On this point, the author feels he may have been unfair to the reader. However, he believes that it will not cause any lasting damage to those with a vivid imagination. So writes Soji Shimada in the solution chapter of his locked-room mystery, Murder in the Crooked House. Whether this is a cop out (perfectly-tuned… Continue reading Murder in the Crooked House
Richard Forrest's 1975 novel is a an example of the "impossible crime thrown in at the last minute" (sub)subgenre of mystery. It begins with the discovery of three skeletons (1 man, 1 woman, 1 child) on a ridge in Murphysville, Connecticut. A doll clutched in the tiny skeleton's arms and the dental work on the… Continue reading Child’s Garden of Death
There's a moment early on in The Footprints of Satan when I knew I was in for a good time. It was after the initial reveal of the mysterious tracks in the snow, but before the, shall we say, diabolical conclusion of where they are headed. The main character and two other townsfolk run into… Continue reading The Footprints of Satan
Since the beginning of my affair with detective novels, I've thought of them as interactive. That is the attraction which separates them from other forms. The allegory of science fiction, the plot (not the plotting— AKA what will happen? not what happened?) of a thriller, the sensory assault of the horror novel, et al.—all of… Continue reading Perfectly reasonable hysteria. Thoughts on The Madman’s Room.
If I write about a book, there will usually be spoilers. The mechanics are more interesting for me to discuss, and I have no talent for reviewing. So read no further unless you have read The Howling Beast. (and ffs, read The Howling Beast) Noel Vindry's novel was a delight for many reasons, but not… Continue reading Some spoilery thoughts on The Howling Beast
James Scott Byrnside 