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michelleful's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't a fan. It felt so over-dramatized. I didn’t get what Carr was going for in making Bencolin feel so Mephistophelian. In the end he was never horribly cruel, just doing his job. I did enjoy some of the use of language and the sardonic humour like “Is this room ever used for any purpose other than assassinating guests?”
Plot-wise, while I managed to predict some of the more obvious aspects of the plot like (For one thing my Kindle edition had no diagram of the scene.) But more generally,
My edition by British Library Crime Classics had a short story also by JDC afterwards, "The Shadow of the Goat", which was better. I think locked room mysteries are hard to sustain over the course of a novel, whereas a short story that reveals the trick quickly is just simpler to believe.
Plot-wise, while I managed to predict some of the more obvious aspects of the plot like
Spoiler
the switcheroo in husbands and the fact that the murder took place before the time imagined, I felt like the solution to the locked-room aspect wasn’t fair.Spoiler
if it was so easy to just walk out without detection, why was it ever considered such an impossible crime?My edition by British Library Crime Classics had a short story also by JDC afterwards, "The Shadow of the Goat", which was better. I think locked room mysteries are hard to sustain over the course of a novel, whereas a short story that reveals the trick quickly is just simpler to believe.
obione_tdg's review against another edition
3.0
Carr mi era stato presentato come il non plus ultra del giallo classico, con situazioni e architetture del mistero imbattibili ma sempre logiche e plausibili. Nella descrizione della scena del crimine questo in effetti si nota. Il resto della vicenda naviga tra dialoghi non molto interessanti, e una risoluzione invece interessante ma non spettacolare, e con relativamente pochi (quantitativamente, non certo qualitativamente) elementi polizieschi.
Forse Carr migliora nei suoi romanzi successivi?
Forse Carr migliora nei suoi romanzi successivi?
annarella's review
4.0
I read a lot of Dickinson Carr's mysteries but not this one.
Even if it shows its age sometimes its a gripping and entertaining read, well written and with a solid and complex mystery.
It was a good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Even if it shows its age sometimes its a gripping and entertaining read, well written and with a solid and complex mystery.
It was a good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
melissadeemcdaniel's review
3.0
This pair of early mysteries by John Dickson Carr have the trademark smoke-wreathed atmosphere of the early Golden Age. Although they show their age in the somewhat overwrought language and gesticulations of the characters, they are complicated and engrossing examples of Carr’s work. The reader can walk at Detective Bencolin’s side as he investigates these “impossible” mysteries.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
pvn's review
4.0
This is pretty good but is written in a "old" style that may turn off some readers. Otherwise a pretty interesting plot and a good detective character to go with it. Recommended for Golden Age mystery fans. 3.5 stars.
I really appreciate the review copy!!
I really appreciate the review copy!!
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