It is 1896. Christopher 'Kit' Farrell arrives in London after years in the US where working as a newspaper-reporter, he had covered the civil war. His destination is Hotel Langham where he is supposed to meet old chum, Nigel Seagrave. Seagrave, an explorer, had been given up for dead in Africa soon after his marriage … Continue reading Halloween Horror: The Hungry Goblin by John Dickson Carr (1972)
Tag: John Dickson Carr
Last Read of 2020: The Man Who Could Not Shudder by John Dickson Carr (1940)
But most of all you were conscious of the atmosphere you breathed: an odor peculiar to such houses. The story begins, as they often do, in a bar. The story is about a haunted house, up for sale. More than a decade back, an octogenarian butler had leapt up at a chandelier, which fell off … Continue reading Last Read of 2020: The Man Who Could Not Shudder by John Dickson Carr (1940)
Two Books by John Dickson Carr: It Walks by Night (1930) and The Mad Hatter Mystery (1933)
Sometimes you read books which are so popular and talked about that it is difficult to write anything on them. In the past couple of months I read two of Carr's novels: His debut, It Walks by Night featuring his (not-so-popular) series character Henri Bencolin, and The Mad Hatter Mystery, the second in his Dr. … Continue reading Two Books by John Dickson Carr: It Walks by Night (1930) and The Mad Hatter Mystery (1933)
Slavery and Satanism: John Dickson Carr’s Papa La-Bas (1968)
The thing that stuck me forcefully after finishing John Dickson Carr's Papa La-Bas was how politically incorrect it was: Black people are frequently sold, they are lost or won in games of poker; Women of mixed race are taken up as unacknowledged wives by the highest bidding White man; Men are free to spank their … Continue reading Slavery and Satanism: John Dickson Carr’s Papa La-Bas (1968)
Hag’s Nook by John Dickson Carr
Hag's Nook by John Dickson CarrMy rating: 3 of 5 stars The first Dr. Fell. An atmospheric tale with a decent mystery. However, it also revealed to me the problems that I have with Carr. Except for The Burning Court, which I loved, and He Who Whispers, which I hated, I find it difficult to … Continue reading Hag’s Nook by John Dickson Carr
Forgotten Book: The Third Bullet and Other Stories by J.D. Carr
Since my new-found admiration for John Dickson Carr, I have been trying to read as many of his books as possible. Unfortunately, the library that I frequent has only a few of his books. Recently, I borrowed Carr's short story collection The Third Bullet and Other Stories.The title story is actually a novella. Justice Mortlake … Continue reading Forgotten Book: The Third Bullet and Other Stories by J.D. Carr
Forgotten Books: The Burning Court and The Black Spectacles by John Dickson Carr
You know how it is: You read about a book somewhere, it might be just a passing reference and not a full-fledged review but it intrigues you so much that you want to read the book. So it was that I read a line from The Burning Court @ Classic Mystery Hunt ...and I simply … Continue reading Forgotten Books: The Burning Court and The Black Spectacles by John Dickson Carr
For the fans of John Dickson Carr
I have read only three books of John Dickson Carr till date. The high-on-expectations-low-on-delivery The Three Coffins, and He Who Whispers, and the rollickingly-funny-madcap-of-a-mystery The Eight of Swords. However, there are many books of his that I want to read esp. the enigmatically titled The Reader is Warned which he wrote under the pseudonym of Carter … Continue reading For the fans of John Dickson Carr
Crime Fiction Pick of June
Crime Fiction Pick of the Month is a monthly meme hosted @ Mysteries in Paradise where one cites one's favourite crime read(s) of that particular month. Well, my vote goes to John Dickson Carr's The Eight of Swords which not only has a decent mystery but plenty of humour too.
E is for Eight of Swords by John Dickson Carr
Chief Inspector Hadley reaches his office in a content state of mind. About to retire in a month's time, his thoughts are on the book that he is writing chronicling his experiences in the Police force. A call from his superior soon takes away his cheer, however. A Vicar, it seems had gone visiting a … Continue reading E is for Eight of Swords by John Dickson Carr