FORGOTTEN BOOKS #59: THE CROOKED HINGE By John Dickson Carr


Last week, I reviewed John Dickson Carr’s The Three Coffins and Art Scott commented that another Carr mystery, The Crooked Hinge, was superior because its solution was more elegant (four words, 11 letters). I happened to have The Crooked Hinge and immediately read it. Art is right. The Crooked Hinge is better than The Three Coffins (although I still have a fondness for it despite the elaborate explanation of the murders). The Crooked Hinge has Satanist witch-cults, the Titanic, a diabolical robot, questions of identity, and TWO completely logical explanations of the murder (but only one of them is correct). If you’re in the mood for one of John Dickson Carr’s mind-bending puzzle mysteries, The Crooked Hinge will turn your brain into a pretzel.

20 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN BOOKS #59: THE CROOKED HINGE By John Dickson Carr

    1. george Post author

      I went through a “John Dickson Carr phase” back in the 1970s, Patti. I read about a dozen of his books. Now, I’m in a mini-JDC phase. I’ll read a few more for upcoming FORGOTTEN BOOKS.

      Reply
  1. Richard R.

    I’d like to read this one, though I’m not a big fan of Carr. I’m not too sure about having my brain turned into a pretzel, though. How like an Ellery Queen is the last part of this, when it comes to the explanations? By which I guess I mean how outlandish.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Art Scott was right about the solution to THE THREE COFFINS being convoluted, Rick. The solution to THE CROOKED HINGE is both outlandish and elegant. Carr was a genius to come up with such an innovative solution to his puzzle.

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      I have to be in a certain mood to plow through John Dickson Carr’s complicated plots, Randy. But, I’m certainly in the mood now so you’ll see a few more John Dickson Carr (and Carter Dickson) reviews on my blog in the coming weeks.

      Reply
  2. R. T.

    Well done! John Dickson Carr must not be forgotten. I join you in urging anyone and everyone who loves mystery novels to devour the Carr canon. Of course, unfortunately, his books are disappearing from libraries and bookstores; perhaps some enterprising publisher will step up and make sure Carr never goes out of print.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      It’s distressing to see how few John Dickson Carr (and Carter Dickson) books are in print on AMAZON, R.T. And, when I checked my local public library, they only list eight Carr/Dickson books in their holdings. What a sad state of affairs!

      Reply
  3. Art Scott

    Pleased to hear my comments steered you to this classic. However, I wouldn’t use the word “plausible” under any circumstances when discussing Carr! Impossible crime fans who have been through Carr ought to check out the work of forgotten New Zealand-born author Norman Berrow. Some of his crime fiction is fairly conventional, but at one point he apparently decided to try to out-Carr Carr and produced two wild and preposterous impossible novels: The Footprint of Satan and The Three Tiers of Fantasy. Solutions are provided by “Gadzooks!”-expostulating Detective-Inspector Lancelot Carolus Smith. Both go way over the top in piling up multiple impossibilities., but Three Tiers of Fantasy is the most outrageous. I don’t think Berrow had the “simple solution” concept in mind (certainly not in Satan, which has much in common with Rim of the Pit), but it sort of applies in Fantasy. The impossibilities are so complex and so utterly impossible that there can be only one simple solution easily deduced by the astute reader. Berrow’s books are available in nice Lulu POD trade editions from Ramble House.I think even jaded Carr readers will get a jolt from these two.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      I have ordered the Norman Berrow books you mentioned, Art. Your comments peaked my interest. And, since I’m in a John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson mode, Berrow will fit in nicely.

      Reply
  4. Steve Lewis

    This is terrible. I gobbled up all of the Carr/Dickson books when I was in high school, and now I can’t remember the plots of any of them — not if this book is an example. I read your whole review, George, and not a singe bell was rung.

    Time to start over, I think!

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      THE CROOKED HINGE is a good place to start, Steve! I know the feeling of having read certain books, but can’t recall the details. Ah, the aging process…

      Reply
  5. Jeff Meyerson

    For something a little newer in the Carr vein, try the two Thackeray Phin books (BLACK AURA and INVISIBLE GREEN) by John Sladek. Locked room expert Bob Adey recommended them to me 30 years ago.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      I’ve read some of John Sladek’s SF, Jeff. I have BLACK AURA and INVISIBLE GREEN so you might be seeing them as forthcoming FORGOTTEN BOOKS.

      Reply
  6. Cap'n Bob

    I read THE FOUR FALSE WEAPONS (I think that’s right) long ago, and wasn’t inspired to read any more. Guess I’m too simple for convoluted plots.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      THE FOUR FALSE WEAPONS is typical of John Dickson Carr’s approach, Bob. Plenty of red herrings and then a mind-bending solution. It’s fun if you’re in the mood for that kind of Golden Age mystery.

      Reply

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