ACDC, PART THREE: Footprints and Fade-Outs in The White Priory Murders

March 4, 2019February 6, 2022 / Brad / 23 Comments

“The first thing is to determine the murderer’s motive. I don’t mean his motive for murder, but for creating an impossible situation. That’s very important, son, because it’s the best kind of clue tothe motive for murder. Why’d he do it? Nobody but a loony is goin’ to indulge in a lot of unreasonable hocus-pocus … Continue reading ACDC, PART THREE: Footprints and Fade-Outs in The White Priory Murders

ACDC, PART SIX: L Is For Laughter in The Punch and Judy Murders

July 8, 2019February 5, 2022 / Brad / 17 Comments

“Burn me, you’ve been leaving things behind in a way that’s scandalous. All anybody’s got to do to follow your trail across England is just to walk behind and pick up the pieces . . .” (H.M. to Ken Blake in The Punch and Judy Murders) We begin with a quiz. Can you identify the source … Continue reading ACDC, PART SIX: L Is For Laughter in The Punch and Judy Murders

ACDC, PART FIVE/FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT WATSONS: The Unicorn Murders

April 7, 2019 / Brad / 26 Comments

That GAD staple, the eccentric genius detective, has the potential to be obnoxious. His eccentricities can quickly grow tiresome, and his brilliance at sleuthing is too often accompanied by unmitigated ego or a reticence for explanation that can annoy readers as much as it infuriates the fictional policeman. This is why many classic authors took … Continue reading ACDC, PART FIVE/FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT WATSONS: The Unicorn Murders

ACDC, PART FOUR: “Don’t Wanna Be in the Room Where It Happened” in The Red Widow Murders

March 14, 2019 / Brad / 11 Comments

Before I conceived of this chronological Carter Dickson celebration, my experiences with Sir Henry Merrivale were more piecemeal. Even when I spotted and grabbed a lot of Carter Dickson novels on eBay and placed them carefully on my shelf in order of publication, I grabbed down She Died a Lady first because . . . well, … Continue reading ACDC, PART FOUR: “Don’t Wanna Be in the Room Where It Happened” in The Red Widow Murders

ENTER SIR HENRY: The Plague Court Murders

June 29, 2017March 2, 2019 / Brad / 33 Comments

One of the things I love about John Dickson Carr is that he is the perfect meta-author! He never pretends that what he is writing takes place in the world around him. In fact, throughout his career, he eschewed realism for a healthy dose of melodrama and mayhem and then called attention to the very … Continue reading ENTER SIR HENRY: The Plague Court Murders

ACDC PART NINE/BOOK CLUB ’38: Death in Five Boxes

July 25, 2021February 5, 2022 / Brad / 21 Comments

I have just finished reading a review of Carter Dickson’s Death in Five Boxes, written by my pal, the Puzzle Doctor, and I must say – I am confused. Make that doubly confused. My puzzlement first stems from Book Club, of which PD and I are both members. Last month, you might have heard the collective groaning over the Zoom … Continue reading ACDC PART NINE/BOOK CLUB ’38: Death in Five Boxes

ACDC, PART EIGHT: Waving Through the (Judas) Window

September 21, 2019 / Brad / 25 Comments

For those mystery fans who may be in the dark about the title of this post, it’s a reference to Dear Evan Hansen, the award-winning musical about a lonely boy on the spectrum who one day decides to have a drink with his prospective father-in-law over a game of bows-and-arrows behind the locked door of … Continue reading ACDC, PART EIGHT: Waving Through the (Judas) Window

ACDC, PART SEVEN: Smashing the Teacups

July 27, 2019 / Brad / 16 Comments

After a lifetime of denial, I finally gave Carter Dickson a try a little over two and a half years ago. My experience was so pleasant that I picked up another right away. I based my choice on the fact that a trusted friend was posting a spoiler-filled piece on this one, and I wanted … Continue reading ACDC, PART SEVEN: Smashing the Teacups

A.C.D.B. – An Announcement!

November 30, 2018March 2, 2019 / Brad / 45 Comments

I know my London friends will wake up, open this and mutter, “Dude’s a day late!” However, it is still November 30thin these parts, and so it is still John Dickson Carr’s birthday! Since the man has given me cause to celebrate multiple times since I was about 13, I figure I owe him at least … Continue reading A.C.D.B. – An Announcement!

RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Reflections on an Out-of-Control TBR Pile

September 21, 2017 / Brad / 28 Comments

L’Shana Tovah, everybody! It’s the Jewish New Year, which means that I am not at school teaching the little monsters geniuses and am instead at home, ironically finding time to learn things for myself. Of course, this being a day of reflection, I find that I am learning about myself. And I’m a little nervous … Continue reading RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Reflections on an Out-of-Control TBR Pile