21 Comments
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Ev Clark's avatar

Here is a recent contribution to the genre: https://tinyurl.com/GeneWeingartenLockedRoom

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Howard Mandel's avatar

Thanks Ted, you're sending me directly to read some John Dickinson Carr!

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peter shanahan's avatar

I became a contributor because of this writing. Interesting on what becomes someone’s tipping point

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peter shanahan's avatar

I should add it felt like a review of an Edgar award

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Dennis Ashendorf's avatar

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.

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Ted Gioia's avatar

It's funny you should mention that. I recently bought a copy of Master and Commander, and am planning to read it—just haven't got around to it yet.

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Philip's avatar

I read them in the '80s..still saving The Yellow Admiral just so I know there's one fresh left in the jar...

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yasmin's avatar

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.

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Thor O.'s avatar

Thank you Ted for bringing this murder mystery to light. John Dickson Carr mysteries are next on my reading agenda.

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Suzanne Giuriati's avatar

I laughed as the mysteries unfolded, and continued laughing until my breakfast digested.

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John Martin's avatar

I once owned a used bookstore cailed Trader John’s in Hollywood. Kept mysteries. Found “Death Watch”. Will read him and see

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T L Holaday's avatar

Correction suggestion: the pen-name for The Peacock Feather Murders is Carter Dickson.

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Medna Luka's avatar

Have you read Umineko When They Cry? It is quite an interesting take on the genre.

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My Name is Nick's avatar

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.

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Jon Wallis's avatar

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.

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Pam Sheppard's avatar

Love John Dickson Carr (also as Carter Dickson). Never could understand why he wasn't up there with Agatha Christie etc.

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Marty Nemko's avatar

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

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Stephen Woodman's avatar

Ted great piece - could you tell me which book/short story the suffocating bed canopy comes from? Thanks

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Stephen Woodman's avatar

Is it from "A Terribly Strange Bed"? - or anywhere else as well? Thanks again

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Alter Kacker's avatar

I read at least two dozen Carr books when I was in college. At the time (late 1960s) there was a paperback reprint series, with exceptionally attractive cover designs.

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