I've wanted to see the classic 1964 film starring Kim Stanley and Richard Attenborough based on this novel for many years. Better than that, I thought when I found a paperback copy - read the original book. Written by Australian author Mark McShane in 1961, it still holds up as startling and chilling.
"When he'd put forward the idea of a kidnapping, he hadn't been serious and had expected a laugh. Myra hadn't laughed; and here he was, three weeks later, not laughing either."
Myra Savage has always had mild telepathic abilities, and feels that if she could just get publicity, she could move up the echelon of psychic readers, move beyond holding weekly seances in her London townhouse for gullible housewives. With her husband Bill, they concoct The Plan - simply kidnap the young daughter of a wealthy couple and hold her for ransom just a few days. Myra would present herself to the family and police with a 'vision' of where the girl can be found, including the ransom money, and her powers will be written up in the newspapers, her success assured and the name of Myra Savage would be pronounced with awe. That suspicion may fall on an innocent man or someone may be killed is a small price to pay for great reward.
This short novel is tight and intense, as The Plan is enacted. Bill captures the girl which they keep in a sealed room of their house; Myra meets with the sceptical family. With minor setbacks, everything goes to plan until the last 15 pages when the father shows up and asks Myra to perform an afternoon seance. This is a terrific read, a classic that is still original after all these years.
Attenborough won the BAFTA for the film, and Kim Stanley was nominated for an Oscar (not making another film until Frances in 1982, again, nominated for an Oscar). The concept was made into a Japanese horror film called Seance in 2000, and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) recreated it as an Opera premiering in 2009. It's a terrific story that could be remade as a film today - although all three incarnations have changed the ending of the book, which is simple, pure, and perfect.
Highly recommended.
1961 / Paperback / 128 pages
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