tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post3774938915115450357..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: A Sniff of CrimeTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-62043466490183960582024-03-21T18:45:08.180+01:002024-03-21T18:45:08.180+01:00I am late to the party on this one, but I finally ...I am late to the party on this one, but I finally read "The Emperor's Snuffbox" and enjoyed it thoroughly. The book nearly spontaneously combusted given how fast I was turning the pages reiterating Carr's ability to grab the reader. I didn't pick out the culprit although I should have as the clues were many along the way. This needs a reprint by the British Library or Otto Penzler's American Mystery Classics.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11945797301621244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-64663764863508042342022-11-27T16:27:08.435+01:002022-11-27T16:27:08.435+01:00Well, I'm very much looking forward to it!
Ple...Well, I'm very much looking forward to it!<br />Please forgive my English is not very good. My friends and I are big fans of such detective writers as Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr. I have many more questions I would like to ask you. My friends and I are very excited to see so much about the golden age of detective fiction. I think I'll take my time sorting out the questions to ask.Hugh Quainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14494062962887231603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-53369000309112527152022-11-27T15:29:03.368+01:002022-11-27T15:29:03.368+01:00I'm afraid my review of vol. 84 won't mate...I'm afraid my review of vol. 84 won't materialize until somewhere in January. Thanks for your comment! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-1380433661705539512022-11-27T13:26:34.314+01:002022-11-27T13:26:34.314+01:00Thank you very much!
I also introduced the book &q...Thank you very much!<br />I also introduced the book "The Author is Dead" to a friend of mine and after reading it also thought it was a pretty good tribute to the golden age of detective fiction. Your article is really good!<br />I am also a fan of the anime "Detective Conan". My friend and I are looking forward to your review of the 84th volume of Detective Conan. My friend thinks that the case that takes place in the aquarium in this volume is quite exciting and that this case embodies many of Aoyama's creative features.Hugh Quainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14494062962887231603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-45595843334170678012022-11-27T12:58:53.148+01:002022-11-27T12:58:53.148+01:00If you include a link to the original review, I do...If you include a link to the original review, I don't have a problem with that at all. Go right ahead! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-66983607905715833642022-11-27T04:51:18.308+01:002022-11-27T04:51:18.308+01:00Hi, I am a detective story lover from China. I rea...Hi, I am a detective story lover from China. I really like your blog and I would like to share this content with my friends in China. I may need to translate the content into Chinese and I will state the source and author when I repost it. I wonder if you would allow it?<br />There are quite a few people in China who read Golden Age detective novels. But there are more people who read the Japanese "shin honkaku". Both the Chinese and the Japanese call it "新本格". I really wish we in China knew more about the Golden Age detective novels. In China, the most popular and loved Golden Age detective writers are Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr, who are known as the "three giants of the Golden Age of detective fiction". Currently, in China, the new generation of Japanese detective writers who are sought after by fans of mystery novels are まや ゆたか,しらいともゆき,あおさき ゆうご.<br />I sent you an email, but I am not sure if you received it. I'm sorry if I've disturbed you because of this.Hugh Quainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14494062962887231603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-70390937877143497662012-05-10T06:34:05.929+02:002012-05-10T06:34:05.929+02:00I've always loved that sense of atmosphere Car...I've always loved that sense of atmosphere Carr seems to excel at creating, especially since my faculties start to desert me the more intricate the plots become.Billhttp://traditionalmysteries.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-16809337841263789622012-04-30T20:33:07.529+02:002012-04-30T20:33:07.529+02:00The problem with recommending Carr is I always fee...The problem with recommending Carr is I always feel obliged to temper my recommendations with warnings. The Red Widow Murders, for example, has one of my favourite setups and some of my favourite clues. But the solution has a rather glaring flaw in it.<br /><br />The Crooked Hinge is even harder... I honestly believe the first half is the finest setup in any detective story ever. It's breathtakingly clever. I think everyone should read it. But the second half is a mess, and the solution, while undeniably surprising and ingenious, doesn't make any real, solid sense if you allow yourself to think about it even a little bit.<br /><br />If that's the sort of thing that bothers you, then I'd recommend The White Priory Murders. There's a bit that's quite underclued, but it all makes perfect sense.<br /><br />I enjoyed The Emperor's Snuffbox but I have to say I'd rather read a hundred novels with Dreary Dr Kinross than any more with Bencolin (in any of his various shades)!richmcdhttp://www.completedisregard.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-14751176948071036222012-04-27T23:12:17.038+02:002012-04-27T23:12:17.038+02:00But only as a streaming option and I don't hav...But only as a streaming option and I don't have that service; I only pay for DVD rentals. So I'm stuck until Patrick and his video pirates upload it to YouTube. ;^)J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-16863034211846523632012-04-27T18:35:39.949+02:002012-04-27T18:35:39.949+02:00The fairness and likeliness are exactly my problem...The fairness and likeliness are exactly my problem with that novel or others of that sort. But as you said I have to admit that at least you actually understand afterwards how that situation came into being, unlike other novels which are just too ingenious for their own good (I'm looking at you, <i>Chinese Orange Mystery</i>!).mousoukyokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755066580829504834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-18588564011009564272012-04-27T18:29:12.364+02:002012-04-27T18:29:12.364+02:00Why am I not surprised? ;)Why am I not surprised? ;)TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-64897207258585613282012-04-27T18:19:29.605+02:002012-04-27T18:19:29.605+02:00Yes, The Hollow Man can be considered as one of th...Yes, <i>The Hollow Man</i> can be considered as one of those contrived and artificial stories, but I think it derives its admiration (including mine) from presenting the reader with an overly ingenious and complex solution without the plot becoming a mess of plot threads. You perfectly understand how everything came together and it's not unlike seeing someone doing flip-flops on a tight rope, while juggling, without falling and breaking a bone or two – which is what people marvel and gush about. <br /><br />The fairness and likeliness is another story altogether. People love <i>The Hollow Man</i> because it's the fantastic done right!TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-66500014069282635072012-04-27T18:19:12.141+02:002012-04-27T18:19:12.141+02:00I've heard the movie was awful... but I have a...I've heard the movie was awful... but I have a DVD copy... :)Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-80471654244785078382012-04-27T18:08:58.067+02:002012-04-27T18:08:58.067+02:00Thanks, Sergio, for the kind words and letting us ...Thanks, Sergio, for the kind words and letting us know a DVD of the movie is available. <br /><br />I wonder what made Carr forget about something as obvious as the blood spatter.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-80280235266956622682012-04-27T18:07:35.885+02:002012-04-27T18:07:35.885+02:00Thanks for letting me know there's a movie bas...Thanks for letting me know there's a movie based on this book. The two reviews on IMDb are a bit mixed, but I guess there are worst movies to waste an hour on.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-12686246657845453722012-04-27T17:44:53.853+02:002012-04-27T17:44:53.853+02:00It's not that I solely dislike that particular...It's not that I solely dislike that particular Gothic narrative of Carr. For one I thoroughly enjoyed <i>He Who Whispers</i> and while the impossible crime was worked into the narrative quite neatly, just as in <i>The Plague Court Murders</i> the solution did not really titillate my personal taste after reading a whole novel to reach it. Especially the former would have just as well or even better worked out in a short story. And mind you, I also liked the background story of <i>The Hollow Man</i>, but I found the solution a bit too contrived and unnecessary. You have to admit, even though it's regarded as his masterpiece it's kind of a risky work for starters ;)<br /><br />Just stating the remaining Carrs I own so that anyone can recommend or dissuade:<br /><i>The Burning Court, The Crooked Hinge, The Reader Is Warned, He Wouldn't Kill Patience, Nine - And Death Makes Ten, The White Priory Murders.</i> And I recently ordered <i>The Red Widow Murders</i> and <i>The Peacock Feather Murders</i>.<br />I'm always gathering Western and Japanese opinions on books before I buy anything, so sometimes I feel like I already know the books apart from the solutions before actually reading them, but as I'm rather indecisive the more books I own, I guess it can't be helped.mousoukyokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755066580829504834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-7177206294361743762012-04-27T17:35:27.419+02:002012-04-27T17:35:27.419+02:00City After Midnight is available via Netflix.City After Midnight is available via Netflix.Bob Houkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16982822149146722008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-14923794414830380242012-04-27T17:11:38.584+02:002012-04-27T17:11:38.584+02:00Terrific review TomCat, really enjoyed this one. I...Terrific review TomCat, really enjoyed this one. I haven't read this Carr classic in 20 years but I think I had the same reaction to you about blood spatter. Incidentally, this is more for John's benefit, the movie is available on DVD (region 0 so should play on any machine) in the UK under its original release title, THAT WOMAN OPPOSITE.Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-69140706524267817122012-04-27T16:07:37.994+02:002012-04-27T16:07:37.994+02:00This is one of my favorites in his later period. W...This is one of my favorites in his later period. When I read this I was struck by the cinematic nature of the book. I kept thinking of <i>Rear Window</i> while reading it. I thought it would make a great movie. And it turns out that it is one of the few novels that WAS turned into a movie: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051071/" rel="nofollow">City After Midnight.</a> I've not found any recorded versions (either VHS or DVD ) yet but I'd love to see it some day.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.com