And So to Murder, first published in 1941 is one of Carter Dickson's (i.e. John Dickson Carr's) novels about Sir Henry Merrivale, but it's rather different from the 'typical' Carr story, if there is such a thing. There's no locked room mystery, for a start, and the setting is a film studio (Carr had worked in just such a studio three years earlier, and he enjoys poking fun at the excesses of film-makers). Even Sir Henry is, by his standards, relatively subdued.
Events are first seen through the eyes of young Monica Stanton, who has written a bestselling novel which is rather too raunchy for some of her family. She has been assigned to Pineham studio - but is told to write a script based on a detective novel by Bill Cartwright, while Bill is asked to adapt Monica's story for the screen. Monica takes an instant dislike to Bill, but it's soon obvious that Cupid will bring them together in due course.
Things take a dark turn when someone tries to damage and disfigure Monica by pouring sulphuric acid down a speaking tube. This is an ingenious if horrible attempted crime. Later, a cigarette is poisoned, and Carr obligingly cites a real life precedent. The central mystery is this: who would want to harm innocent Monica? It doesn't seem to make sense.
This is a minor book by the standards of this author, partly because the circle of suspects is very small. I'm not absolutely convinced that the motive for the crimes was 'fair'; or at least, I never spotted any clues to it, as opposed to physical clues that identified the culprit. Overall, it's a decent light read.
2 comments:
I am a latecomer to John Dickson Carr. I have enjoyed what I have read, must say though I read his books for the pleasure of the journey, I do not try to solve the case or watch for clues, my pleasure is in the characters and the weirdness and the fun
Yes, his ability to conjure up atmosphere is one of the reasons why his books have lasted better than some other very intricate locked room mysteries.
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