Hillary Waugh (1920–2008)

The good and the bad. Just finished Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh. One of the first police procedurals. Well written, good plot, very realistic. A solid four stars. So what's the bad part? This was an edition by Poisoned Pen Pres and part of the Library of Congress Crime Classics Series. The series "reproduces the original text, reproduced faithfully from an early edition in the Library's collections and complete with strange spellings and unorthodox punctuation. Also included are a contextual introduction, a brief biography of the author, notes and recommendations for further reading...."

It's the faithfully reproduced part that gives me grief, because of the notes. The original text did not include asterisks and footnotes explaining any and every reference to things that younger readers might not be aware of, even word definitions. Example: first chapter begins with the date - Friday, March 3, 1950* The footnote explains who the President of the US was at the time, that the Korean War would start in three months, that President Truman had sent 'advisors' to Vietnam, that women had returned to the homemaker role following WWII, the cost of an average home (whatever average was because it's not spelled out), the median average income, the cost of a television set and that the first credit cards were issued. That's all interesting stuff and appropriate as they state their purpose is "to start conversations, inspire further research and bring obscure works to a new generation of readers." There's even as asterisk and footnote following the word Kleenex, informing us that Kleenex was trademarked in 1924. I guess that's for the person who questions if Kleenex was around in 1950.

But for the person who wishes to read an early classic and enjoy the plot, the atmosphere, and the writing, all this is very distracting. My reading eye was frequently diverted once or twice per page and twice as often as four times on one page. Writing advice keeps saying, "don't divert the reader." So I have decided this series is for people who want to make a study of the history mystery genre and its classics, it is not for the person who wants to enjoy a mystery by one of the best.

From now on, I will remember to pass editions in this series by and search for old editions with tired and worn covers.… (mehr)

When an eighteen year-old college student disappears after morning classes, her friends check all the logical places like the infirmary, hospitals, without finding any sign of her. She has just disappeared. What follows is a detailed account of the police investigation, said to be the first police procedural novel.

Waugh's book was published back in 1952 when attitudes generally were different from today. For example, the police interrogated a young woman who had done absolutely nothing wrong, apart from not being able to give the information they wanted about a suspect. Their opinions of women were abysmal, although to some degree, accurate. I disliked all of the detectives who had zero sympathy for the missing girl or her father (who was also unlikeable). None of the female characters were developed: wives who serve cocktails and go back to their kitchens, the mother with barely a line. Acceptable only because it's expected of the era. If the reader can overlook the dated style they will find it to be a gripping suspense novel, hard to put down.… (mehr)

This edition with the introduction and notes by Leslie S. Klinger is certainly valuable for those reading Hillary Waugh for the first time. Being at that "certain age", I had to laugh at some of the footnotes explaining a 1950s-type situation. Well acquainted with them....

Indeed as a police procedural, and the first of its kind according to many, the reader is taken through the whole investigation: more than just interesting. However, I think that as a reader you have to have patience. But each page of information builds on the preceding information so you are always in the know. Good story.

This is the first of many police procedurals by Hillary Waugh. Two years later in 1954, Waugh published "A Rag and A Bone", also worth reading.… (mehr)

Last Seen Wearing by Hilary Waugh was originally published in 1952 and is recognized as one of the first police procedurals with it’s detailed, down-to-earth style of narrative and it’s factual straight forward handling of the investigation by police who are looking into the disappearance of a young college girl. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and heartily approve of it’s listing on H. R. F. Keatings List of 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books.

The book unfolds like an actual police investigation. The story is riveting, the characters believable, and for me, the book offered an added bonus of showing how college students lived, police work proceeded and newspaper reporters operated in the early 1950s.

Last Seen Wearing is the first book I have read by this author, but I will certainly be checking out the second hand stores and other locations for more by Hilary Waugh.… (mehr)