tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post4464367456634090731..comments2024-03-18T11:01:42.459-05:00Comments on Pretty Sinister Books: The Man Who Could Not Shudder - John Dickson CarrJ F Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-87480220931512302622014-08-07T09:31:27.286-05:002014-08-07T09:31:27.286-05:00That UK 1st edition cover is awesome. This (and H...That UK 1st edition cover is awesome. This (and He Who Whispers) were two of my earliest Carrs--they were so good they got me hooked. They are also two that I should go back and reread since they came pre-blogging and I have no decent review of them.Bev Hankinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127476456755776574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-48426312242239687422014-04-16T20:00:02.162-05:002014-04-16T20:00:02.162-05:00I liked this one a lot, also reviewed it on my blo...I liked this one a lot, also reviewed it on my blog, noting a certain relation to John Street (John Rhode):<br /><br />http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com/2012/06/carr-talk-four-capsule-carr-reviews.htmlThe Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-52571904424458202822014-04-16T01:00:27.795-05:002014-04-16T01:00:27.795-05:00John, I do like my detective novels "bizarre ...John, I do like my detective novels "bizarre and puzzling," and if John Dickson Carr's stories are as engrossing as this one is, thanks to your review, then I must start reading his novels right away. I haven't read a single one till date and I wouldn't mind accepting your offer to Peggy Ann. Many thanks, John.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-59119559254433536482014-04-15T10:28:19.747-05:002014-04-15T10:28:19.747-05:00If you ever want a recommendation on which JDC boo...If you ever want a recommendation on which JDC books to read first let me know, Peggy Ann. I have a "Best of JDC" and "Best of Carter Dickson" list. One of the few lists of "Best Mystery" lists I maintain.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-54409642797983765182014-04-15T10:28:06.307-05:002014-04-15T10:28:06.307-05:00It certainly is, Loren. How are you? Where've ...It certainly is, Loren. How are you? Where've you been? So glad to have you leaving a comment here.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-4217545304577175232014-04-15T10:22:05.261-05:002014-04-15T10:22:05.261-05:00I began collecting JDC in hardcover first editions...I began collecting JDC in hardcover first editions back in the late 1990s when I grew nostalgic for his style of mystery that no one seemed to want to write anymore. I have almost all his books now. His books weren't in print in the late 1970s when I first discovered him. Since we had only two bookstores in my hometown neither of which sold used books, I had to borrow copies of Carr’s books from friends who had old vintage PBs or resort to my library which had only titles from the 1950s and 1960s. I only returned to Carr when I missed his unique brand of mystery novel and realized that I still had never read the best of his books.<br /><br />To date here's my tally of books yet to read:<br /><br />Bencolin – 2<br />Dr. Fell – 5<br />Non-Series – 5<br />Historical mysteries – 7<br />Merrivale – 9<br />And last but not least… <i>The Bowstring Murders</i><br /><br />I thought the ending of this book was perfectly operatic for a story that was brimming with over-the-top fantastical elements. There were a few things that I figured out (many of the characters are liars and that's always easy to get) but he fooled me with the solution. Had I done what I intended to do -- gone to Google the moment that list of names came up -- I would've had the story ruined. I'm glad I just went along for the ride. This is the kind of Carr book I crave. I am also a fan of <i>Death Turns the Tables</i> because the circumstances surrounding the murder are so utterly loopy and yet it's one of his most somber and serious books.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-56206127709217407872014-04-15T08:35:56.390-05:002014-04-15T08:35:56.390-05:00I have quite a few but not this one or He Who Whis...I have quite a few but not this one or He Who Whispers. I will be on the hunt for them now! I love the covers!Peggy Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426356514707257708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-65634400796011949752014-04-15T08:28:39.677-05:002014-04-15T08:28:39.677-05:00Gee, I sure envy people who have unread Carr novel...Gee, I sure envy people who have unread Carr novels remaining that they can enjoy. I finished the list in my early 30s by tracking down the last few, rarities like "The Murder of Sir Edmund Godfrey" and "Papa La Bas" (neither worth a moment of your time, frankly) and now I wish I could go back and scrub my memory of the solutions so I could enjoy them all again!<br />My own favourite is "The Red Widow Murders" but perhaps that's because I read it as a young teenager in the early Pocket Books edition with the evocative cover ... I doubt it would stand up to intense scrutiny today, but gee I sure loved that creepy scary book!<br />This entry, TMWCNS, I read at a point when I was wise to Carr's tricks and knew where to look, so I didn't really enjoy it as much, I think. And I didn't care for the abrupt and explosive ending, it kind of made me think of the old "Suddenly they were all run over by a truck the end." <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-56069745767671360842014-04-15T08:01:32.293-05:002014-04-15T08:01:32.293-05:00Man, that is one awesome title.Man, that is one awesome title.Loren Eatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12488412683340389286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-78228402091977091312014-04-15T02:20:04.345-05:002014-04-15T02:20:04.345-05:00I have to be really careful and ration Carr / Dick...I have to be really careful and ration Carr / Dickson books as I just hate the idea of running out of new ones - I still have about 8 or so to be read - this one I am glad to say I remember reading a very long time ago but not in such detail that I remember the ending so you've really made me want to go and pick this one up - yay! Thank sJohn, you're the best (I mean both John D and John F)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-61362919842642687142014-04-14T22:24:21.484-05:002014-04-14T22:24:21.484-05:00I didn't quite like He Who Whispers, John, but...I didn't quite like He Who Whispers, John, but this seems irresistible. Now to go hunting for it....neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-43078368052305145342014-04-14T19:50:29.041-05:002014-04-14T19:50:29.041-05:00My great-grandparents had a grandfather clock that...My great-grandparents had a grandfather clock that stopped working when my great-grandfather died. It was presumed by the skeptical adults in the family that it was because he wasn't around to wind it. On the anniversary of his death, it started working again (can vouch for this, though I was only ten). None of this has anything much to do with your fine review, but I was reminded of it, and I hadn't thought about the story since I was a girl. Kelly Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752857506190488860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-18432231679017449262014-04-14T17:05:45.804-05:002014-04-14T17:05:45.804-05:00You make this sound irresistible, John. Well, I KN...You make this sound irresistible, John. Well, I KNOW I read all of the John Dickson Carr books I could get my hands on once upon a time. Back then, there were plenty of them available at the library as well as paperbacks at the regular bookstore. Not so much now, that's for sure. Still, I can't seem to remember any of the Carr books I read except for the one that features Skull Island. Don't ask. I don't know the answer. My brain refuses to cooperate. At any rate, this one sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for the re-intro or for that matter, the intro.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.com