If you're looking for something to frighten yourself with this week, as Halloween approaches, how about a mystery set in the shadow of an old prison, where they used to execute a lot of the prisoners. Add in the family that, for generations, ran the prison, often taking delight in the executions. But then one of the governors died of a broken neck...and may have been driven mad with terror by ghosts of the executed convicts...
It's shudder-worthy, to be sure. But the atmosphere is what you might expect from the master of the impossible crime mystery, John Dickson Carr. The book is "Hag's Nook," and it is the subject of today's review on the Classic Mysteries podcast, which you can hear by clicking here.
This Golden Age mystery, published in 1933, marked the first appearance of Carr's most famous series detective, Dr. Gideon Fell. He is a man with a wicked sense of humor and the welcome ability to see through the trappings and mysteries of locked rooms and otherwise impossible crime, the better to catch the very human malefactors behind seemingly supernatural events. For readers of vintage mysteries, the book is an absolute delight.
Hag's Nook deals with long-abandoned Chatterham Prison at Hag's Nook and the Starberth family, the family that used to run the prison. As the oldest son of each generation of Starberths comes of age, he must visit the Governor's room in the prison, open a safe in the room and examine...whatever is in the safe. Carr manages to turn this odd ritual into a thing of pure terror - and, of course, there will be murder done. "Hag's Nook" is one of the best of the early Carr novels. It's available again, thanks to the Rue Morgue Press, which means that your favorite mystery bookseller should be able to get it for you. And have a Happy Halloween.
I know I've read this, Les, but damn if I can remember. Why do I know it? Well, becasue at one time I read just about every Dickson Carr and Carter Dickson I could get my hands on. But I'm afraid old lady memory has wiped the plots from my mind.
At any rate, Les, I've joined that yahoo group you were talking about but almost immediately I'm having second thoughts. I'm not good about trying newfangled things. I keep getting all these emails that I'm not sure how to respond to or even if I should. A question: How does all this work? It's very confusing. Even the instructions are confusing. Bear with me, Les. Explain the thing in kindergarten phrases and I just might catch on.
Posted by: Yvette | October 24, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Like Yvette, I've read this one...but I don't remember much about it. Too many other books between now and then, I guess. Gonna have to reread.
Posted by: Bev@My Reader's Block | October 24, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Bev and Yvette - Hag's Nook isn't my favorite, but it is very very good. Carr is a master at creating a terrifying atmosphere, and some of the descriptions should provoke nightmares.
Yvette - at 4MA, click on "edit membership" (should be right above the 4_Mystery_Addicts banner). That will take you to a page where you can choose to receive a daily digest of the messages rather than every individual message. That's what I do - otherwise, the volume of mail would drive me crazier than I already am. You can respond to the emailed digests via email, or you can go directly to the 4MA group page on Yahoo, click on the message you're answering, and enter your post there. I hope this helps!
Posted by: Les Blatt | October 24, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Thanks, Les. :)
Posted by: Yvette | October 25, 2011 at 04:32 PM