Detour (novel)

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Detour is a 1939 novel by Martin M. Goldsmith. The author adapted his novel into the noted film noir cult film of the same name.

The book, subtitled "An Extraordinary Tale," was published by the Macaulay Company. Its plot is similar to the movie to which it was later adopted, except that the main character's name was changed from "Alexander Roth" to "Al Roberts," and erotic passages were removed.

The novel ends with much the same fatalistic line used in the movie: "God or Fate or some mysterious force can put the finger on you or on me for no good reason at all." In the film version of the novel, the reference to God is removed.

The move "Detour" has achieved considerable acclaim, despite its low budget, as a defining movie of the film noir era. However, the novel, long out of print, did not have the same fate.

It was reprinted by O'Bryan House Publishers LLC in October 1, 2005.