The way you write about John Dickson Carr reminds me of how a few people have written about Patrick O'Brian. So much to read, but your life is blessed by reading "Master and Commander" and the many sequels.
Feb 18, 2022·edited Feb 18, 2022Liked by Ted Gioia
I came up with one a while back. A person who attaches a razor blade to a balloon with a piece of string... Cuts his throat, drops the razor and the evidence floats out the window. Leaving the person who discovers the body the prime suspect.
I've been a fan of John Dickson Carr for about 40 years. Having read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I got into Carr via "The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes", which he co-wrote with Adrian Conan Doyle (son of Sir Arthur), and from there into the Dr Gideon Fell novels. (But I've never been drawn by the Sir Henry Merrivale books, for some reason.)
I'm also a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian, who's mentioned elsewhere in the comments. I'm not sure that there's really much of a correspondence between O'Brian and Carr, other than how compulsively, and comfortingly, readable they can be.
I suspect you've been asked this multiple times, but if you were to craft a locked door murder that was realistic, what would the solution be. I mean, for example, it does make some sense that a prisoner with cancer that was facing life in a frigid prison might use an icicle to cut his carotid. Oh, because I almost never check Substack, I'd appreciate your emailing me your response to mnemko@comcast.net
Here is a recent contribution to the genre: https://tinyurl.com/GeneWeingartenLockedRoom
Thanks Ted, you're sending me directly to read some John Dickinson Carr!
I became a contributor because of this writing. Interesting on what becomes someone’s tipping point
The way you write about John Dickson Carr reminds me of how a few people have written about Patrick O'Brian. So much to read, but your life is blessed by reading "Master and Commander" and the many sequels.
Ooh. Very keen to read some of these recommendations. I know you don't watch a lot of TV, but you NEED to watch Jonathan Creek if you haven't.
Thank you Ted for bringing this murder mystery to light. John Dickson Carr mysteries are next on my reading agenda.
I laughed as the mysteries unfolded, and continued laughing until my breakfast digested.
I once owned a used bookstore cailed Trader John’s in Hollywood. Kept mysteries. Found “Death Watch”. Will read him and see
Correction suggestion: the pen-name for The Peacock Feather Murders is Carter Dickson.
Have you read Umineko When They Cry? It is quite an interesting take on the genre.
I came up with one a while back. A person who attaches a razor blade to a balloon with a piece of string... Cuts his throat, drops the razor and the evidence floats out the window. Leaving the person who discovers the body the prime suspect.
I've been a fan of John Dickson Carr for about 40 years. Having read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I got into Carr via "The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes", which he co-wrote with Adrian Conan Doyle (son of Sir Arthur), and from there into the Dr Gideon Fell novels. (But I've never been drawn by the Sir Henry Merrivale books, for some reason.)
I'm also a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian, who's mentioned elsewhere in the comments. I'm not sure that there's really much of a correspondence between O'Brian and Carr, other than how compulsively, and comfortingly, readable they can be.
Love John Dickson Carr (also as Carter Dickson). Never could understand why he wasn't up there with Agatha Christie etc.
I suspect you've been asked this multiple times, but if you were to craft a locked door murder that was realistic, what would the solution be. I mean, for example, it does make some sense that a prisoner with cancer that was facing life in a frigid prison might use an icicle to cut his carotid. Oh, because I almost never check Substack, I'd appreciate your emailing me your response to mnemko@comcast.net