This is only the second book I’ve read by the very prolific John Dickson Carr, who also wrote under several pseudonyms including Carter Dickson. The first one I read was It Walks By Night, one of his Henri Bencolin mysteries, and although I enjoyed it overall, I found the plot too far-fetched and I didn’t much like Bencolin himself. The Black Spectacles, first published in 1939 and recently reissued as a British Library Crime Classic, is from a different series, featuring a different detective – Dr Gideon Fell – so I hoped it would be more to my taste. And it was – I loved it!
The novel is set in the small English village of Sodbury Cross, where a child has died after eating poisoned chocolates. The culprit has not been found, but suspicion has fallen on Marjorie Wells, because she was the one who sent the little boy to the shop to buy chocolates that day. Marjorie’s uncle, Marcus Chesney, believes that most people see the world through ‘black spectacles’, unable to correctly observe what is right in front of their eyes. To prove his point, he decides to stage a performance showing exactly how the real chocolates were substituted with the poisoned ones – and invites Marjorie, her fiancé George Harding and a family friend, Professor Ingram, along to watch. The performance is being filmed with a cine-camera and Marcus has compiled a list of questions to test the observational skills of the three people watching. But when he is found dead, murdered in full view of both the camera and his audience, each of the three witnesses seems to have seen something completely different!
I’ve said that this is a Dr Gideon Fell mystery, but Fell himself doesn’t appear until halfway through the novel. Until that point, the investigations are handled by Inspector Elliot of Scotland Yard, who seems quite competent and thorough…until we discover that he is not being entirely honest with the reader. By the time Fell is brought into the story, most of the clues are in place, but Elliot and the local Sodbury Cross police have failed to interpret them correctly. I’m not surprised they were struggling, because this is a very clever mystery with lots of twists and turns and an ingenious solution. I certainly couldn’t solve it and had to wait for Fell to explain it all, which he does bit by bit as each piece of the puzzle falls into place. I was particularly impressed by a clue involving a clock, which I would never have worked out for myself.
There are so many other things I loved about this book. Carr does an excellent job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of a little English village where the people are trying to come to terms with the discovery that there’s a poisoner in their midst. Some references to real life crimes and poisoning cases are worked into the plot – in particular the case of Christiana Edmunds, who was known as the ‘Chocolate Cream Killer’. I was also fascinated by the descriptions of 1930s film and camera technology, with the recording made of Marcus Chesney’s dramatic scene playing a very important part in the solving of the mystery.
Having enjoyed The Black Spectacles so much, I’m sure I’ll be reading more of the Gideon Fell mysteries soon. You may want to note that this book has also been published in the US as The Problem of the Green Capsule, just in case anyone buys the same book twice!
She Reads Novels 
This sounds a perfect holiday read. Or is it more complicated than that?
It’s quite a complex mystery, but easy enough to follow and very entertaining – so yes, I think it would be a good holiday read!
Thanks. All I need now is the holiday!
I haven’t read any John Dickson Carr but this one definitely sounds intriguing
I think you would like him. There are plenty of his books to choose from, but this would be a great one to start with!
I’m definitely going to keep an eye out when I’m book browsing
I’ve read quite a lot of Carr now (and probably enjoyed the Bencolins more than you!) but I thought this was a particularly strong book. The plot is so complex and clever, and I had no idea at all about the solution. Great fun!
No, I would never have guessed the solution either! I’ll have to try another of the Bencolins at some point – maybe I was just in the wrong mood for it.
They made a movie of one of his stories, Dangerous Crossing, and I really liked it…I still haven’t read any of his books, but I want to. My library has several that look good. Glad you enjoyed this one so much. 😀
I don’t think I’ve seen Dangerous Crossing. I’m glad you liked it!
I’ve heard many good things about this Carr book, I’ll look forward to enjoying it once it makes its way across the pond!
I hope you’re able to read it soon. It’s one of the most enjoyable Golden Age mysteries I’ve read for a while.
I have read several of the Carr reprints, and I think this was the best one.
Yes, it’s a really good one. I’ll have to read more of the Gideon Fell books as I liked this one much more than the Bencolin one I read.
I have read a couple of Gideon Fell books, but I liked this one most.
I don’t usually read mysteries, but it sounds quite interesting.
It’s one of the best mysteries I’ve read for a while.
I *think* I read some Carr many years ago – maybe. But thanks for the reminder that I really must schedule in another BLCC book (or two). It’s been FAR too long! [grin]
I love the BLCC books, but there are so many of them now! I’ll look forward to seeing which ones you choose next.
I have another 18 in a separate pile, so at least some of them will be read this year – I *hope*! But, as we know… SO many books, so little time….
I think you’ll like my next historical novel though – review on Monday.
Ooh, this is next up on my reading list so I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it so much! I’ve had a mixed experience with Gideon Fell – loved one didn’t love one – so I have my fingers crossed for this one!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I’m sure I’ll be reading more of the Gideon Fell books so I hope my next choice is as good as this one.