The Problem of the Wire Cage: A Gideon Fell Mystery (An American Mystery Classic)

John Dickson Carr, Rian Johnson (Introduction by)

$15.95

Publication Date: January 2nd, 2024

Publisher:

American Mystery Classics

ISBN:

9781613164877

Pages:

288

Usually Ships in 2 to 5 Days

Description

Death and tennis meet in one of impossible crime master John Dickson Carr’s most memorable cases.

John Dickson Carr is famous for his puzzling “impossible crime” plots in which corpses are discovered in scenarios that seem to lack any logical explanation. Among all of Carr’s ingenious crime scenes, the present case is one of the best known: a dead man is found strangled in the middle of a clay tennis court just after a storm. In the damp dirt, there is one set of footsteps—his own—leading back to the grass; the court is otherwise untouched.

It seems like a case of sudden death but, in order to find who’s at fault, the authorities must first solve the mystery of the body’s puzzling position. The bafflement has reached a harried volley by the time ace amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell gets involved, bringing to the case a wit capable of cutting through the racket and discovering the truth. With brilliant deductive reasoning and plenty of humor, Fell untethers a confounding set of clues in search of a diabolical killer and a bizarre murder method, serving up a dazzling stroke of genius to expose whodunit.

Reissued for the first time this century, The Problem of the Wire Cage is an atmospheric and amusing Golden Age mystery with a memorable puzzle at its center, perfect for both long-time fans and first-time readers of John Dickson Carr.

About the Author

John Dickson Carr (1906-1977) was one of the greatest writers of the American Golden Age mystery, and one of the only American authors to be included in England’s legendary Detection Club. Though he was born and died in the United States, Carr began his writing career while living in England, where he remained for nearly twenty years. Under his own name and various pseudonyms, he wrote more than seventy novels and numerous short stories, and is best known today for his locked-room mysteries. His beloved series character, Dr. Gideon Fell, was based on author G. K. Chesterton and appeared in twenty-four novels.

Rian Johnson is an American film director, writer, and producer. His mystery film Knives Out (2019), starring Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and its sequel Glass Onion (2022) was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Johnson has also created the television crime drama Poker Face for the streaming service Peacock.

Praise for The Problem of the Wire Cage: A Gideon Fell Mystery (An American Mystery Classic)

Carr’s tricks and puzzles are as thrilling as ever, and Johnson’s introduction offers sharp insight into the story’s enduring appeal…. This is an ideal introduction to a master of mystery fiction’s golden age.
— Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

Amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell ... provides the traditional 'one of you is the murderer' summing-up with aplomb. Brilliant.
— Booklist

Whodunnit fans, don’t miss this!
— CrimeReads

An atmospheric and amusing Golden Age mystery with a memorable puzzle at its center.… It is certain to create new and appreciative fans of John Dickson Carr and is also a great entry point into his series of beloved Gideon Fell mysteries.
— Midwest Book Review

His stories are superbly constructed.
— The Times

One is always sure of a good crime puzzle and of excellent entertainment when Dr. Fell is on the job.
— New York Times

Very few detective stories baffle me nowadays, but Mr. Carr’s always do.
— Agatha Christie