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Dr. Twist #7
Il demone del Dartmoor
Tre ragazze morte, un anno dopo l’altro. Precipitate di notte da uno strapiombo nelle acque di un torrente. E i testimoni oculari ogni volta certi che le vittime siano state spinte nel vuoto da un essere invisibile. L’ennesimo mistero della brughiera per gli abitanti del villaggio di Stapleford, dove le superstizioni si tramandano di padre in figlio. Però a tutto c’è un limite, che viene raggiunto quando un giovane attore precipita da una finestra sotto gli occhi della moglie, di una collega e di altri presenti. Tutti concordi: è stata una mano dal nulla a spingerlo incontro alla morte. Al criminologo Alan Twist e all’ispettore Hurst di Scotland Yard, ora, l’arduo compito di discernere la realtà dalle allucinazioni. Scoprendo se davvero una creatura demoniaca infesti le lande sperdute del Dartmoor, o se piuttosto dietro agli omicidi non si celi una mente diabolica. Perché chi è convinto di avere visto un assassino invisibile potrebbe, semplicemente, non aver visto un assassino visibile.
All’interno, il racconto “La vedova Licitra” di Vincenzo Vizzini.
All’interno, il racconto “La vedova Licitra” di Vincenzo Vizzini.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Paul Halter
84 books63 followersPaul Halter is a writer of crime fiction known for his locked room mysteries. Halter pursued technical studies in his youth before joining the French Marines in the hope of seeing the world. Disappointed with the lack of travel, he left the military and, for a while, sold life insurance while augmenting his income playing the guitar in the local dance orchestra. He gave up life insurance for a job in the state-owned telecommunications company, where he works in what is presently known as France Télécom. Halter has been compared with the late John Dickson Carr, generally considered the 20th century master of the locked room genre. Throughout his nearly thirty novels his genre has been almost entirely impossible crimes, and as a critic has said "Although strongly influenced by Carr and Christie, his style is his own and he can stand comparison with anyone for the originality of his plots and puzzles and his atmospheric writing."
His first published novel, La Quatrieme Porte ("The Fourth Door")was published in 1988 and won the Prix de Cognac, given for detective literature. The following year, his novel Le Brouillard Rouge (Red Mist) won "one of the highest accolades in French mystery literature", the Prix du Roman d'Aventures. He has now published more than thirty novels. Several of his short stories have been translated into English; by June 2010 six will have appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine; ten were collected and published by Wildside Press as The Night of the Wolf.
His first published novel, La Quatrieme Porte ("The Fourth Door")was published in 1988 and won the Prix de Cognac, given for detective literature. The following year, his novel Le Brouillard Rouge (Red Mist) won "one of the highest accolades in French mystery literature", the Prix du Roman d'Aventures. He has now published more than thirty novels. Several of his short stories have been translated into English; by June 2010 six will have appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine; ten were collected and published by Wildside Press as The Night of the Wolf.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 23, 2015
Paul Halter is one of the most clever mystery novelists writing today. He has my vote as the successor to John Dickson Carr, for crafting brilliantly baffling and atmospheric locked-room impossible crime mysteries.
I'm making my way through his books as they become available in English translation (from their original French), and The Demon of Dartmoor is one of his best. In foggy Dartmoor, an invisible force pushes people to their deaths. The deaths take place over many years and are seemingly unrelated (and impossible), but in this fair-play mystery, all the clues are there to figure out the shocking resolution.
I'm making my way through his books as they become available in English translation (from their original French), and The Demon of Dartmoor is one of his best. In foggy Dartmoor, an invisible force pushes people to their deaths. The deaths take place over many years and are seemingly unrelated (and impossible), but in this fair-play mystery, all the clues are there to figure out the shocking resolution.
January 4, 2018
Semplicemente fantastico e primo libro finito per il 2018. Adoro questo tipo di misteri e se anche voi siete uguali è consigliato alla grande.
February 14, 2016
And right after I had thought about calling a halt over my progress with works of Paul Halter, whose last read book was quite bad, he comes back with a bang! The book is brilliant, compact, devoid of meaningless ramblings, and is full of intriguing stuff, all of which come together as we get to see the denouement.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
June 29, 2022
A man is pushed to his death...by an invisible force. That's what four witnesses say happened at Trerice Manor, the old manse where a woman met a similarly shocking fate half a century before. And then there are the villagers who remember the three girls who met grisly ends after being seen walking and talking with...an invisible man. Is an unseen specter inhabiting the sleepy village of Stapleford?
That is the setting for The Demon of Dartmoor, the case that criminologist Alan Twist and his friend Inspector Hurst are assigned the task of solving. They have their work cut out for them. Author Paul Halter does a fantastic job at setting up a puzzle and presenting quite fairly the pieces to the reader. He adds great atmosphere - a foreboding mountain, fog-shrouded village streets, superstitious villagers - and interesting main characters. The mystery is so baffling, yet so seemingly simple when Alan Twist explains it all at the end. I didn't figure it out (and let's face it, being surprised by a great ending is half the fun).
An entertaining, fair-play mystery in a wonderful format (the size and font of the Locked Room International books deserve much credit). I see that Halter wrote quite a few mysteries featuring Alan Twist, and I can't wait to get my hands on them!
That is the setting for The Demon of Dartmoor, the case that criminologist Alan Twist and his friend Inspector Hurst are assigned the task of solving. They have their work cut out for them. Author Paul Halter does a fantastic job at setting up a puzzle and presenting quite fairly the pieces to the reader. He adds great atmosphere - a foreboding mountain, fog-shrouded village streets, superstitious villagers - and interesting main characters. The mystery is so baffling, yet so seemingly simple when Alan Twist explains it all at the end. I didn't figure it out (and let's face it, being surprised by a great ending is half the fun).
An entertaining, fair-play mystery in a wonderful format (the size and font of the Locked Room International books deserve much credit). I see that Halter wrote quite a few mysteries featuring Alan Twist, and I can't wait to get my hands on them!
April 12, 2017
Halter's books regularly make the Publisher's Weekly Best Mystery of the Year list, so I was looking forward to checking one out.
I really didn't like anything about it, from the awkward writing (maybe the translation is to blame, but the way the scenes are structured, I wouldn't necessarily bet on it), to the thin characterizations, to the ridiculous solution.
I wouldn't recommend it.
I really didn't like anything about it, from the awkward writing (maybe the translation is to blame, but the way the scenes are structured, I wouldn't necessarily bet on it), to the thin characterizations, to the ridiculous solution.
I wouldn't recommend it.
October 23, 2014
One of the best novel by Paul. The killer it easy to find but the solution of impossible murder is very hard to understand.
The novel is full of quotes and very interesting.
Analysis on my blog:
http://deathcanread.blogspot.it/2014/...
The novel is full of quotes and very interesting.
Analysis on my blog:
http://deathcanread.blogspot.it/2014/...
July 11, 2013
An invisible man has pushed five people to their deaths. At least, that's what witnesses have sworn. Through the mists of Dartmoor, an evil is roaming and claiming its victims...
This is my first Paul Halter book. I've heard a lot of talk about him being the successor to John Dickson Carr in terms of Locked Room Mysteries...and judging by this book, he is.
The Demons of Dartmoor is just how I like my mysteries - with a splash of the supernatural and a fiendishly difficult puzzle. All my theories were confronted by the detective and dismissed. The solution is pretty clever.
This book was originally written in French, but the translation is excellent.
Recommended.
This is my first Paul Halter book. I've heard a lot of talk about him being the successor to John Dickson Carr in terms of Locked Room Mysteries...and judging by this book, he is.
The Demons of Dartmoor is just how I like my mysteries - with a splash of the supernatural and a fiendishly difficult puzzle. All my theories were confronted by the detective and dismissed. The solution is pretty clever.
This book was originally written in French, but the translation is excellent.
Recommended.
February 8, 2019
The best impossible crime is the simplest impossible crime. The one which you kick yourself after for not realising. In this overdone genre it is very hard to come by a new solution to any impossible crime,yet Halter has done it again an entirely fresh and new plot idea which has never been done before not to my knowledge anyway and what a beautiful idea it is. The pacing of the book is perfect although I was able to guess the murderer but the explanation of the main impossibility floored me. A must read one of the better works of Halter.
January 15, 2018
Uno splendido delitto impossibile che alla fine viene spiegato in modo dannatamente semplice. E i demoni non c'entrano per nulla, ovviamente.
Questo giallo ha tutti gli elementi essenziali per piacermi: l'atmosfera sovrannaturale, l'ambientazione fra brughiere nebbiose e manieri infestati, enigmi impossibili. E soprattutto una soluzione che fa restare a bocca aperta e dire: cavolo, era così semplice e proprio per questo nessuno ci pensa!
Questo giallo ha tutti gli elementi essenziali per piacermi: l'atmosfera sovrannaturale, l'ambientazione fra brughiere nebbiose e manieri infestati, enigmi impossibili. E soprattutto una soluzione che fa restare a bocca aperta e dire: cavolo, era così semplice e proprio per questo nessuno ci pensa!
May 2, 2016
After being underwhelmed by Halter's previous novel,this is a return to form.A chilling tale of an invisible murderer pushing people to their deaths on the foggy wilds of Dartmoor.The murders span 60 years and will have you guessing until the end.If you are fan of the GAD novels of Dickson Carr you will love this.Recommended!
September 5, 2023
FIRST READING 5/9/18: 4 Stars
This was my first Paul Halter and it’s not a bad one. Not for everyone, but those who like it will like it a lot. Mysterious happening on the moors, witchcraft, invisible monsters, impossible crimes.
SECOND READING 4/2020: 4 Stars
Originally read this May 9, 2018; just re-read it while waiting for a new Paul Halter. I won’t change my original rating.
This was my first Paul Halter and it’s not a bad one. Not for everyone, but those who like it will like it a lot. Mysterious happening on the moors, witchcraft, invisible monsters, impossible crimes.
SECOND READING 4/2020: 4 Stars
Originally read this May 9, 2018; just re-read it while waiting for a new Paul Halter. I won’t change my original rating.
June 26, 2018
Bellissimo, un giallo appassionante dove niente è come sembra e dove dietro le apparenze si nascondono misteri da brivido.
L'autore ha uno stile raffinato, miscela narrazione e azione in modo ben dosato e i suoi personaggi sono indimenticabili.
Favoloso.
L'autore ha uno stile raffinato, miscela narrazione e azione in modo ben dosato e i suoi personaggi sono indimenticabili.
Favoloso.
October 29, 2019
This is my second Halter book after The Seventh Hypothesis and I am thoroughly satisfied with the plot, detection, characters and the really ingenious explanation of the central mystery.In fact I would readily rate this as one of the best impossible/locked room type mystery I had the fortune to read. I am someone who cannot narrow down my suspects list to a single person if I cannot deduce how or why the crime was conducted and that leads me to jump from one suspect to another along with the narration..So the identity of the culprit in itself surprised me as i had rated a few other characters to be having better chance of being the murderer.. The mechanics of the principal crime as well as the overall eerie atmosphere of an invisible murderer pushing its victims to death all added up to make this clever GAD style novel a personal favourite of mine. I would recommend this to any fans of Carr's writing
June 23, 2019
Il mio primo Halter e devo dire che è stato davvero un incontro fantastico. Libro sensazionale in cui si mescolano delitti impossibili, eventi sovrannaturali e l'atmosfera tipica delle brughiere del Dartmoor. La soluzione è talmente semplice ma ingegnosa da lasciare spiazzati. Consigliatissimo.
April 7, 2019
An impossible crime novel. In the style of John Dickson Carr, with strong suggestions of the supernatural. Not as good a mystery as Carr but good.
January 19, 2020
Excelente !!! Soberbio plot y final digno de los mejores escritores de novelas policiales
January 6, 2022
Molto piacevole, giallo vecchia maniera in una ambientazione classica
February 13, 2022
Here is some excellent story with most cleverest impossible crime ,I loved it.
March 22, 2022
Sort of a less mystical but more straightforward Rim of the Pit or He Who Whispers. Thoroughly enjoyable!
April 24, 2022
Non mi è piaciuto. Ho trovato poca capacità di creare tensione. E la soluzione è stata per me deludente sia rispetto all'identità dell'omicida, sia al mezzo
September 20, 2025
I'm a sucker for locked room mysteries and enjoyed the clever answer to this one. I'm less convinced by the characters and place and doubt I will read again (this was my second time of reading).
August 6, 2026
A very clever impossible crime, set in the mythologically rich landscape of Dartmoor. Full review to follow at MurderAtTheManse.substack.com
June 10, 2022
An entertaining book, quick read with not much depth to the characters, but not needed anyway. Solution to the mystery is clever but not sure it holds up under deep thinking.
May 17, 2020
Everything about Paul Halter's books, from their cheesy meretricious titles to the hideous cover art, screams hackery, but Halter is frequently urged on fans of classic mysteries as a modern-day John Dickson Carr, so against my better judgment, I decided to give his books a try.
Most locked room mysteries today recycle ideas already introduced by Carr or other "Golden Age" practitioners. So Halter is to be commended for devising a solution to its central impossible problem (a series of victims apparently pushed to their deaths by an invisible killer) that I have never encountered before. But the execution isn't good. The solution to the main impossible situation is in its essential points very original, but Halter has no idea what to do with his good idea, and creates a situation where the success of the crime depends on the a literally incredible combination of coincidences favorable to the very lucky killer. To quote Chandler, "A murderer who needs that much help from Providence must be in the wrong business."
The solution to the secondary mystery, that of the three women at Wish Tor, is less clever (and what happened to the third girl so blindingly obvious as to all but give the culprit away) and even more dependent upon absurd concatenation of coincidences. Halter does a good job of creating a sense of creepiness around Wish Tor, but then it becomes ludicrous that characters should be continually hiking it after dark.
As for the writing, there is very little good to be said, and not having read Halter in the original French I don't know how to apportion blame here between him and his translator John Pugmire. Halter does manage to generate at times a genuinely creepy atmosphere. But this is undermined by dialogue that is ludicrously unnatural and cringey, tone and diction that are wildly inconsistent, and paper-thin characters who are made to behave in unbelievable ways. The structure of the narrative is incompetent beyond belief. The opening of the novel in particular is so lurchy and clumsy that I almost gave up on it, and while the novel sort of finds its stride in the middle, it bungles it again at the end with a very abrupt conclusion (with a tirade against -- trade unions ?!).
Lastly, clueing is weak: the denouement cites a handful of clues but none of them is in any way decisive except one very obvious one that some readers may chalk up reasonably to poor writing/poor translation.
Most locked room mysteries today recycle ideas already introduced by Carr or other "Golden Age" practitioners. So Halter is to be commended for devising a solution to its central impossible problem (a series of victims apparently pushed to their deaths by an invisible killer) that I have never encountered before. But the execution isn't good. The solution to the main impossible situation is in its essential points very original, but Halter has no idea what to do with his good idea, and creates a situation where the success of the crime depends on the a literally incredible combination of coincidences favorable to the very lucky killer. To quote Chandler, "A murderer who needs that much help from Providence must be in the wrong business."
The solution to the secondary mystery, that of the three women at Wish Tor, is less clever (and what happened to the third girl so blindingly obvious as to all but give the culprit away) and even more dependent upon absurd concatenation of coincidences. Halter does a good job of creating a sense of creepiness around Wish Tor, but then it becomes ludicrous that characters should be continually hiking it after dark.
As for the writing, there is very little good to be said, and not having read Halter in the original French I don't know how to apportion blame here between him and his translator John Pugmire. Halter does manage to generate at times a genuinely creepy atmosphere. But this is undermined by dialogue that is ludicrously unnatural and cringey, tone and diction that are wildly inconsistent, and paper-thin characters who are made to behave in unbelievable ways. The structure of the narrative is incompetent beyond belief. The opening of the novel in particular is so lurchy and clumsy that I almost gave up on it, and while the novel sort of finds its stride in the middle, it bungles it again at the end with a very abrupt conclusion (with a tirade against -- trade unions ?!).
Lastly, clueing is weak: the denouement cites a handful of clues but none of them is in any way decisive except one very obvious one that some readers may chalk up reasonably to poor writing/poor translation.
July 23, 2012
English version of this book - 'The demon of Dartmoor' - is already out for purchase and I read that version.Since I couldn't find it here,I am adding my review under this original title.
Finally an excellent impossible crime novel from Paul Halter after a couple of mundane ones like 'The lord of misrule' and 'The seven wonders of crime'.
This one felt even better than 'The fourth door' which itself is very good.
The solution to the puzzle is very simple and extremely ingenious.
But somehow I was able to spot one vital clue provided in the story and guess the murderer's identity long before it was actually disclosed.Nonetheless it is a very entertaining read.
Finally an excellent impossible crime novel from Paul Halter after a couple of mundane ones like 'The lord of misrule' and 'The seven wonders of crime'.
This one felt even better than 'The fourth door' which itself is very good.
The solution to the puzzle is very simple and extremely ingenious.
But somehow I was able to spot one vital clue provided in the story and guess the murderer's identity long before it was actually disclosed.Nonetheless it is a very entertaining read.
April 16, 2016
Tightly plotted, satisfying mystery. Predicted the central impossibility but still enjoyed it a lot. Definitely more plot driven than character-based, but the plot was pleasingly complex and tricky. Translation good, though quite a hefty price for the thing! Played fair. An enjoyable and convincing ode to the golden age.
September 15, 2016
There are developments in this book (time jumps; character perspective shifts, shocking deaths) which break the model of an old fashion murder mystery. They're refreshing after having read so many novels. But the "main" detective characters aren't fun and the solution 'works' but doesn't excite the little grey cells.
February 11, 2014
Quite enjoyed this one, and never seen this explanation for an impossible crime before. Of course, it's very much a genre book and just a bit of fun, but well worth it.
June 12, 2014
Eerie atmosphere, complex plot, "impossible crime", final twist all logically explained at the end. Aficionados of John Dixon Carr should really enjoy this one.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews