tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post8071083553079600482..comments2024-03-11T01:39:11.362-04:00Comments on At the Scene of the Crime: A Challenge to the ReaderPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-45133213196981173872011-12-14T15:49:38.081-05:002011-12-14T15:49:38.081-05:00Just discovered John Dickson Carr this year. Am lo...Just discovered John Dickson Carr this year. Am looking forward to finding and reading all his books!Peggy@Peggy Ann's Posthttp://peggyannspost.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-51207290419604967562011-12-13T07:33:35.954-05:002011-12-13T07:33:35.954-05:00@Bob Houk
I more or less agree. I'm willing to...@Bob Houk<br />I more or less agree. I'm willing to ignore the silliness of the romantic angle somewhat, since I am an unshamed romantic, but at the same time, "silly" is not an adequate adjective...<br /><br />@TomCat<br />I don't think I'd like this trick in any setting. It's just so unreliable unless you happen to be a master at this-or-that, which you're never given reason to believe.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-900137231148590872011-12-13T04:17:05.899-05:002011-12-13T04:17:05.899-05:00Patrick, mea culpa, mea culpa! I read your review ...Patrick, mea culpa, mea culpa! I read your review too hastily, but I was curious since the poisoning trick from this book is suppose to be identical to an impossible crime plot from another novel I like and there the trick was handled reasonable well.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-5940135897855625962011-12-12T16:05:05.769-05:002011-12-12T16:05:05.769-05:00I read this first in an abridged paperback, then y...I read this first in an abridged paperback, then years later in the original form. This is a case where the abridgement is far superior.<br /><br />>> The story of their separation and the way they reunite is just silly.<br /><br />The 'reunite' part is well beyond silly.<br /><br />That said, I very much like this book. The nine footnotes blew me away when I first read it. He knew exactly what false idea he had planted in my head at each point in the book.Bob Houkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16982822149146722008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-14384754411399805122011-12-12T06:44:42.114-05:002011-12-12T06:44:42.114-05:00@Les
I think we're more or less in agreement h...@Les<br />I think we're more or less in agreement here. I've checked my abridged edition (for I have one sitting on my shelf) and Bill crosses the threshhold into Gay's house in Chapter 10. As soon as that happens, you step into a bizarre alternate dimension of sorts that makes everything worthwhile.<br /><br />@TomCat<br />Yes, there's a supposedly impossible poisoning which I touched briefly upon, but the solution is unworthy of Carr, IMO. It's a very silly solution that doesn't hold much water, so my solution to the problem is just to focus on the other parts of the story. It's Carr's solution too.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-7540590530620012082011-12-12T03:07:33.751-05:002011-12-12T03:07:33.751-05:00Great review, as always, Patrick. This one is amon...Great review, as always, Patrick. This one is among the last of JDC novels that are waiting on the shelves to be read and it's good to know that this late story reflects the grand old JDC we all know and love. <br /><br />You mention that the story lacks a locked room problem, but isn't there suppose to be an impossible poisoning in this one or am I confusing it with another book?TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-499247432649483938.post-78135204338041320412011-12-11T19:37:40.477-05:002011-12-11T19:37:40.477-05:00One of my favorites, Patrick. I was completely tak...One of my favorites, Patrick. I was completely taken in by the plot, yet Carr is scrupulously fair in his clues. And the way he uses his footnotes is incredibly clever. I must admit that I've only read the abridged version - I think. I have a hardback Harper which claims to be a first edition and doesn't say "abridged" but it seems to match up with a Carroll & Graf paperback. Bill gets to Gay's house in Chapter 10, I believe, in both editions. You're right, however - the last 2/3 is remarkably tight and well put together. And those answers...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com