A kiss before dying

Innledning
I recently finished reading the crime fiction novel A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin, a well-known author who has also penned other popular works such as Rosemary's Baby and The Boys From Brazil.

Without further ado, let me provide you with a brief synopsis of what the book entails.

Innholdsfortegnelse
Summary
The main characters

Utdrag
Dorothy and Bud were a happy couple attending Stoddard College in Blue River. Their relationship was going well until they faced a major obstacle: Dorothy discovered she was pregnant.

Bud was not ready to become a father as it would mean dropping out of school and finding a job, something he was not willing to do.

He suggested that Dorothy take pills to terminate the pregnancy, promising to marry her if they did not work (which Dorothy was excited about). However, the pills proved ineffective, and Bud realized the gravity of the situation.

Dorothy and Bud were a happy couple attending Stoddard College in Blue River until a sudden problem arises: Dorothy is pregnant. Bud is not ready for the responsibilities of a baby and convinces Dorothy to take pills that will terminate the pregnancy.

He promises to marry her if the pills don't work, but they fail to have an effect. Bud realizes that he will not get his desired education and will not receive any financial support from Dorothy's wealthy father, who is not in favor of their marriage.

He decides that the only way out is to kill her. After extensive planning, his plan falls apart and he is forced to improvise as the wedding day approaches.

On the day of the wedding, he cleverly pushes Dorothy off a tall building, making it look like a suicide. Unfortunately, Dorothy dies and his plan to marry her for her money is ruined.

After the tragedy of Dorothy's death, Bud transfers to Caldwell and starts dating Ellen, Dorothy's older sister, though this fact is only revealed later in the book.

Ellen can't shake off her suspicion that her sister's supposed suicide was actually a murder, and she sets out to uncover the truth by travelling to Blue River and conducting her own investigation.