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ichirofakename's review against another edition
1.0
No idea how he got so many mysteries published. Pedestrian and way over-real-detailed. Takes place in The Tower in London.
jimmypat's review against another edition
4.0
The second Gideon Fell mystery is quite a bit better than the first in the series. Highly complex, but very accessible, with lots of twists and turns. And, the interrogation scene with the valet was absolutely hilarious - I couldn't stop laughing. Delightful.
bmip666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
greenrequiem's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Misogyny
ashleylm's review against another edition
3.0
Started well, then gradually lost me. Compared to his first book (which I read first), this is much more fun. But he has a habit that irks me (in both books). He has a police detective, but this detective seems to think the way you solve crimes is to hang out with your amateur detective buddy, plus one or two other random friends, and interview suspects, attend crime scenes, etc. It's just ludicrous. Miss Marple's police cronies might consult her, but they never dragged her around with them or had her hang out while the interviews went on.
At one point one of the amateurs, with the police's blessing, pretends to be the police. And without giving too much away, characters continue to die (needlessly) because of their blasé attitude toward detection, and I can't stand it.
On the plus side: inventive, fresh plots, not too too serious. Also, it feels quite modern, really (it's 1933 but I would have thought late 40s early 50s). But the detetive(s) rub me so completely the wrong way, I think I have to back away from Mr. Carr's oeuvre now.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
At one point one of the amateurs, with the police's blessing, pretends to be the police. And without giving too much away, characters continue to die (needlessly) because of their blasé attitude toward detection, and I can't stand it.
On the plus side: inventive, fresh plots, not too too serious. Also, it feels quite modern, really (it's 1933 but I would have thought late 40s early 50s). But the detetive(s) rub me so completely the wrong way, I think I have to back away from Mr. Carr's oeuvre now.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
jbleyle63's review against another edition
3.0
Though I've read and enjoyed several of Carr's short stories, this was my first foray into one of his Golden Age novels featuring Dr. Gideon Fell. Plotting and Tower of London setting are the strengths in this one. Fell is an entertaining and memorable character with the "larger than life" qualities of his real life model G.K. Chesterton. Kudos to Otto Penzler and the American Mystery Classics team for another well done reissue from the Golden Age of mystery!
jrenee's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
robinwalter's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
boring, dull, slow to get going and frankly tedious. Ellery Queen did a top hat murder better