Ray Bradbury tells a creepy detective story of murder and lost hope in Death is a Lonely Business.

A young writer with an overly active imagination riding in an old railcar becomes aware of a man sitting behind him who whispers, “Death is a lonely business.” The young man is afraid to turn around, afraid to look at the man, and when he finally does, the man is not there. Walking home he discovers a body in a partially submerged circus cage in a Venice canal. Murder follows murder as the young writer becomes increasingly fearful for his friend’s lives and ultimately his own.

The Setting

Venice California is shrouded in fog and falling apart in the 1950's. The roller coaster is dismantled, the cinema is abandoned, and the circus cages are partially submerged in one of the canals. The atmosphere is so well developed in this tale it is almost a character in it’s own right.

The Characters

Written in the first person, Death is a Lonely Business takes you deep into the mind and imagination of a young writer, known as “the Crazy” who stumbles through the story uncovering murder after murder. Elmo Crumly, the crusty old detective, starts listening to the writer’s wild conclusions and begins to believe him, if only a little. Constance Rattigan is a reclusive and eccentric movie star and a mystery in her own right. Blind Henry may be blind, but he knows what the murderer smells like. Fannie is a singer with an enormous voice and the body to match. She couldn’t leave her apartment if she wanted to and the murderer seems to know this.

The Story

The young writer discovers a body and thus begins his quest to find the killer. The troubling thing is he seems to be leading the killer to the victims, endangering his own friends and putting himself at risk. It becomes a race to find the killer before the killer takes them all out, and in the process the young writer discovers he has plenty of reasons to live and hope.

Conclusion

Ray Bradbury shows his mastery of suspense, characterization, setting, and good, old-fashioned story telling. This story has something for everyone.

Recommended: Yes