlinger and becomes ensnared in her plan to murder her husband for insurance money. As they plot and execute the murder, they face suspicion from Huff's company, leading to dire consequences.

“Maybe I’m crazy. But there’s something in me that loves Death. I think of myself as Death sometimes. In a scarlet shroud, floating through the night.”

Having watched the film adaptation multiple times, I really have to give it to the filmmakers for their brilliant work, despite the constraints of the Hays Code. Remarkably, there are very few significant differences in tone and execution between the film and the novel. However, the novel boasts a more dramatic ending and addresses certain character nuances more directly and succinctly.

A dark thriller told with the detached and cynical narrative style, along with sharp, crackling dialogue that has become synonymous with the genre, Double Indemnity is paced at a speedy clip with a steady hand on the taut rope of the narrative.

Audiobook, as narrated by James Naughton: I was unsure how good a performance could be granted this classic noir, but Naughton really leaned into his acting chops here. His tone is perfect, as is his steady delivery that is laced with the right balance of reluctance and unapologetic self-acceptance, perfectly suited for Huff's story.