Mystery Review: The Poisoned Chocolates Case once again demonstrates that Anthony Berkeley (1893-1971) is a too little known and appreciated member of the Golden Age of mystery writing. Each of his books is uniquely interesting and determinedly different, and all are written with a light touch of humor. The Poisoned Chocolates Case is the epitome of a "puzzle" mystery story, intricately and persuasively worked out and presented. Here Berkeley introduces the six members of the "Crimes Circle" group, each of whom try to solve a notorious contemporary murder involving the poisoning of a wealthy women that has stumped Scotland Yard. The Crimes Circle was paralleled in real life by "The Detection Club" with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers as well as Berkeley. Adding to the puzzle are the six "detectives" testing their theories, each with a different focus, solved in a different way, each identifying a different suspect. The Poisoned Chocolates Case features two of Berkeley's series detectives, polar opposites Ambrose Chitterwick and Roger Sheringham. The novel is reminiscent of The Benson Murder Case (1923), a tour de force in which Philo Vance solves a murder six different ways, once for each of the six suspects. There might also be a hint of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot short story "The Chocolate Box," first published in 1923. For puzzle mystery fans this is a must-read. [4 ★]
No comments:
Post a Comment