A Piece of Ground by Helen Nielsen

Originally published 1957 in Manhunt; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

M (not recommended 15 years and under, no legal restriction)

(D, V)

Drug Use {G} {alcohol}

Violence {M}

Representations

Gender:

One woman as major character, implicitly presumed sex worker by the male lead; malevolent manipulator along with her partner in crime. Off-screen, the patient, hopeful wife.

Sex:

Heterosexuality only.

Race & Ethnicity:

Unmarked presumed white US only.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

No mention

Awards

None found

Notes

Dreaded doing this one because I remembered it being so depressing the first time around. Makes me feel sick with upset for the protagonist being so taken advantage of.