Castle Skull (British Library Crime Classics)

by John Dickson Carr and J D Carpenter

'That is the case. Alison has been murdered. His blazing body was seen running about the battlements of Castle Skull.'
And so a dark shadow looms over the Rhineland where Inspector Henri Bencolin and his accomplice Jeff Marle have arrived from Paris. Entreated by the Belgian financier D'Aunay to investigate the gruesome and grimly theatrical death of actor Myron Alison, the pair find themselves at the imposing hilltop fortress Schloss Schadel, in which a small group of suspects are still assembled.
As thunder rolls in the distance, Bencolin and Marle enter a world steeped in macabre legends of murder and magic to catch the killer still walking the maze-like passages and towers of the keep.
This new edition of John Dickson Carr's spirited and deeply atmospheric early novel also features the rare Inspector Bencolin short story 'The Fourth Suspect'.

• ISBN10: 0821719742
• ISBN13: 9780821719749
• Publish Date: 1 January 1987 (first published June 1976)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 1 May 2012
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Zebra Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cameron Trost]

A rollicking tale of mystery and adventure set in a Rhineland castle that looks like a skull. With a colourful cast of characters and the enigmatic magician, Maleger, at the heart of it all, the armchair detective will be entertained. There are a couple of red herrings along the way but the keen detective will identify the culprit before the reveal and sit back smugly as Bencolin sheds light on the whole affair and explains how he cracked the case.

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Castle Skull is the second Henri Bencolin mystery by John Dickson Carr. Originally released in 1931 this reformat and re-release, out 5th May 2020 is part of the British Library Crime Classics series by Poisoned Pen Press. The new edition is 256 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. (Other editions available in other formats).

This early Carr novel is well crafted, but quite lurid and, to me, a bit over the top. A large house full of very odd characters, a gothic skull shaped tower across the river which was the scene of a bizarre murder-by-fire on the ramparts, two competing detectives (one French, one German), and a twisty denouement which I honestly didn't see coming.

As the others in the series, there is an introduction by mystery history maven Martin Edwards. As engaging as these classic mysteries have been, I have also looked forward in equal measure to Mr. Edwards' insightful commentary.

Carr is well known (with good reason) for his 'impossible' locked room mysteries. Despite being almost 90 years old, it wears well, and still provides a load of atmosphere (in some places, positively creepy). The first murder is quite gory (an immolation) and there's a varied cast of suspects and a load of red herrings along the way.

The dialogue and style are admittedly a bit dated and true to the period, but I found it charming. For fans of golden age mysteries, it'll definitely be a plus, not a detraction.

Very well done. I have read a lot of Carr's work, but somehow had missed this one. Worth a read, especially for fans of the golden age.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.