And the murders of actual existence seldom lack their portion of comedy. essentially the most bad days within the annals of yank homicide opened on a hot morning with a guy named John Vinnicum Morse consuming warmed-over mutton soup for breakfast. i believe that many readers—particularly the recent younger readers of mysteries—may have fun with a extra beneficiant ration of comedy-in-murder than publishers were giving them; this sequence hopes to deliver you, now and then, Alan eco-friendly, Richard Shattuck and different top practitioners of the criminally absurd, beginning now with John Dickson Carr. There’s a robust comedian aspect in lots of of Carr’s books. It’s so much well-known within the circumstances of Sir Henry 12 Merivale, via “Carter Dickson” (and I become aware of with a unexpected surprise that it’s virtually ten years considering H. M. has seemed in a brand new book); however it turns up usually in Dr. Gideon Fell’s instances, too—as within the noble consuming sequences in terms of the consistent Suicides. yet those are intrusions, just like the porter. only once did Carr set himself to jot down an all-out farce (with homicide because the intrusion). And, being the incomparable technician that he's, he produced whatever special. correctly, he saved Dr. Fell out of the merry maelstrom and made him act, for as soon as, as a natural armchair detective, within the demeanour of the Baroness Orczy’s previous guy within the nook. Then he threaded via his outstanding plot a cautious set of clues for a perfect formal challenge in detection. not like just about all different comedies of terrors, The Blind Barber is a detective tale, within the strictest feel. yet by no means used to be a reader extra bedeviled with distractions from detection. Who observes clues whereas he’s wiping his laughter-streaming eyes? i am hoping you benefit from the problem … and the joys. thirteen ANTHONY BOUCHER 14 15 Part I sixteen 1 unusual shipment whilst the lining QUEEN Victoria left ny certain for Southampton and Cherbourg, it used to be stated that quite recognized humans have been aboard, and it used to be whispered hugely infamous 3rd individual used to be aboard additionally. furthermore, there has been a fourth—but inconspicuous—person who will take fairly a wide half during this rowdy and topsy-turvy chronicle. even supposing he didn't comprehend it, this younger guy had in his baggage whatever extra useful than the marionettes of M. Fortinbras or the emerald elephant of Lord Sturton, which in part explains why there have been puzzles and excessive carnival within the sedate bosom of the Queen Victoria, and monkey company now not altogether in response to the ordinary development. not more dignified send than the Queen Victoria flies the house-flag of any British line. She is what's occasionally defined as a “family” boat: which 17 means that no hilarity is allowed in her state-room after eleven P. M. , and all of the cross-ocean adjustments in time are punctiliously observed—so that the bar consistently closes three-quarters of an hour earlier than you are expecting it, and makes you swear. depression passengers sit down in her glazed writing-room and appear to be composing letters to the relations of the deceased. within the heavily-ornamented front room there's smooth dialog, no longer so loud because the creaking of woodwork while the fairway swell lifts and glitters prior the portholes; and knitting is in development prior to a few electrical lighting prepared to symbolize a hearth.