What do you think?
Rate this book
Dr. Gideon Fell #12
The Man Who Could Not Shudder
Famed crime solver Dr. Gideon Fell attends a housewarming party in the English countryside, but a ghost spoils the fun in Golden Age mystery master John Dickson Carr's stylish, baffling mystery novel
The house is called Longwood, and its history is wet with blood. It is closed up for good in 1920, when a massive chandelier falls, crushing an eighty-year-old butler. Oddly enough, the old chandelier was sturdy, and there was no way it could have fallen unless the butler leapt and swung on it. Was he mad? Suicidal? Or was he being pursued by something from beyond the grave?
Seventeen years later, Longwood is purchased by Martin Clarke, a rakish young man with a taste for the supernatural. He invites his friends for a paranormal housewarming, but it is not long before the festivities turn gruesome. Chairs fly, guns fire on their own, and a mysterious fire threatens to engulf the whole mansion in flames. Clarke and his guests came for a ghost hunt—but could it be that the ghost is hunting them?
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is the 12th book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is the 12th book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The house is called Longwood, and its history is wet with blood. It is closed up for good in 1920, when a massive chandelier falls, crushing an eighty-year-old butler. Oddly enough, the old chandelier was sturdy, and there was no way it could have fallen unless the butler leapt and swung on it. Was he mad? Suicidal? Or was he being pursued by something from beyond the grave?
Seventeen years later, Longwood is purchased by Martin Clarke, a rakish young man with a taste for the supernatural. He invites his friends for a paranormal housewarming, but it is not long before the festivities turn gruesome. Chairs fly, guns fire on their own, and a mysterious fire threatens to engulf the whole mansion in flames. Clarke and his guests came for a ghost hunt—but could it be that the ghost is hunting them?
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is the 12th book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is the 12th book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1940
About the author
John Dickson Carr
391 books549 followersAKA Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn.
John Dickson Carr was an American author best known for his mystery fiction, whose work also reached audiences through radio, film, and television. He wrote extensively for radio, particularly for the American anthology series Suspense and its British counterpart Appointment with Fear, introduced by Valentine Dyall. Carr also contributed numerous dramas to the BBC, writing both mystery stories and propaganda scripts during World War II. His radio career included Cabin B-13, a half-hour mystery play first broadcast in 1943. The story was later expanded into a CBS radio series that ran during 1948 and 1949, with Carr writing all 23 scripts. Some episodes drew on his earlier work, while others reworked devices associated with G. K. Chesterton. Cabin B-13 also became the basis for the screenplay of Dangerous Crossing, a 1953 film directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Michael Rennie and Jeanne Crain. During the late 1940s, Carr hosted Murder by Experts, a Mutual radio series originating from WOR in New York City. The program featured guest mystery writers, whose work Carr introduced to listeners. Several of his stories and novels were adapted for the cinema. The Man with a Cloak appeared in 1951, followed by Dangerous Crossing in 1953. The Emperor's Snuffbox was adapted as That Woman Opposite in 1957, while The Burning Court was loosely adapted as the French film La Chambre Ardente in 1962. Carr's fiction also provided material for television, especially anthology programs that did not depend on recurring characters. His detective Colonel March was adapted for the television series Colonel March of Scotland Yard, which began in 1954 and starred Boris Karloff as Colonel March. The series ran for 26 episodes in the United States and premiered in Britain the following year. These adaptations brought Carr's distinctive mystery writing to audiences who may not have encountered his novels, while demonstrating the versatility of his plots in different media. His radio scripts, screen work, and television adaptations form an important part of his career as a mystery writer, extending his reputation beyond the printed page. They also show how his carefully constructed mysteries, often centered on unusual crimes and puzzling circumstances, could be reshaped for performance without losing their central appeal. His work for broadcasting was particularly substantial, linking his literary career with the popular entertainment industries of both Britain and the United States. His output in these media complemented rather than replaced his novels.
John Dickson Carr was an American author best known for his mystery fiction, whose work also reached audiences through radio, film, and television. He wrote extensively for radio, particularly for the American anthology series Suspense and its British counterpart Appointment with Fear, introduced by Valentine Dyall. Carr also contributed numerous dramas to the BBC, writing both mystery stories and propaganda scripts during World War II. His radio career included Cabin B-13, a half-hour mystery play first broadcast in 1943. The story was later expanded into a CBS radio series that ran during 1948 and 1949, with Carr writing all 23 scripts. Some episodes drew on his earlier work, while others reworked devices associated with G. K. Chesterton. Cabin B-13 also became the basis for the screenplay of Dangerous Crossing, a 1953 film directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Michael Rennie and Jeanne Crain. During the late 1940s, Carr hosted Murder by Experts, a Mutual radio series originating from WOR in New York City. The program featured guest mystery writers, whose work Carr introduced to listeners. Several of his stories and novels were adapted for the cinema. The Man with a Cloak appeared in 1951, followed by Dangerous Crossing in 1953. The Emperor's Snuffbox was adapted as That Woman Opposite in 1957, while The Burning Court was loosely adapted as the French film La Chambre Ardente in 1962. Carr's fiction also provided material for television, especially anthology programs that did not depend on recurring characters. His detective Colonel March was adapted for the television series Colonel March of Scotland Yard, which began in 1954 and starred Boris Karloff as Colonel March. The series ran for 26 episodes in the United States and premiered in Britain the following year. These adaptations brought Carr's distinctive mystery writing to audiences who may not have encountered his novels, while demonstrating the versatility of his plots in different media. His radio scripts, screen work, and television adaptations form an important part of his career as a mystery writer, extending his reputation beyond the printed page. They also show how his carefully constructed mysteries, often centered on unusual crimes and puzzling circumstances, could be reshaped for performance without losing their central appeal. His work for broadcasting was particularly substantial, linking his literary career with the popular entertainment industries of both Britain and the United States. His output in these media complemented rather than replaced his novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 30, 2012
I love John Dickson Carr but I'd never recommend him--he's terrible at character (particularly romance) and just got worse as he went on; some of his later books are so awful even I couldn't finish them. But I love his ingenuity at creating locked rooms, and in some of my favorites of his (The Crooked Hinge, The Reader is Warned, The Burning Court) he is terrific at creating a creepy atmosphere. The books from the thirties and early forties are usually the best.
I used to love this particular book (from that period) but on rereading (twenty-five years later) I realize I must've been in a great mood when I first read it. Too many characters keep secrets from one another (and the reader), and the female characters are particularly silly. Dr. Fell and the criminal are well-matched, but the atmosphere isn't quite there.
I used to love this particular book (from that period) but on rereading (twenty-five years later) I realize I must've been in a great mood when I first read it. Too many characters keep secrets from one another (and the reader), and the female characters are particularly silly. Dr. Fell and the criminal are well-matched, but the atmosphere isn't quite there.
September 2, 2017
Carr è il mio vizio più bello: posso starci lontana qualche mese ma poi, appena inizia l'astinenza e la svoglia sfrenata di giallo, ecco che mi ritrovo a pescare, a naso, uno fra i titoli che mi restano da leggere. E stavolta ho pescato "Fantasma party": Martin Clarke, un istrionico riccone, invita un gruppetto di amici e conoscenti a trascorrere il weekend a Longwood House, una vecchia e misteriosa villa che si dice, sia infestata dai fantasmi, e ovviamente... ci scappa il morto (anzi, ci scappano i morti).
Mi sono ritrovata fra le mani, dunque, il classico giallo in salsa ghost story, o meglio, finta ghost story, perchè fra mani invisibili, brividi e scricchiolii, lampadari che sembrano oscillare soli e pistole che sembrano sparare sole, l'assassino, astutissimo e giocherellone, sarà in carne e ossa, e la risoluzione dell'enigma sarà pratica e concreta.
Non si cada dunque nel tranello di pensare che questa sia una storia di veri fantasmi: Carr si muove nel campo del reale costruendo un intricato rebus con doppio colpo di scena, che sarà svelato sapientemente e intelligentemente dalla grande mente di Gideon Fell, noto volto dei suoi romanzi. Maestria, abilità e ingegno come sempre, dunque. L'unica cosa che mi è forse un po' mancata è quell'atmosfera da contorno, vera e papabile, che, a titoli come questo, me ne fatti preferire altri come "Delitti da mille e una notte" o "L'arte di uccidere". Ma il tocco del maestro si sente, e come sempre si arriverà all'ultima pagina con un sorriso sulle labbra, sbalorditi dalla sua genialità.
Mi sono ritrovata fra le mani, dunque, il classico giallo in salsa ghost story, o meglio, finta ghost story, perchè fra mani invisibili, brividi e scricchiolii, lampadari che sembrano oscillare soli e pistole che sembrano sparare sole, l'assassino, astutissimo e giocherellone, sarà in carne e ossa, e la risoluzione dell'enigma sarà pratica e concreta.
Non si cada dunque nel tranello di pensare che questa sia una storia di veri fantasmi: Carr si muove nel campo del reale costruendo un intricato rebus con doppio colpo di scena, che sarà svelato sapientemente e intelligentemente dalla grande mente di Gideon Fell, noto volto dei suoi romanzi. Maestria, abilità e ingegno come sempre, dunque. L'unica cosa che mi è forse un po' mancata è quell'atmosfera da contorno, vera e papabile, che, a titoli come questo, me ne fatti preferire altri come "Delitti da mille e una notte" o "L'arte di uccidere". Ma il tocco del maestro si sente, e come sempre si arriverà all'ultima pagina con un sorriso sulle labbra, sbalorditi dalla sua genialità.
February 10, 2017
If you’ve ever seen the old black and white movie, Charlie Chan in the Secret Service, you already know the means of the murder. In fact, it’s very likely that the writer of the screenplay had actually read The Man Who Could Not Shudder since it was published about a decade earlier. Both the serendipitously imitative movie and the novel are essentially “mansion” mysteries. While they aren’t strictly “closed-door” mysteries, they share many similarities. The novel, however, has a unique “murderer” that the movie doesn’t have, despite similarities between the two.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder begins with the tale of a haunted house overheard by a stranger. Readers know immediately that there will be some kind of tie between the eavesdropper and the house, so it isn’t too surprising when he buys that house in order to perform some pranks on his weekend guests. When his guest list has a strange blend of pleasant people, professionals, a legal expert, and a most unpleasant businessman, one wonders what the plan is. When one of the guests ends up dead in what looks like an opened-and-shut murder case, our narrator introduces new characters to solve the crime.
At first, some of the characters seem agnostic to the idea of supernatural influence while others are so hostile to the idea of the supernatural that their words and actions seem rude. The host is clearly enjoying a game at his guests’ expense, but some are easily upset—particularly after the murder. It seems like every guest except the narrator and his wife have reasons to dislike or even hate the victim. That cliché about being one’s own worst enemy seems very much to apply here.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is chronologically right in the middle of the Dr. Gideon Fell series by John Dickson Carr. This one was published during the Second World War and the events in the story reflect this. I may rate this one a little higher than some would because I really enjoy reading books from that era—especially if they are set in that era. Nevertheless, I found this novel very satisfying.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder begins with the tale of a haunted house overheard by a stranger. Readers know immediately that there will be some kind of tie between the eavesdropper and the house, so it isn’t too surprising when he buys that house in order to perform some pranks on his weekend guests. When his guest list has a strange blend of pleasant people, professionals, a legal expert, and a most unpleasant businessman, one wonders what the plan is. When one of the guests ends up dead in what looks like an opened-and-shut murder case, our narrator introduces new characters to solve the crime.
At first, some of the characters seem agnostic to the idea of supernatural influence while others are so hostile to the idea of the supernatural that their words and actions seem rude. The host is clearly enjoying a game at his guests’ expense, but some are easily upset—particularly after the murder. It seems like every guest except the narrator and his wife have reasons to dislike or even hate the victim. That cliché about being one’s own worst enemy seems very much to apply here.
The Man Who Could Not Shudder is chronologically right in the middle of the Dr. Gideon Fell series by John Dickson Carr. This one was published during the Second World War and the events in the story reflect this. I may rate this one a little higher than some would because I really enjoy reading books from that era—especially if they are set in that era. Nevertheless, I found this novel very satisfying.
January 17, 2016
Hm...taking a locked room mystery and setting it up with the key that had no room, a clever murderer...all very nice. But the opening barely held me ans I struggled to push through.
May 7, 2024
Eskiden Akba Yayinlari ne guzel polisiye kitaplar basardi cok severdim onlari dedem okurdu hep. Kitabin konusu merak uyandirici ama anlatimda kopukluklar oldugunu dusunuyorum. O yuzden 3 puan verdim.
Perili oldugu soylenen bir evde bir hafta sonu partisi yapilir ve olaylar izlenir.
Perili oldugu soylenen bir evde bir hafta sonu partisi yapilir ve olaylar izlenir.
April 18, 2024
DNF. It’s “let’s get a group of people from different backgrounds to spend the weekend in a haunted house”, again. It’s also very British, which makes no sense because the writer is American.
“But discomfort touched that chimney corner palpably and uneasily.” What kind of a sentence is that? Come on.
“But discomfort touched that chimney corner palpably and uneasily.” What kind of a sentence is that? Come on.
July 4, 2016
A Dr. Gideon Fell story, in which the murder supposedly was committed by a floating gun in a haunted house. The premise is fun, but ultimately it was as too easy to spot the culprit, even if the howdunit elements remained puzzling.
The book is further marred by the fact that Fell does not appear until about halfway through the book, so if you read this series because you like his somewhat mildly theatrical nature, you get short-changed.
I like Carr, but this is not his best.
The book is further marred by the fact that Fell does not appear until about halfway through the book, so if you read this series because you like his somewhat mildly theatrical nature, you get short-changed.
I like Carr, but this is not his best.
January 25, 2024
JDC is an interesting writer from the golden age of detective fiction. His mysteries are always baffling, but his solutions tend to be anticlimactic. (He has said this himself, comparing it to magicians showing an observer how they do their tricks and the observer is immediately, inevitably disappointed.) He is a very self-effacing writer in that he knows what he's writing is "bunk," but he has fun with it with a melodramatic writing style, ridiculous twists and turns, and even some "fourth-wall" breaking. This book is a good example of all of the above.
December 5, 2022
C+:
Unique in its ideas but extremely silly and the ending is overworked.
Unique in its ideas but extremely silly and the ending is overworked.
January 29, 2023
Major characters:
Martin Clarke, new owner of Longwood, and host
* Bob Morrison, our narrator, a writer
* Tess Fraser, his fiancée
* Andrew Hunter, architect
* Archibald Bentley Logan, grocery wholesaler, "the man who couldn't shudder"
* Mrs. Gwyneth Logan, a "packet of super-femininity"
* Julian Enderby, a solicitor
"Eric the Hand" name given to the ghostly hand
Detective-Inspector Elliot, Scotland Yard
Dr. Gideon Fell, Scotland Yard
Locale: England
Synopsis: Martin Clarke is somewhat of an adventurer, and has purchased Longwood, a mansion house with a shady past and a reputation for being haunted. It is said an elderly butler (William Polson) once lost his life by jumping up and swinging on the dining room chandelier, which then fell on him. A chair in the study moves about on its own. Clarke tells his friend, our narrator Bob Morrison, he intends to invite some friends (the six marked * above) to stay for a few days in hopes of seeing for themselves.
As they arrive at Longwood, sexy Gwyneth Logan feels an invisible hand snatch at her ankles, but nothing can be seen. The guests settle in for a four day stay, along with maids Mrs. Winch and her niece Sonia. Clarke proudly displays his collection of antique firearms mounted on the wall of the study, one of two rooms reputed to be haunted (the other is the dining room). Bob Morrison hears a thud in the night, goes downstairs to find Gwyneth in a revealing black nightgown, holding a small key. Jealous husband Bentley Logan finds them, and accuses Morrison - at gunpoint - of being her lover.
Longwood is described in detail, but the book lacks a sketch map. Here is my interpretation:
The next day, Bentley Logan is trying to keep up with his correspondence by typing in the study. As he adjusts the typewriter position, Gwyneth is shocked to see a pistol jump from the wall display and discharge, killing Bentley instantly. How could this happen? It is found it was Bentlet's own pistol, which had been substituted for one of the antiques.
Detective Inspector Elliot and Dr. Gideon Fell are on the scene. No one doubts Gwyneth's account, as there were several others who support her story: The gardener MacCarly was looking in a window, Julian Enderby looking in the opposite window, and the maid Sonia in the doorway. The guests speculate on a ghostly hand doing the deed, whom they name "Eric".
While the investigation progresses, a crash is heard, and the chandelier has claimed another victim.
Review: There is a tip of the hat to Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera here - both have a killer chandelier, and both have a phantom named Erik (here spelled Eric). Not quite a locked room mystery - but an impossible murder. Carr sets the scene nicely in a simple setup (albeit lacking the obligatory map) with a concise description and plenty of witnesses. The upstairs is not described, but is irrelevant to the story.
I find some of Carr's books to be hard to follow, but not this one. There are no distracting side stories - just a steady progression of the plot.
For additional reviews indexed by author, please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
Martin Clarke, new owner of Longwood, and host
* Bob Morrison, our narrator, a writer
* Tess Fraser, his fiancée
* Andrew Hunter, architect
* Archibald Bentley Logan, grocery wholesaler, "the man who couldn't shudder"
* Mrs. Gwyneth Logan, a "packet of super-femininity"
* Julian Enderby, a solicitor
"Eric the Hand" name given to the ghostly hand
Detective-Inspector Elliot, Scotland Yard
Dr. Gideon Fell, Scotland Yard
Locale: England
Synopsis: Martin Clarke is somewhat of an adventurer, and has purchased Longwood, a mansion house with a shady past and a reputation for being haunted. It is said an elderly butler (William Polson) once lost his life by jumping up and swinging on the dining room chandelier, which then fell on him. A chair in the study moves about on its own. Clarke tells his friend, our narrator Bob Morrison, he intends to invite some friends (the six marked * above) to stay for a few days in hopes of seeing for themselves.
As they arrive at Longwood, sexy Gwyneth Logan feels an invisible hand snatch at her ankles, but nothing can be seen. The guests settle in for a four day stay, along with maids Mrs. Winch and her niece Sonia. Clarke proudly displays his collection of antique firearms mounted on the wall of the study, one of two rooms reputed to be haunted (the other is the dining room). Bob Morrison hears a thud in the night, goes downstairs to find Gwyneth in a revealing black nightgown, holding a small key. Jealous husband Bentley Logan finds them, and accuses Morrison - at gunpoint - of being her lover.
Longwood is described in detail, but the book lacks a sketch map. Here is my interpretation:
The next day, Bentley Logan is trying to keep up with his correspondence by typing in the study. As he adjusts the typewriter position, Gwyneth is shocked to see a pistol jump from the wall display and discharge, killing Bentley instantly. How could this happen? It is found it was Bentlet's own pistol, which had been substituted for one of the antiques.
Detective Inspector Elliot and Dr. Gideon Fell are on the scene. No one doubts Gwyneth's account, as there were several others who support her story: The gardener MacCarly was looking in a window, Julian Enderby looking in the opposite window, and the maid Sonia in the doorway. The guests speculate on a ghostly hand doing the deed, whom they name "Eric".
While the investigation progresses, a crash is heard, and the chandelier has claimed another victim.
Review: There is a tip of the hat to Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera here - both have a killer chandelier, and both have a phantom named Erik (here spelled Eric). Not quite a locked room mystery - but an impossible murder. Carr sets the scene nicely in a simple setup (albeit lacking the obligatory map) with a concise description and plenty of witnesses. The upstairs is not described, but is irrelevant to the story.
I find some of Carr's books to be hard to follow, but not this one. There are no distracting side stories - just a steady progression of the plot.
For additional reviews indexed by author, please visit The Mystillery Blog and try The Mystillery Reading Challenges!
August 18, 2012
Another cracking yarn from John Dickson Carr. This one was published in 1940, after Europe was already engulfed in war, but its narrative takes place in 1937, making it (like Ellery Queen’s "Calamity Town") a wartime novel about an immediately pre-war society. Curiously, though, Carr makes little use of this situation, beyond a few dark utterances and an ironic finale for the villain of the piece (though perhaps he makes more of it than at first seems; I’ll get to that in a moment). Where Queen’s novel is an idealization of America, calculated to underline the democratic ideals for which WWII was fought, "The Man Who Could Not Shudder" is, on the surface at least, just another in Carr’s series of impossible crimes.
As an impossible crime goes, the solution is fair enough, although one is inclined to find it as preposterous as the secret panels that are mocked early in the book. It’s fairly clued, at least, and the conclusion offers not one but two twists which successfully upend the story and offer entirely new interpretations of the events of the novel.
That final twist is a doozy, and it’s unfortunate that Carr couldn’t pull it off without giving away the solution to a certain famous Agatha Christie novel (although, at this point, who doesn’t know who killed Roger Ackroyd?). And it suggests—but only dimly—some sense in which the novel can in fact be read as a wartime novel, though not one of the flag-waving variety. For the death, in the end, is undeniably the result of malice, but it is hastened by a series of accidents—unfulfilled purposes, impetuous actions—that plunge the entire group of suspects into the midst of tragedy. Could this be what Carr has in mind?
Perhaps. Or perhaps he just wanted to produce a tremendously entertaining romp. In that case, he succeeded admirably
As an impossible crime goes, the solution is fair enough, although one is inclined to find it as preposterous as the secret panels that are mocked early in the book. It’s fairly clued, at least, and the conclusion offers not one but two twists which successfully upend the story and offer entirely new interpretations of the events of the novel.
That final twist is a doozy, and it’s unfortunate that Carr couldn’t pull it off without giving away the solution to a certain famous Agatha Christie novel (although, at this point, who doesn’t know who killed Roger Ackroyd?). And it suggests—but only dimly—some sense in which the novel can in fact be read as a wartime novel, though not one of the flag-waving variety. For the death, in the end, is undeniably the result of malice, but it is hastened by a series of accidents—unfulfilled purposes, impetuous actions—that plunge the entire group of suspects into the midst of tragedy. Could this be what Carr has in mind?
Perhaps. Or perhaps he just wanted to produce a tremendously entertaining romp. In that case, he succeeded admirably
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2018
Sometimes in the quest of a sensational mystery, you tangle the wires of storyline too much that at the end, some kinks do remain and the end story is not simplified or believed cleanly. Thats what happened to this case. All the way the buildup was great and the end reveal much anticipated, but the hoch poch of reveal and real “murderer” at the end was not easy to digest.
Still 4/5 stars for any Carr’s fan
Still 4/5 stars for any Carr’s fan
April 8, 2014
Got this for 50p. in a second-hand bookstore a year ago... Read it in less than a day because I had long hours of flight. It was okay, but the mystery never really got my interest, nor did the characters. Also I greatly disliked the ending.
Wasn't exactly bad and it makes an entertaining read, but definitely not a great mystery.
Wasn't exactly bad and it makes an entertaining read, but definitely not a great mystery.
February 18, 2008
Really great whodunit! The whole book is engaging, start to finish. The whole case is baffling. How do you find the killer when the gun from the wall jumps off the pegs and shoots? But the answer is so simple I feel foolish. Stick to the end, it's really worth it!
November 8, 2015
Gradevole mistery classico fin troppo arzigogolato, con soluzione a tappe. Non il migliore del grande Dickson Carr, ma ingegnoso. Molto ingegnoso, poiché non si può dire che bari verso il lettore, anche se ci va parecchio vicino.
March 20, 2013
Not my favorite.
August 4, 2026
5/5
Absolute Masterpiece! Bloody Brilliant! This is the kind of novel that invigorates my interest in reading murder mysteries and whodunits. Makes the pastime of reading fulfilling. Rewards me for reading just one more chapter before bed. An unputdownable book that is addictive from the first page till the last.
This is the twelfth book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Series, written by John Dickson Carr , the father of Locked Room Mysteries, and follows the titular Dr. Gideon Fell as he stumbles upon his most difficult puzzle yet.
The Hook: 1930s Rural England. The II World War looms around the corner. A ghost party gathers in the countryhouse of Mr. Martin Clarke, an eccentric millionaire who purchased Longwood House, famous in the area for being a haunted house. A dismembered hand touches the ankles of one of the party the day the Ghost Party begins. The next morning, Mr. Logan is typing in the study, talking with his wife, when the gun fixed above the mantelpiece fires on its own, and kills him. The study door is closed and there are people present in both the windows. A veritable Locked Room Mystery.
This is my favourite book in the series so far. It is a testament to the brilliance of the author that he was able to find not one, not two, but three equally possible solutions to the above problem, and not even one of them was correctly guessed by me. Usually, I'm able to ascertain atleast a portion of the mystery before the big denouement, but with this one, I was as blind before the last chapter as I was before the first. I knew absolutely nothing, not the method of crime, nor the identity of the murderer nor the motive. I had an idea but I was completely wrong. It's been a while since I was flabbergasted to such an extent. Kudos to Mr. Carr for writing this work of art.
With the preliminaries out of the way, let's review this book as we usually do:
The Detective and the Method of Detection : 5/5
The Criminal : 5/5
The Method of Crime : 5/5
The Detective is ofcourse the charming and rotund Dr. Gideon Fell, the enigmatic boulder with a glint in his eye. Dr. Fell is perhaps the wittiest and smartest he has ever been. Counter-intuitively, Dr. Fell doesn't have many moment of explanations in this one until the last chapter, cause usually these explanation chapters are interspersed throughout the narrative to inform the readers of the new status quo. In fact, after finishing the penultimate chapter, I was sure that this would be the first novel where Dr. Gideon Fell failed, however, all of my doubts were cleared by the ending. We are given the same information as the detective, all the clues are in front of us but still we are unable to pick up on the clues and that is the surest sign of a great whodunit.
Moving on to the Criminal, this book features one of if not the most intelligent murderer I've ever read. They never took any chances, accounted for almost all possibilities and persevered in the face of every challenge. The method of the actual murder was also perhaps one of the most ingenious tricks used till date. I was able to guess the basic concept of the murder but I couldn't the fathom the actual logistics of the crime. I was blown away by the ending as well. One of the most satisfying conclusions to any whodunit I've ever read and a fitting ending to a brilliant mastermind.
In conclusion, one of the best mysteries I've ever had the privilege of reading. A perfect novel in my opinion. A masterpiece, that must be read by every fan of the genre.
Can't wait to read more!!!
Absolute Masterpiece! Bloody Brilliant! This is the kind of novel that invigorates my interest in reading murder mysteries and whodunits. Makes the pastime of reading fulfilling. Rewards me for reading just one more chapter before bed. An unputdownable book that is addictive from the first page till the last.
This is the twelfth book in the Dr. Gideon Fell Series, written by John Dickson Carr , the father of Locked Room Mysteries, and follows the titular Dr. Gideon Fell as he stumbles upon his most difficult puzzle yet.
The Hook: 1930s Rural England. The II World War looms around the corner. A ghost party gathers in the countryhouse of Mr. Martin Clarke, an eccentric millionaire who purchased Longwood House, famous in the area for being a haunted house. A dismembered hand touches the ankles of one of the party the day the Ghost Party begins. The next morning, Mr. Logan is typing in the study, talking with his wife, when the gun fixed above the mantelpiece fires on its own, and kills him. The study door is closed and there are people present in both the windows. A veritable Locked Room Mystery.
This is my favourite book in the series so far. It is a testament to the brilliance of the author that he was able to find not one, not two, but three equally possible solutions to the above problem, and not even one of them was correctly guessed by me. Usually, I'm able to ascertain atleast a portion of the mystery before the big denouement, but with this one, I was as blind before the last chapter as I was before the first. I knew absolutely nothing, not the method of crime, nor the identity of the murderer nor the motive. I had an idea but I was completely wrong. It's been a while since I was flabbergasted to such an extent. Kudos to Mr. Carr for writing this work of art.
With the preliminaries out of the way, let's review this book as we usually do:
The Detective and the Method of Detection : 5/5
The Criminal : 5/5
The Method of Crime : 5/5
The Detective is ofcourse the charming and rotund Dr. Gideon Fell, the enigmatic boulder with a glint in his eye. Dr. Fell is perhaps the wittiest and smartest he has ever been. Counter-intuitively, Dr. Fell doesn't have many moment of explanations in this one until the last chapter, cause usually these explanation chapters are interspersed throughout the narrative to inform the readers of the new status quo. In fact, after finishing the penultimate chapter, I was sure that this would be the first novel where Dr. Gideon Fell failed, however, all of my doubts were cleared by the ending. We are given the same information as the detective, all the clues are in front of us but still we are unable to pick up on the clues and that is the surest sign of a great whodunit.
Moving on to the Criminal, this book features one of if not the most intelligent murderer I've ever read. They never took any chances, accounted for almost all possibilities and persevered in the face of every challenge. The method of the actual murder was also perhaps one of the most ingenious tricks used till date. I was able to guess the basic concept of the murder but I couldn't the fathom the actual logistics of the crime. I was blown away by the ending as well. One of the most satisfying conclusions to any whodunit I've ever read and a fitting ending to a brilliant mastermind.
In conclusion, one of the best mysteries I've ever had the privilege of reading. A perfect novel in my opinion. A masterpiece, that must be read by every fan of the genre.
Can't wait to read more!!!
July 30, 2021
Состоятельный торговец Мартин Кларк покупает дом с сомнительной репутацией — за последний век в нем произошло несколько загадочных смертей. Кларк ремонтирует дом, после чего приглашает шестерых людей провести в нем выходные. Гости съезжаются в пятницу. А в утро субботы один из гостей умирает. А свидетели клянутся, что висящий на стене пистолет выстрелил в жертву сам. Один из гостей, еще до трагического инцидента, послал телеграмму с просьбой приехать инспектору Эллиоту. Эллиот приехал уже после убийства, а с ним приехал и его друг доктор Фелл.
Не сказать, чтобы мне так уж понравился этот роман. В нем много ненужного. Персонажи много разговаривают ни о чем — только чтобы увеличить объем книги. Свидетели лгут полиции — без видимых причин, запутывая расследование на ровном месте. Тоже ради того, чтобы автор «набил» лишнее количество страниц. Иначе говоря, у Карра было слишком мало идей на объем романа и он его растягивал, как мог. Это минус «Человека без страха».
С другой стороны, с точки зрения классического детектива, «Человек без страха» — блестящ. Несколько аккуратных подсказок в тексте при должной наблюдательности позволяют отгадать личность преступника. Надо просто обратить внимание на напитки. А способ убийства Карр чуть не прямым текстом проговаривает в первой трети романа — надо всего лишь знать специализацию трех докторов, чьи фамилии называются рассказчиком после приезда в «дом с привидениями».
То есть Карр предельно честен с читателями. При должной наблюдательности и эрудиции все загадки романа отгадываются задолго до того, как Фелл проговорит эти ответы прямым текстом. И это признак хорошего детектива.
Роман вышел в 1940 году, но основные события в нем происходят в мае 1937 года. Карр не так часто настаивал на дате в произведении, отличной от даты выхода романа. И каждый раз это было неспроста. В «Человеке без страха» эпилог происходит через 2 с лишним года после убийства в доме. В первую неделю сентября. Это была первая неделя Второй Мировой войны. Реальный факт — 3 сентября 1939 года немцами был торпедирован лайнер «Атения». Первое потопленное судно в той войне. Именно в списки погибших на «Атении» Карр поместил истинного виновника событий в доме, поставив точку в этой истории.
7/10
Оригинал отзыва - https://cahier.ru/carr-man-who-could-...
Не сказать, чтобы мне так уж понравился этот роман. В нем много ненужного. Персонажи много разговаривают ни о чем — только чтобы увеличить объем книги. Свидетели лгут полиции — без видимых причин, запутывая расследование на ровном месте. Тоже ради того, чтобы автор «набил» лишнее количество страниц. Иначе говоря, у Карра было слишком мало идей на объем романа и он его растягивал, как мог. Это минус «Человека без страха».
С другой стороны, с точки зрения классического детектива, «Человек без страха» — блестящ. Несколько аккуратных подсказок в тексте при должной наблюдательности позволяют отгадать личность преступника. Надо просто обратить внимание на напитки. А способ убийства Карр чуть не прямым текстом проговаривает в первой трети романа — надо всего лишь знать специализацию трех докторов, чьи фамилии называются рассказчиком после приезда в «дом с привидениями».
То есть Карр предельно честен с читателями. При должной наблюдательности и эрудиции все загадки романа отгадываются задолго до того, как Фелл проговорит эти ответы прямым текстом. И это признак хорошего детектива.
Роман вышел в 1940 году, но основные события в нем происходят в мае 1937 года. Карр не так часто настаивал на дате в произведении, отличной от даты выхода романа. И каждый раз это было неспроста. В «Человеке без страха» эпилог происходит через 2 с лишним года после убийства в доме. В первую неделю сентября. Это была первая неделя Второй Мировой войны. Реальный факт — 3 сентября 1939 года немцами был торпедирован лайнер «Атения». Первое потопленное судно в той войне. Именно в списки погибших на «Атении» Карр поместил истинного виновника событий в доме, поставив точку в этой истории.
7/10
Оригинал отзыва - https://cahier.ru/carr-man-who-could-...
June 12, 2021
I enjoyed this classic house-party locked-room mystery with a twist. The locked room isn't exactly locked, as two open windows and an unlocked door attest. But then nothing is as it seems in this my first Gideon Fell mystery.
Fell himself reminded me strongly of Nero Wolfe, with his massive bulk and his box-pleated cape and his snorts and puffs and large vocabulary. Wolfe never had that moustache, though! I did wonder if Carr had read any of Stout's work. Fell and Wolfe appeared contemporaneously; I must go back and find the first volume and see if Fell got larger over time. If not it will be another whodunit--who inspired whom?
If there was a weakness it was in the ending. The "big reveal" comes 2 years after the house party, and Fell's explanation of his actions and of how the crime was committed were less than credible, therefore four stars instead of five. I will say, I devoured this book in about 24 hours, so it was enjoyable until the end.
Fell himself reminded me strongly of Nero Wolfe, with his massive bulk and his box-pleated cape and his snorts and puffs and large vocabulary. Wolfe never had that moustache, though! I did wonder if Carr had read any of Stout's work. Fell and Wolfe appeared contemporaneously; I must go back and find the first volume and see if Fell got larger over time. If not it will be another whodunit--who inspired whom?
If there was a weakness it was in the ending. The "big reveal" comes 2 years after the house party, and Fell's explanation of his actions and of how the crime was committed were less than credible, therefore four stars instead of five. I will say, I devoured this book in about 24 hours, so it was enjoyable until the end.
August 23, 2021
Shudders abound in 'The Man Who Could Not Shudder'. A group of people are invited to Longwood House to be part of a psychological experiment under the guise of a housewarming event. When someone is murdered by a gun that appears to have been shot by no one, only Dr. Fell can crack the case.
The spooky history of the house, namely the chandelier incident set an unsettling tone. The present happenings further added to its haunted quality though there was some ambiguity regarding whether Longwood House was indeed haunted.
Whilst the answers to the above, as well as the whodunit and howdunit were mostly satisfying, the same could not be said for the characterization as the characters were underdeveloped. Besides that, there were one too many twists.
Overall, 'The Man Who Could Not Shudder' scored high in terms of setting, atmosphere and howdunit but left much to be desired when it came to the suspects and relationships.
The spooky history of the house, namely the chandelier incident set an unsettling tone. The present happenings further added to its haunted quality though there was some ambiguity regarding whether Longwood House was indeed haunted.
Whilst the answers to the above, as well as the whodunit and howdunit were mostly satisfying, the same could not be said for the characterization as the characters were underdeveloped. Besides that, there were one too many twists.
Overall, 'The Man Who Could Not Shudder' scored high in terms of setting, atmosphere and howdunit but left much to be desired when it came to the suspects and relationships.
October 2, 2018
This is not one of his best but still it is a 3.7 plus book . The setup is intriguing as a few people are getting invited to a weekend outing in a renovated haunted house by the new owner. The first guest to cross the threshold gets her ankles grabbed by a hand! And pretty soon a gun jumps of the wall on its own accord and shoots another guest dead !
As intriguing as it may sound ,somehow the suspense factor is a bit lacking in the story and the pace is little off. The number of suspects is pretty limited and half of them are very thinly sketched(even though I do not consider detailed characterization a primary necessity in a whodunnit).But here the how was more important than the who .
The denouement is 40 pages long and consists of a lot of twists and turns as two master puppeteers manouver their marionettes.The ending is pretty satisfying actually.
All in all, it's a very decent impossible crime story ,it's well written and engaging enough but suffers a little from sketchy characterization and uneven behaviour by some characters .
As intriguing as it may sound ,somehow the suspense factor is a bit lacking in the story and the pace is little off. The number of suspects is pretty limited and half of them are very thinly sketched(even though I do not consider detailed characterization a primary necessity in a whodunnit).But here the how was more important than the who .
The denouement is 40 pages long and consists of a lot of twists and turns as two master puppeteers manouver their marionettes.The ending is pretty satisfying actually.
All in all, it's a very decent impossible crime story ,it's well written and engaging enough but suffers a little from sketchy characterization and uneven behaviour by some characters .
May 20, 2019
Fell working in tandem with Elliot in another quick and tight story. Here there is a man in search of a house, and it being haunted certainly appeals to him. A group is arranged to see how they react to it.
And then there is murder. Some of the solutions come from outside, where we don’t see them (Insp. Elliot and even Fell) but much of the information is known by various people attending, however they have double talked enough to barely trust what they hear...
A daring story and full of twists. Quick read as well!
And then there is murder. Some of the solutions come from outside, where we don’t see them (Insp. Elliot and even Fell) but much of the information is known by various people attending, however they have double talked enough to barely trust what they hear...
A daring story and full of twists. Quick read as well!
March 8, 2026
Really liked the atmosphere at the beginning, but ended up being underwhelmed by the sleuth and the intricacies of the murder plot (although I did enjoy the ridiculousness of the mechanics). It felt like Agatha Christie in the atmospheric ways but then like almost the reverse when it came to plot: seemingly simple thing that was actually way over complicated vs something more puzzling that ended up having a straightforward solution.
Pull quote/note
"Clarke's cheerful heartiness blew away bogles." (29)
Pull quote/note
"Clarke's cheerful heartiness blew away bogles." (29)
July 6, 2019
Libro molto gradevole di Carr. In questo romanzo si assapora un'atmosfera sovrannaturale: sedie che si muovono come se fossero dotate di vita propria, lampadari che dondolano senza che nessuno li abbia toccati, orologi che smettono di funzionare all'improvviso e pistole che sparano da sole. Tutto sembra far pensare ad un racconto fantastico ma il dottor Fell spiegherà non solo come tutto questo sia possibile, ma svelerà anche il nome dell'omicida in una serie di colpi di scena finali.
January 22, 2020
This is perhaps the one Carr where I guessed the mechanism of killing after reading merely a blurb or something; later, my gun related guess was strengthened with the movement of the old chandelier depicted in the book. But then I had geekier advantages compared to the characters including Dr. Fell who, according to the book, thought of the mechanism within ten minutes of hearing things...
(*Can do much better JDC!*)
(*Can do much better JDC!*)
May 16, 2021
Great story with lots of twists
Wonderful plot twists and a great story. I think more could have been done to make the characters more real. But since this is the first one i read, but not the first he wrote, perhaps the characters were fleshed out on prior bppks. I will read more of his books
Wonderful plot twists and a great story. I think more could have been done to make the characters more real. But since this is the first one i read, but not the first he wrote, perhaps the characters were fleshed out on prior bppks. I will read more of his books
March 13, 2022
I enjoy the impossible crimes that John Dickson Carr comes up with. You don't read them for character, it's all about the mystery and this is a decent one. Not one of the greats, but fun and worth reading.
April 2, 2024
Of course Carr is known for locked room puzzles and impossible crimes, but what I most love him for is his sense of atmosphere and of knowing just when to employ the wit of his detectives to either lighten or darken a mood. This novel twists and turns and twists again, to good effect!
May 5, 2024
This is another Carr that would be better if it featured more of Fell, but unfortunately he shows up late and even after that we don't follow him that closely. The reveal is kinda lame in my opinion but I'll admit it is a clever solution.
November 28, 2024
This is an interesting and clever “closed room” murder.
A weekend party in a ghost house results in murder and Dr. Gideon Fell and Inspector Elliott arrive on scene to investigate. The twists and turns on the path to the solution are cleverly plotted.
This would make an enjoyable movie.
A weekend party in a ghost house results in murder and Dr. Gideon Fell and Inspector Elliott arrive on scene to investigate. The twists and turns on the path to the solution are cleverly plotted.
This would make an enjoyable movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews