<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Astonishing scope
Review: Robert Adey has compiled a remarkable volume for any fan of the locked-room or "impossible" crime in mysteries. This volume lists over 2,000 separate stories (from the short story to the novel) and includes information about the puzzle presented (e.g., the victim was stabbed in an empty room while the only entrance was under constant guard), the sources where one might find the story (e.g., a particular magazine or publisher), and the solution. It is fortunate that Mr. Adey had the good sense to include the solutions in a separate section so that the reader of the volume is not likely to happen upon this information by accident.For those who are not familiar with the locked-room crime, it is a sub-genre of mystery or crime fiction, and the "howdunnit" aspect often takes center stage. Locked-room puzzles are not without their problems, and Mr. Adey deals with them in the essays that introduce the book, but when done well, a locked-room mystery is a thing of beauty. For those who agree with this assessment, Mr. Adey's hefty tome is an invaluable resource. (It should be noted, however, that not all of the crimes in "Locked Room Murders" are in fact murders. Some are thefts, and some are other crimes.) Perhaps the only substantial criticism is that the book could benefit from the addition of indeces. As it is, the mysteries are listed alphabetically by author.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing scope
Review: Robert Adey has compiled a remarkable volume for any fan of the locked-room or "impossible" crime in mysteries. This volume lists over 2,000 separate stories (from the short story to the novel) and includes information about the puzzle presented (e.g., the victim was stabbed in an empty room while the only entrance was under constant guard), the sources where one might find the story (e.g., a particular magazine or publisher), and the solution. It is fortunate that Mr. Adey had the good sense to include the solutions in a separate section so that the reader of the volume is not likely to happen upon this information by accident. For those who are not familiar with the locked-room crime, it is a sub-genre of mystery or crime fiction, and the "howdunnit" aspect often takes center stage. Locked-room puzzles are not without their problems, and Mr. Adey deals with them in the essays that introduce the book, but when done well, a locked-room mystery is a thing of beauty. For those who agree with this assessment, Mr. Adey's hefty tome is an invaluable resource. (It should be noted, however, that not all of the crimes in "Locked Room Murders" are in fact murders. Some are thefts, and some are other crimes.) Perhaps the only substantial criticism is that the book could benefit from the addition of indeces. As it is, the mysteries are listed alphabetically by author.
<< 1 >>
| 
