This is where it all began: struck by my fellow blogger JJ’s (he of The Invisible Event) love of the impossible crime, I made a vow here to tackle four authors in his honor. John Dickson Carr, the master, is someone with whom I have long been acquainted, and I recently tackled two of his … Continue reading LOCKED ROOM TALES: Norman Berrow, Down Under and Every Which Way
A Meeting of the Criminal Minds: A Joint Review of Alias Basil Willing (1951)
Introduction I’ve been singing the praises of Helen McCloy ever since I discovered her novels last year. I’ve read and reviewed four or five of them and am excited that she wrote 28 novels and a number of short stories, about half of them featuring her series sleuth, New York psychiatrist Dr. Basil Willing. So … Continue reading A Meeting of the Criminal Minds: A Joint Review of Alias Basil Willing (1951)
THE FORGOTTEN GENIUS, or Where Did I Park My Carr?
This month, the Tuesday Night Bloggers are celebrating the career of that master of the impossible, John Dickson Carr. Rather than discuss his technique or analyze one of his novels, I offer this existential ramble for your dubious delight: You know, being a classic mystery lover was much easier when I was a kid. In … Continue reading THE FORGOTTEN GENIUS, or Where Did I Park My Carr?
SO MUCH BLOOD: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
My buddy JJ over at The Invisible Event unfortunately has to go on a short hiatus. I will miss his erudite excursions into mystery fiction, particularly the joy with which he tackles those classic impossible crime stories he so relishes! I thought I would salute JJ with my view on one of Agatha Christie’s rare … Continue reading SO MUCH BLOOD: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
AGATHA CHRISTIE AS FEMINIST: Appointment With Death
In 1926, Agatha Christie’s husband Archie asked her for a divorce, having fallen in love with another woman. Her subsequent actions could be looked on as both revenge and empowerment: first, the famous “disappearance” which led to suspicions that Colonel Christie might have done away with his wife, and then a series of characterizations throughout … Continue reading AGATHA CHRISTIE AS FEMINIST: Appointment With Death
THE QUINTESSENTIAL CARR: He Who Whispers
In a Facebook discussion about John Dickson Carr that was sparked by a posted review of his classic The Three Coffins (which I reviewed myself here last week), author and fellow blogger Curtis Evans from The Passing Tramp described his own experiences with the author. While he had thoroughly enjoyed reading Carr as a young … Continue reading THE QUINTESSENTIAL CARR: He Who Whispers
VINTAGE NOIR: Three Films from 1947
Every month at Past Offences, Rich picks a year and invites bloggers everywhere to celebrate the mystery offerings the particular year produced in literature and film. (Check out the results for 1933 here.) For March, Rich allowed regular contributor Santosh to pick the year just because Santosh solved a mystery Rich had posted. (My answer, … Continue reading VINTAGE NOIR: Three Films from 1947
LOCKED ROOM TALES: The Disciple, Paul Halter
As this baby blogger wanders through the sphere reading the work of others who have honed in on mystery fiction as their specialty, one name that keeps recurring is that of Paul Halter. Author of thirty-nine novels and two short story collections, nearly all of them impossible crime mysteries, he is considered the French John … Continue reading LOCKED ROOM TALES: The Disciple, Paul Halter
LOCKED ROOM TALES: John Dickson Carr, The Master
Forgive me if this post is uncomfortably long and rambling! I admit that I am trying to kill two birds with one stone (something I’m sure one of Carr’s murderers would accomplish in a suitably tricky way!) First, this begins a sporadic series about the locked-room murder, a sub-genre of mystery novel that is admittedly … Continue reading LOCKED ROOM TALES: John Dickson Carr, The Master
A TROPICAL IDYLL: Miss Marple Takes On the Caribbean
“’Do you mean that you’ve had no sexual experience at ALL?’ demanded the young man incredulously. ‘At nineteen? But you must. It’s vital.’ “The girl hung her head unhappily, her straight greasy hair fell forward over her face. “‘I know,’ she muttered. ‘I know.’ “He looked at her, stained old jersey, the bare feet, the … Continue reading A TROPICAL IDYLL: Miss Marple Takes On the Caribbean
Ah Sweet Mystery! 