By James Cain
Frank Chambers is a young drifter who comes into the lives of a couple who run a diner. The couple are a Greek man, Nick, and his beautiful wife, Cora.
Frank and Cora begin an affair and resolve to get rid of Nick so they can be together.
The first attempt fails but for the second the stage a drunken car crash where Nick dies and Frank is badly injured.
The two end up in court and end up turning on each other. Thanks to a clever and corrupt defence lawyer they get away with it and receive $10,000 in an insurance payout and the diner.
However, Frank wants to move on but Cora wants to keep the diner.
They argue but get back together when Cora gets pregnant only for Cora to die in another car accident. Nick is prosecuted for deliberately murdering her to get all the money and the diner. The book ends with Frank on death row.
