Bedelia is a sexy, sensitive, emotional fragile female who is good at playing the role of the submissive, doting, perfect housewife in need of protection by a strong man.
Husband beware. There is another side to this attractive damsel in distress.
As her mask slowly slips away, Bedelia is revealed not only as a pathological liar but as a woman who has learned to manipulate men’s expectations of women with deadly efficiency. Bedelia is a complex killer protagonist; instead of driving men to crime and destruction, Bedelia is a hard-boiled murderer herself… (Afterword in Bedelia, p. 204).
Although Bedelia’s bank account increased with each of her husband’s supposedly natural deaths, Caspary is more interested in commenting on the few ways that women at that time (the novel was set in 1913 although Caspary wrote it in 1943) had of getting ahead.
Carol Balawyder 
Talk about a black widow…
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So right, Carrie. The original cover had on it: The Wickedest Woman that Ever Loved.
I hope you’re enjoying your summer and that your mom is well. 🙂
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Thank you. She’s coming along.
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Ooh Carol…loved this.
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Thank you, Shehanne…Appreciate your visit. 🙂
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This is fascinating. Other than the murder, I can’t help but think of my own mother reading this. I am definitely going to have a look at this book and Caspary’s other writings. It makes one think how the author comes up with these types of stories. Great post Carol! 🙂
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Thanks, Debby,
Caspary was really ahead of her time (1940’s) as well as a very successful writer.It’s amazing how her novels, even after all these years, are still being reprinted.
I preferred her novel Laura but this novel, nonetheless, was also very good. Not a thriller but a psychological analysis of a woman with few options open to her.
Have a great Saturday. 🙂
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I enjoy psychological thrillers so I look forward to reading this book at some point. Ahead of her time perhaps, but still an age old trick—manipulation, lol. Happy weekend to you too. 🙂
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Wow! Powerful stuff! I love the idea of such a predatory woman! 😀
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I am familiar with the film LAURA but had no knowledge of the author behind that book and this one. It sounds like a terrific read. Caspary’s character is definitely one men should stay away from!
I see LAURA and a few of her other novels are available on Amazon. Definitely, will start with LAURA.
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John, you’re right about men staying away from women like Bedelia. However, Bedelia did choose very week men to manipulate. Still!!!
If you do order any of Caspary’s books try to get the First Feminist Press Edition because it includes interesting forewords and afterwords.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I gratefully appreciate it. 🙂
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wow – great, informative and productive!
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It’s rare for women to be portrayed in such a predatory way. I imagine this makes interesting reading.
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It is rare, as hilarycustancegreen commented. Margot Kinberg recently wrote a short story portraying a female predator. We tend not to think of women as such evil creatures. Luckily, they exist mostly in fiction.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Rebecca.
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Are there many solo female serial killers? It’s not my field, but I can only think of two in the UK, both of whom were sidekicks to their men. There’s always the Borgia’s and an empress here or there; still I’m struggling.
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Hilary,
I don’t know of any solo female serial killer in real life. They are usually sidekicks to their men.Hard to understand that kind of behaviour.
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It is really fascinating how so many of these characters, created by women, have ended up on the big screen, Carol. Speaking of femme fatales, I saw this true tale on CNN today and thought of you.http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/21/travel/blood-countess-slovakia/
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Countess-Slovakia is truly a monster. How sick to bath in the blood of her victims, and so many as well…
On a more positive note, it is really interesting that these characters ended up on the big screen. And thank God that they are merely fictitious characters.
Thanks, for sharing the CNN video. 🙂
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🙂 She is a true real life femme fatale of the worst kind, I would think.
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Very scary. 🙂
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yikes….one scary “lady” although I love that era and movie genre for the most part. hope your summer is going well Carol. 🙂
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Summer is going much too quickly, Geraldine. I hope yours is going well and glad to see you back here. 🙂
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Great subject to explore for writers — fascinating, really. Husbands beware, indeed.
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Wow! Another great femme fatale. I never heard of either the book or the movie, and now I have to check them both out … Vera Caspary really did write more than Laura. Love Margaret Lockwood.
BTW in the film version of Laura she doesn’t strike me as all that fatale or malevolent, more really a victim, or at least the manipulated rather than the manipulator. Just my two cents’.
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Two cents well received. 🙂
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interesting post, Carol ❤
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So cool that she is all for independence, in her own words! I have enjoyed reading many of your posts, so sorry haven’t commented often… Smiles, Robin
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Don’t worry about not commenting. We all have such busy lives and follow so many other bloggers that sometimes a like is simply enough. 🙂
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