A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin Ira Levin was twenty-two years old when he wrote his first novel, the award-winning thriller “A Kiss Before Dying”. He was twenty-five years old when, fresh from military service, he wrote his first play; the highly successful adaptation of Mac Hyman's “No Time for Sergeants.” In subsequent years he continued to work on both sides of the literary road. His plays include the hit comedy “Critic's Choice,” the musical “Drat!”, “Cat!” and the thriller “Veronica's Room”.