When an occultist is found dead in a locked room, and the only suspects are an escape artist, a ventriloquist, a clairvoyant and her husband, and a professional medium, the police call in the Great Merlini, a master magician himself, to help them figure out who the murderer is. Because it takes a magician to catch one. And Merlini is very skilled in magic and misdirection. And they're going to need all his skills of deduction when a second magician is murdered just like the first.
"Of course, Inspector," Merlini said, "the really difficult crimes to solve, as you know, are the ones in which anyone might have popped in and done it. But when, as in this case, it seems that no one could possibly have murdered either man, it means that, once we find out how they were done, we will know who did them. The impossible situation, by its very uniqueness, ultimately limits the possibilities."
Clayton Rawson, a talented magician himself, wrote this mystery in 1938. And it is so much fun! I loved Merlini and how he and Ross Harte, the writer/journalist narrating the story, banter with the police and discuss all the possible ways a murderer could escape a locked room, quoting from the best detective novels and crime fiction afficianados. Their discussion of classic magic tricks was also fun. And while I didn't figure out whodunnit, the clues were there. And the Great Merlini was more than happy to explain them all at the end. I've read several Golden Age mysteries this year, and this is one of my favorites.
Happy Reading!
Thank you all your love and care for me.
ReplyDeleteRegine
Hang in there, Regine! My prayers are with you.
DeleteThat period - the '30s and '40s - certainly was a golden age for mystery writers. So many excellent writers were active then whose works live on today and continue to give pleasure to us mystery lovers.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy these classic mysteries. I love their slower pacing, and their witty dialogue, and their fun plots. :D
DeleteThis sounds fun! I've never heard of this book or author, but I would definitely like to read it.
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me a little of Tom Mead's Joseph Spector mysteries, although I guess this one came first. But it's fun having a magician helping to solve the crime. :D
DeleteWell that sounds different and interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun one. :D
DeleteThis really sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it. Merlini is a great character. :D
DeleteSounds like a great classic mystery! I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI love these classic mysteries. They're just a lot of fun to read. :D
DeleteThis sounds like a fun read, despite being a murder mystery.
ReplyDeleteIt's entertaining. :D
DeleteI love that you read such a wide variety of books, authors, and don't just stick with recent books, but will read ones written decades ago!
ReplyDeleteThese golden age mysteries are so fun to read! I love them for their old-fashionedness...which I know isn't a word, but there you go. ;D
DeleteLove the sound of this one. I was always obsessed with magic as a kid, so combining that with a mystery is a real win for me.
ReplyDeleteThe magicians in this one were great. And I loved all the misdirection and how Merlini could see through it and figure out who the murderer was. A very fun read. :D
DeleteThis sounds so fun! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun. Merlini gives a lot of explanations about misdirection and magic tricks and crime novel detectives, but I didn't mind; I just enjoyed reading this one. :D
DeleteThis does sound really entertaining!
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