The Pyx

When heroin-addicted call girl Elizabeth Lucy dies in a fall from a swanky penthouse terrace, homicide detective Henderson is assigned to the case. Was it murder? Suicide? Through his investigation, Henderson uncovers a frightening underworld that is far more dark and dangerous than those of prostitution and the drug trade. But more than anything, this is Elizabeth’s story. Told through flashbacks and those who knew her, a life unfolds that ends with a struggle unlike any other. A masterful debut, The Pyx has earned considerable praise in Canada and abroad. It served as the basis of the feature film of the same name starring Karen Black and Christopher Plummer. The Pyx was first published by in 1959 and for three decades has enjoyed numerous translations and editions before going out of print in the early ‘90s. This Ricochet Books edition marks the first in a quarter-century.

John Buell was a native and lifelong resident of Montreal. His five novels were lauded by Edmund Wilson amongst other prominent critics. Three of Buell’s novels have been made into feature films. Sean Kelly was one of John Buell’s students. Originally from Montreal, he is a former editor at National Lampoon, and is the co-author of more than a dozen books. His television work includes The Magic School Bus, Shining Time Station (and Between the Lions). Kelly lives in Brooklyn and teaches at the Pratt Institute.