Carter Dickson/John Dickson Carr’s clever The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the third and last of Art Scott’s recommended “impossible crimes” mysteries. This all started a month ago when I reviewed John Dickson Carr’s The Three Coffins (The Hollow Man) for FORGOTTEN BOOKS. Art argued that The Crooked Hinge, The Judas Window, and The Curse of the Bronze Lamp were superior to the convoluted The Three Coffins. To summarize: I loved The Crooked Hinge and The Judas Window. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp concerns the disappearance of archeologist Helen Loring. Lady Helen had been threatened that she would be “turned into dust” if she brought the sacred Bronze Lamp from Egypt to England. And, as soon as Helen Loring set foot in her home, Severn Hall, she disappeared! Of course, Sir Henry Merrivale is on the scene to solve the mystery. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the weakest of Art’s recommended books. I figured out what was going on in short order. But the plot is clever and there are a few surprises. If you’re a devotee of “impossible crime” mysteries, The Curse of the Bronze Lamp will delight you.
Love those covers. I used to enjoy this type of mystery, but after a while, they begin to seem all about gimmick to me.
I’ll be reviewing some different books for FORGOTTEN BOOKS now that I’ve read all of Art Scott’s recommendations, Patti. You’re right, it is all about the gimmick. And, after you’ve read of a few John Dickson Carrs, you can see the gimmick coming.
Me too, Patti. I read a lot of these in the 70’s but rarely have read one since.
Again, let me recommend John Sladek’s two Thackeray Phin novels, written in the 1970’s, BLACK AURA and INVISIBLE GREEN. Both are very clever locked room mysteries.
I’m still searching for my John Sladek books, Jeff. But, once I unearth them, I’ll review them for FORGOTTEN BOOKS.
More Dickson / Carr. I’ve tried a few times and I just can’t get into his books, regardless of the author name on the cover. I’m looking forward to the other reviews you mention.
You have to be in the mood for these kinds of puzzle mysteries, Rick. I’ve read four in a row now so I’ve reached my limit on this go-round.
Nice to see the evolution of the paperback cover.
I have two or three additional covers for THE CURSE OF THE BRONZE LAMP around here somewhere, Evan. Like you, I enjoy seeing how a book’s covers change over time.