After laboring through three tiresome books that I couldn't finish reading I picked up this oldie, from the list of a favorite author. Although I did finish it, it didn't live up to the fond memory I had about it. The mystery doesn't actually start until about half-way in, when Dr. Fell arrives at the Scottish castle.
There is too much clever banter and silly situations regarding the two young Campbells for my taste. The locked room aspects are okay (but one of them depends on it being during WWII and how people had to conform to rules at the time.)
Not a complete misfire, but not as good as some other Carr books (like The Three Coffins, The Problem of the Green Capsule, The Judas Window.)
There is too much clever banter and silly situations regarding the two young Campbells for my taste. The locked room aspects are okay (but one of them depends on it being during WWII and how people had to conform to rules at the time.)
Not a complete misfire, but not as good as some other Carr books (like The Three Coffins, The Problem of the Green Capsule, The Judas Window.)
Among the most popular mystery novelists of the 20th Century, John Dickson Carr was famous for his "locked room" plots--and the 1942 THE CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES presents us with no less than three locked room, two mysterious deaths, and one equally mysterious assault.
Angus Campbell has plunged to his death from a tower of his home in Scotland. But was it suicide--or murder? This is an important question for the Campbell family: a verdict of suicide will void Angus' life insurance policies, and the financially strapped family needs every penny it can get. In an effort to clear up the matter once and for all, the family calls upon the famous (and in some respects notorious) Dr. Gideon Fell. But no sooner is Fell installed on the premises than there is a second plunge from the tower heights.
In addition to his way with a plot, Carr was also noted for his wit, and THE CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES crackles with laugh-out-loud incidents and dialogue.
Angus Campbell has plunged to his death from a tower of his home in Scotland. But was it suicide--or murder? This is an important question for the Campbell family: a verdict of suicide will void Angus' life insurance policies, and the financially strapped family needs every penny it can get. In an effort to clear up the matter once and for all, the family calls upon the famous (and in some respects notorious) Dr. Gideon Fell. But no sooner is Fell installed on the premises than there is a second plunge from the tower heights.
In addition to his way with a plot, Carr was also noted for his wit, and THE CASE OF THE CONSTANT SUICIDES crackles with laugh-out-loud incidents and dialogue.
