Here's one of my favorite mysteries which, unhappily, remains out of print. John Dickson Carr is widely acknowledged as the master of the locked room/impossible crime mystery, and I have always thought that "The Three Coffins" is one of his best. There are two impossible murders, and Carr builds an almost unbearable atmosphere of suspense. And yet it is scrupulously fair; the reader is given all the clues needed to solve the mystery - but I'd bet very few readers actually can do so before all is explained. You can listen to my original podcast review here.
Carr begins this novel with a paragraph that is a direct challenge - he tells you exactly what he intends to do and invites you to see through his plotting. Here is the very first paragraph of the book:
To the murder of Professor Grimaud, and later the equally incredible crime in Cagliostro Street, many fantastic terms could be applied - with reason. Those of Dr. Fell's friends who like impossible situations will not find in his casebook any puzzle more baffling or more terrifying. Thus: two murders were committed, in such fashion that the murderer must not only have been invisible; but lighter than air. According to the evidence, this person killed his first victim and literally disappeared. Again according to the evidence, he killed his second victim in the middle of an empty street, with watchers at either end; yet not a soul saw him, and no footprint appeared in the snow.
Carr delivers on that promise. As I said It's worth the extra effort to find "The Three Coffins" and enjoy it.
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