Different definitions of feminism may be at play here, Dan. But it appears that WHISPERING FOOTSTEPS follows the older mystery novel paradigm of having a “good girl” and a “bad girl,” which means that it has one foot in each camp when it comes to the noirs made during wartime.

“Interesting” is a sloppy word; Weinman would’ve been better served with a description that shows how Blair’s character leads us in the direction of Vera in DETOUR without approaching that incredible level of extremity. If Blair’s character had merely been shunned (run out of town instead of murdered), that would constitute a very credible backstory for Vera, both temporally and psychologically.