The Blank Wall

Raymond Chandler once asked his English publisher, 'Does anybody in England publish Elisabeth Sanxay Holding? For my money she's the top suspense writer of them all.'

First published in 1947,  The Blank Wall is a novel which explores both the everyday realities of the American home front – rationing and shortages, writing letters to a husband at war, and managing a household – but also the darker, more unexpected challenges that arise in times of crisis. Lucia Holley, a mother of two in New York with a husband serving in the Navy, finds herself unexpectedly entangled in a web of criminal activity. Fiercely protective of her family, she is forced to navigate deception and danger to protect them and their reputations. 

Elisabeth Sanxay Holding beautifully blends the thriller genre with the domestic, creating a novel that is both gripping and unsettling. The Blank Wall is a masterful exploration of suspense, in which the dangers of war are mirrored by the quiet, yet equally treacherous, perils of home life.

The Blank Wall is not only a compelling suspense novel, but also a striking portrayal of quiet heroism, maternal love and the heroine's relationship with those around her, especially her children and her maid. It is a truly outstanding example of the psychological thriller genre, as well as a highly unusual one due to its female focus.

The Blank Wall was filmed as The Reckless Moment, with James Mason, in 1949 and as The Deep End, starring Tilda Swinton, in 2001.