tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post3046468920798820364..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: The Three Taps (1927) by Ronald A. KnoxTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-50598032776221133002021-08-04T00:26:31.349+02:002021-08-04T00:26:31.349+02:00Huh. I knew Knox played a role in Chesterton's...Huh. I knew Knox played a role in Chesterton's conversion, but I didn't realize that the reverse was also true. You learn something new every day.Kacey Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492997736737601983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-22867077210690091562021-08-03T23:31:43.783+02:002021-08-03T23:31:43.783+02:00Knox not only knew Chesterton, but they, sort of, ...Knox not only knew Chesterton, but they, sort of, lead each other to Catholicism. <br /><br />I like to believe the first meeting of the Detection Club began with Knox descending a staircase, carrying the Ten Commandments of the Detective Story, after a conclave with Chesterton.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-33068926201053914972021-08-02T19:38:37.810+02:002021-08-02T19:38:37.810+02:00"The detective story is one of the pillars of..."<i>The detective story is one of the pillars of civilization.</i><br /><br />Good point.<br /><br />The thing I'm wondering is to what extent Knox talked about his Decalogue with his fellow writers before 1929. That was before the formation of the Detection Club, but I'm fairly certain that he knew Chesterton, and I would imagine he knew other mystery writers, so it's just possible that his rules played some part in the early development of fair play plots.Kacey Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492997736737601983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-64130002864226224542021-08-02T13:25:04.040+02:002021-08-02T13:25:04.040+02:00"Solved by Inspection" is one of the bes..."Solved by Inspection" is one of the best short detective stories ever written, especially during the Golden Age, which actually feels like an authentic, Chestertonian detective story. Yes, it's one of the few short stories that can be matched against the brilliance of "The House in Goblin Wood." <br /><br />Everyone seems to have read "Solved by Inspection" and his Decalogue, but they've completely overshadowed his novel-length mysteries. Normally, it's the other way round. So you have to wonder, if Knox could have been the second coming of Chesterton had he devoted himself to the short story. <br /><br />"<i>I have absolutely no clue why he put it in that book though...</i>"<br /><br />Makes perfect sense to me. The detective story is one of the pillars of civilization. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-61725673487980090142021-08-02T13:21:29.328+02:002021-08-02T13:21:29.328+02:00Solely based on The Three Taps, Knox could very we...Solely based on <i>The Three Taps</i>, Knox could very well end up on my list of favorite mystery writers, but that entirely depends on how well <i>The Viaduct Murder</i>, <i>The Footsteps at the Lock</i> and <i>Still Dead</i> will pan out. Your reviews of his novels are very encouraging.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-5633823137003987312021-08-02T09:42:46.425+02:002021-08-02T09:42:46.425+02:00Like, it would seem, most everyone else, the only ...Like, it would seem, most everyone else, the only mystery by Knox that I've read is "Solved by Inspection," which vies with "The House in Goblin Wood" for the title of most chilling mystery I've ever read. I have got an e-book of <i>The Footsteps at the Lock</i> somewhere, though. I'll keep an eye out for this one, it sounds interesting.<br /><br />Also, I've got my own piece of Knox trivia. I've only read one of his mysteries, but I have read one of his novels, specifically <i>Sanctions: A Frivolity.</i> It's a comic/philosophic/theological novel inspired by W. H. Mallock's Victorian satire <i>The New Republic</i> (which was in turn inspired by, well, Plato's <i>Republic</i>). Anyway. midway through this philosophical novel, two characters just randomly start talking about what makes a good detective novel and they go through the full version of Knox's Decalogue! <i>Sanctions</i> was published in 1924, so the Decalogue is at least five years older than is usually thought. I have absolutely no clue why he put it in that book though...Kacey Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492997736737601983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-81712535536953934522021-08-02T03:15:45.284+02:002021-08-02T03:15:45.284+02:00Knox is just so much fun. He handles the comic ele...Knox is just so much fun. He handles the comic elements with such a light touch. And I agree about Miles Bredon and his wife - their relationship is a delight.<br /><br />I've read all of Knox's detective novels apart from <i>Body in the Silo</i>. I've enjoyed them all. He's definitely one of my favourite GAD writers.dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-44993073339347297592021-08-01T18:00:38.815+02:002021-08-01T18:00:38.815+02:00Hell, if my taste doesn't begin o mature soon ...Hell, if my taste doesn't begin o mature soon I'm going to run out of stuff to read by about 2026. So I might be more tolerant out of necessity if nothing else...!JJ @ The Invisible Eventhttps://theinvisibleevent.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-47895852542080236672021-08-01T15:22:45.823+02:002021-08-01T15:22:45.823+02:00Glad you enjoyed the review! Double Dead is on the...Glad you enjoyed the review! <i>Double Dead</i> is on the big pile as it was recommended to me as an extremely fair play detective novel complete with a clue-finder at the end, but maybe I'll tackle <i>Footsteps at the Lock</i> next. It's supposed to be feverish daydream that plays out like a detective story. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-45248691408858787592021-08-01T15:16:47.835+02:002021-08-01T15:16:47.835+02:00I like that you bring the optimism and timescale o...I like that you bring the optimism and timescale of the science-fiction genre to your mystery reading. But I look forward to your 2027 review! Surely, your taste must have somewhat matured and fine-tuned by then. ;) TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-41487100704843471002021-08-01T11:59:59.863+02:002021-08-01T11:59:59.863+02:00I too enjoyed this very much. I subsequently read ...I too enjoyed this very much. I subsequently read Still Dead and found it a bit dull. At the moment I am struggling with Double Cross Purposes which moves rather slowly.<br /><br />I very much enjoyed this review Thank you. Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-78271551381169707882021-08-01T10:33:16.347+02:002021-08-01T10:33:16.347+02:00I've not read Knox beyond his Sherlock Holmes ...I've not read Knox beyond his Sherlock Holmes 'research', his short story 'Solved by Inspection', and the first third or so of The Viadduct Murder -- something I should correct, and you've inspired me to track this down. Expect a review sometime in 2027...JJ @ The Invisible Eventhttps://theinvisibleevent.comnoreply@blogger.com