The Seducer By Fletcher Flora - Pulp Fiction Review

          I’ve read some of Fletcher Flora’s short stories in Manhunt magazine, a short story publication that had some great pulp fiction writers like Brett Haliday, Frank Kane, Henry Kane, Ross McDonald, Craig Rice, Howard Masur, and many others. Since her books came on prologue books and amazon, I thought it was a good time to read one of her books. 

            The story started out strong. Professor Bradley Cannon’s student, Maggie, is very attracted to him. She gives him a letter to read at the end of the class, asking him to meet him in his office. As far as the letter is concerned, she said that she isn’t interested in taking the class but wants to stay because she is very attracted to him. Once they were in his office, she even kissed him to prove her affections. 

            What Maggie didn’t know was that the Professor was also having an affair with one of the secretaries in the office. As a result, no affair was actually started with Maggie. 

            In the meantime, Madeline, Cannon’s wife, found out that he was cheating on her with another woman. She warned him to cut off the affair which he did even though he was about to have an affair with Maggie. 

             You could say that there was no mystery to this story. Yes, there was Cannon was in danger of creating a scandal for Peermont College but that didn’t seem to come out. This was just a character driven story that goes through the motions until it reaches its conclusion. 

              I didn’t see any kind of character development between any of the characters other than Cannon. The story may have seemed natural with some surprises but lacked suspense and since there was no mystery in the story, it would seem fair to say that there wasn’t much of a plot as well. 

               I would hope that other Fletcher Flora books would be better than this was. In any case, I can’t give this book more than 2-1/2 stars. 


Ron Hummer