Locked Rooms

by John Dickson Carr

Classic Mysteries:
The Three Coffins
To Wake the Dead
The Skeleton in the Clock

Genres: Mystery

705 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

AKA Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn.

John Dickson Carr was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1906. It Walks by Night, his first published detective novel, featuring the Frenchman Henri Bencolin, was published in 1930. Apart from Dr Fell, whose first appearance was in Hag's Nook in 1933, Carr's other series detectives (published under the nom de plume of Carter Dickson) were the barrister Sir Henry Merrivale, who debuted in The Plague Court Murders (1934).

Reviews

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read Three Coffins because I heard it was the best ever written of the locked door mysteries. I don't think so. Maybe I'll read the other two later, but I found the style tedious. I know telling the reader what to think in the beginning was a thing in the 20s abd 30s but I don't like it.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three stories included were good but I enjoyed To Wake the Dead best.

[Kay Sarver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not finish. It is not my kind of story

[Kani · Rating 3 out of 5]

These three murder mysteries were written (not just set in, but written!) in the 30s & 40s so murder solving was done a lot differently than today. Including telling the suspects everything like in the Clue game (it was Miss Scarlett in the conservatory with the candlestick). They were enjoyable especially since I am so willing to suspend my disbelief. The blustering overly intelligent heroes and their cavalier sidekicks, the anxious hand wringing women....it was all a bit much, yet very entertaining. Another fun summer read twisting and turning from beginning to end!

[J.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dickson was an early influence/addiction in my mystery education. This is a collection of three of his best-rated locked room mysteries.