Series
Publication
Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited (2018)
Original publication date
1941
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Description
Having lost all his money in hare-brained get-rich-quick schemes, old Angus Campbell has nothing to leave his heirs but the proceeds of his lifeinsurance policies. After he falls to his death from a locked bedchamber in the tower of Shira Castle in the Scottish Highlands, his family gather.They are joined by amateur sleuth Dr Gideon Fell, who tries to solve the mystery. Is it suicide, or is it murder?From Shira to Glencoe Gideon Fell trains his forensic intelligence on trying to discover the truth behind events. In the meantime a tabloid pressreporter endlessly falls foul of the redoubtable lady of the house, two young people fall in love while arguing incessantly, and a cast of localscome and go as if this is all a normal days occurrence. And all the while bodies continue to pile up . . .The Case of the Constant Suicides is a masterfully plotted locked-room mystery from the master of the art.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member JonRob
Not one of this author's best books, but as usual quite readable. It's set in Scotland at the outset of World War II, and features a couple of rival historians who start the book squabbling over the question of the colour of the Duchess of Cleveland's hair, and end up getting married (this theme
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recurs in other books by Carr). They are distant relations of Angus Campbell, who has met his end by falling out of a room in a high tower with the door firmly locked on the inside. Was he really murdered? What was in the empty case found under his bed? Further apparent suicides occur and eventually Dr. Gideon Fell does some sleight-of-hand with the evidence. The book would really have been better as a novella (like [All in a Maze] by the same writer) and there is a farcical element involving an American journalist which sits uneasily with the rest of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Romonko
Carr has long been known as the king of the locked room mystery, and in this book we get two actual locked-room mysteries. One appears to be a suiciide and one is a murder, but neither one is straight-forward. In true Carr fashion, he keeps us guessing until the very end. But thank goodness crime
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fighter extraordinaire Gideon Fell is on the scene and he finds his way through the maze. This book has Carr's trademark black humour as well, and kept me laughing all the way through. The antics when the characters get into the famous in "Doom of the Campbells" (which happens to be a particularly strong whiskey)are incredibly funny! I love the way Carr plotted his stories. His mysteries are highly intelligent, complex and he is the unrivalled master in his particular genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member jburlinson
Regardless of their constancy, I remember nothing of these suicides or their perpetrator(s). I believe Dr. Gideon Fell appears, but, to the best of my recollection, he does not, unfortunately, commit suicide.
LibraryThing member gpangel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The case of the constant suicides by John Dickson Carr was originally published in 1941. Three deaths all look like suicides. However, some questions remain. Dr. Fell arrives to investigate. An insurance policy payout hangs in the balance as the deaths are ruled suicide or
The case of the constant suicides by John Dickson Carr was originally published in 1941. Three deaths all look like suicides. However, some questions remain. Dr. Fell arrives to investigate. An insurance policy payout hangs in the balance as the deaths are ruled suicide or
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murder. I love these old 1940's detective novels. This one is one of those infamous locked room murders. Very ahead it's time , cleverly plotted, mystery with sharp dialogue and quick wit, plus a little romance. A very good classic mystery. Overall an A Show Less
LibraryThing member avanders
This is a fun classic murder mystery. What I really liked about this one is that it was FUN! It was funny, light, and moved quickly. There weren't long and involved explanations of the scenery or drawn-out descriptions of the personalities... it was just a story that quickly moved from one scene to
In the book, several people have been called to a castle in Scotland for a "family meeting" to discuss the death and after-affect of a certain family member. There is a dispute about whether the man committed suicide or was murdered and the various characters are quickly drawn into the activity, the mystery, and the frivolity.
Recommended for people looking for a quick and fun classic murder mystery.
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the next, creating, complicating, and then resolving the mystery.In the book, several people have been called to a castle in Scotland for a "family meeting" to discuss the death and after-affect of a certain family member. There is a dispute about whether the man committed suicide or was murdered and the various characters are quickly drawn into the activity, the mystery, and the frivolity.
Recommended for people looking for a quick and fun classic murder mystery.
Show Less
LibraryThing member avanders
This is a fun classic murder mystery. What I really liked about this one is that it was FUN! It was funny, light, and moved quickly. There weren't long and involved explanations of the scenery or drawn-out descriptions of the personalities... it was just a story that quickly moved from one scene to
In the book, several people have been called to a castle in Scotland for a "family meeting" to discuss the death and after-affect of a certain family member. There is a dispute about whether the man committed suicide or was murdered and the various characters are quickly drawn into the activity, the mystery, and the frivolity.
Recommended for people looking for a quick and fun classic murder mystery.
Show More
the next, creating, complicating, and then resolving the mystery.In the book, several people have been called to a castle in Scotland for a "family meeting" to discuss the death and after-affect of a certain family member. There is a dispute about whether the man committed suicide or was murdered and the various characters are quickly drawn into the activity, the mystery, and the frivolity.
Recommended for people looking for a quick and fun classic murder mystery.
Show Less
LibraryThing member raizel
Pleasant enough read (for a story about a grisly way to die). The major problem with the story is that, according to my husband the engineer, the diabolical method used in the crime could not have actually worked. Other than that, .... See p. 136 for the author's explanation, but carbonic acid from
The advantage of having an unofficial detective solve a crime is that he can share as much or as little with the police and others as is necessary in order to improve the lives of the survivors.If the common-law widow knew that her loved one's death was suicide and not murder, then she would have spent the rest of her life believing he was condemned to eternal suffering.
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dry ice in a room-size space would not be concentrated enough to kill a person.The advantage of having an unofficial detective solve a crime is that he can share as much or as little with the police and others as is necessary in order to improve the lives of the survivors.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1846974593 / 9781846974595
Physical description
5.12 inches