From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives

Hag's Nook
by
Start date
January 17, 2020
Finish date
February 10, 2020
Discussion
Buddy reads
Why we're reading this
We have somel fans of John Dickson Carr in the group. This is the first in the Dr Gideon Fell series.

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 468 topics — 9,047 comments total
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What Members Thought

Nancy Oakes
The first in Carr's series featuring Dr. Gideon Fell, Hag's Nook centers on the Starberth family, who have owned and operated a prison for centuries. The property is entailed, meaning that the oldest son will officially inherit, but first he must go through a rather bizarre ritual. It is at the time of such a ritual when the story begins. The heir is one Martin Starberth, who is somewhat apprehensive -- there is a curse upon the family and the Starberths have traditionally been found dead at the ...more
Susan in NC
Really not my type of mystery, but I couldn’t give just one star, as Carr creates quite an atmosphere! Very creepy and well-done, just not able to keep my interest. I found myself skimming through the melodramatic scenes between the two young lovers, and didn’t really feel like there was “fair play” at the end as Dr. Fell unveiled his solution - but I skipped and skimmed the last quarter or so of the book, so I may have missed something!

I’ve always heard Carr was a master of plotting mystery pu
...more
Jan C
Nov 01, 2011 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2017, sleuth, england
Well, this had me up until 3 am one night and 6 am another. Actually, I couldn't put it down because I was too spooked by it.

The Starberths became governors (what we would call wardens) of a prison because they owned the land the prison was built on. They weren't nice wardens either. Took joy in the hangings, they did. Then they all seemed to die of broken necks, just like their charges.

This is the first Dr. Fell book. We also meet, briefly, Mrs. Fell. In addition, we meet young Rampole, a young
...more
Franky
This was a wonderful old time classic Golden Age mystery with some fine atmosphere and ambience that I think readers who enjoy mysteries in this era will enjoy. Hag’s Nook, even the title itself suggests a feeling of eeriness and perhaps sinister workings. The story itself involves an odd family tradition of a particular Starberth family, whose sons must spend an hour in the “Governor’s Room” in order to keep the inheritance for the family fortune. Well, the problem is that the Starberth family ...more
Shabbeer Hassan
Oooh creepy atmosphere, vivid descriptions of the scary brought to life, locked room mystery and a climax filled with enough twists & turns to chew your finger down? Count me in!

My Rating - 4/5
Robin
Mar 11, 2011 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Cindy
Apr 30, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: _series-to-begin
P. L.
Apr 13, 2017 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Pat
Oct 24, 2019 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
P.
Dec 08, 2019 rated it did not like it  ·  review of another edition
Judy
Jan 12, 2020 rated it liked it
Sean
Aug 18, 2021 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Janet
Jan 13, 2022 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
David
May 26, 2022 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: mystery
Laurie
Feb 18, 2024 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
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