Sometime in the 1930s, Dr Allan Twist and Inspector Archibald Hurst are called in when theatre star Nigel Manson is seemingly pushed off a window ledge to his death, even though he was surrounded by several apparently impartial witnesses none of whom saw anyone do it. This is one of three dozen or so homages by Halter to the Golden Age detective stories of John Dickson Carr, who for me remains the best mystery author there ever was. But how well does Halter’s pastiche measure up? My previous experiences of his work have been a bit mixed …
I offer the following review for Friday’s Forgotten Books meme run by Patti Abbott at her fab Pattinase blog
“We’ve seen the invisible man with our own eyes,” repeated Twist in a deadpan voice.
There are several murders to be solved here, all apparently committed by a killer who is actually invisible! The first took place 50 years ago when a woman was seemingly pushed down a flight of stairs by an unseen hand. Then decades later three young women vanish from the top of “Wish Tor” though only two of the bodies are ever found. Then several years later an actor buys the old house in which the first woman died decades earlier and invites his mistress and her manager (and ex-lover) to join him and his wife there. With such a mix sparks inevitably fly, leading to a death that must be murder, only nobody can understand how. The actor was sitting on a window sill upstairs having his photo taken from below – his wife and his manager can both see him from the lounge, while a local man can see him from the gardens and all agree that he looked as though he were pushed, trying to stop himself from falling, but that there was nobody there behind him. And what about the three women who vanished years before, all of whom were reported to be heading to “Wish Tor” – a place used by trysting lovers – while speaking to a person nobody else could see? Twist and Hurst ask the help of many of the locals, from the gentry to a shepherd, and all prove to have opinions about the evil spirit that dwells in Stapleford.
“Can you imagine what the poor girl’s last thoughts were when two hands propelled her violently into the void?”
While the Carr-like impossible crime aspects are all cleared up very neatly and ingeniously, the real surprise for me was how much this novel reminded me of Agatha Christie, with an identity trick very typical of her work and here handled extremely well. Of the three Halter books I have read so far, this is certainly my favourite. There are probably too many plot strands for comfort and some of the overly melodramatic dialogue that tries to resemble the kind found in Golden Age stories can be somewhat facile at times. But the plot is strong and Halter does create a decent atmosphere of dread. This is one that should appeal to fans of both Christie and Carr – not quite the real thing of course, but pretty close.
“In all my career, I’ve never come across such a mysterious puzzle with such an incredibly simple solution.”
Only appearing in English in 2012, this book was originally published in France in 1993 as Le Diable de Dartmoor. This is one of the steadily growing number of Halter’s books to be translated into English by John Pugmire that are now available either in print editions or e-book format (see the list below). Pugmire deserves great kudos for doing this – yes, there are a few uneasy choices that remind you that this is a translation (referring to the last ever image of Manson as the “ultimate photo” when what Halter means is final, for instance; or “determinant role” when what we need is the word “crucial”) but this is minor nitpicking, it really is. Those marked below with an asterisk are available in English translation. For more info, visit Pugmire’s Locked Room International – www.mylri.com
Dr. Twist and Chief Inspector Hurst novels:
- La Quatrieme Porte (The Fourth Door, 1987)*
- La Mort Vous Invite (Death Invites You, 1988)*
- La Mort Derrière les Rideaux (Death Behind the Curtains, 1989)
- La Chambre du Fou (The Madman’s Room, 1990) – review
- La Tete du Tigre (The Tiger’s Head, 1991)*
- La Septieme Hypothese (The Seventh Hypothesis, 1991) *
- Le Diable de Dartmoor (The Demon of Dartmoor, 1993)*
- A 139 Pas de la Mort (139 Steps from Death, 1994)
- L’Image Trouble (The Picture from the Past, 1995)*
- La Malediction de Barberousse (The Curse of Barbarossa, 1995)
- L’Arbre aux Doigts Tordus (The Tree with Twisted Branches, 1996)
- Le Cri de la Sirene (The Siren’s Shriek, 1998)
- Meutre dans un Manoir Anglais (Murder in an English Manor, 1998)
- L’Homme Qui Aimait les Nuages (The Man Who Loved Clouds, 1999)
- L’Allumette Sanglante (The Bloody Match, 2001) – review
- Le Toile de Penelope (Penelope’s Web, 2001)
- Les Larmes de Sibyl (Sibyl’s Tears, 2005)
- Les Meurtres de la Salamandre (The Salamander Murders, 2009)
- La Corde d’Argent (The Silver Thread, 2010)
- Le Voyageur du Passe (The Traveler from the Past, 2012)
- La Tombe Indienne (The Indian Tomb, 2013)
To look at some alternative expert views on this one, see what Rich Westwood had to say over at his Past Offences blog; TomCat at Beneath the Stains of Time; Pietro de Palma over at Death Can Read; Barry Ergang at Flash Bang Mysteries;
Wot, no links to any of Brad’s jeremiads about this author?
Will he get angry do you think? I’ll stay away from locked rooms … 🙂
How interesting! Hints of both Carr and Christie… That sounds intriguing, Sergio. And I do like a well-plotted and believable ‘impossible mystery.’ Thanks – I may have to look this up.
I would be really curious to know what you make of it Margot – I certainly had a good time!
This doesn’t sound too bad at all, Sergio. Coincidentally, I’m right now in the middle of reading Halter’s short story collection The Night of the Wolf, my first experience of the author. Some of the stories are, naturally, stronger than others but I’d say I was enjoying them so far.
Only read three of the novels – thanks chum. The effect can be a bit synthetic at a times but the invention and affection are genuine.
I haven’t seen enough of his work yet to comment too much on the realism or otherwise of the tone but I think I have an inkling, from what I have read, of what you mean. It’s something to do with the rhythm of the language I suppose, although that may be related to the translation process too. Regardless, it’s not really a big negative.
In the end, these are pastiches so one has to make allowances for that.
Well that’s it. And as long as it’s not jumping out at you every page, and I haven’t found that happening, then it doesn’t amount to much of a problem. Actually, truth be told, if the story is reasonably involving and well enough told then I’m happy.
I would imagine that his approach would work especially well in the shorter form in fact.
Well, I think the collection thus far – just two stories left -has been pretty solid. A lot of snow involved and a couple of what are essentially morality tales but some enjoyable miracle problems too.
Great – will get it at some point though I am hideously behind on all my reading. In fact I read the Halter back in December and it took me This long to post the review!!!
Sure it was worth waiting for.
Personally, I find I’m reading at the pace that suits me at the moment – the pace of just about everything else is so far out of whack I don’t even want to think about it of course!
That sounds like the right approach – well done squire. I have several weeks of near chaps ahead of me but it is mostly of my own doing, so … 😀
Thanks forvthe kind words. Outrageous of me to whinge – just noticed this was my 700th post – good grief 😲
Oh, that’s a lot of posts! Congrats on that – it’s not easy to maintain that level of quality and consistency. Bravo!
You are much too kind – bit scared about where all that time has gone to be honest …
I understand those sentiments all too well, but my advice is there’s not much to be gained exploring that particular avenue in any depth.
Navel gazing now cancelled 😀
Very wise.
Paul Halter can be an uneven writer, in terms of quality, but this was a pretty solid effort on his part. A well plotted and written mystery. Apparently, Halter had visited Dartmoor before writing the book and it shows, because here he was a lot better when it come to bringing the setting alive, which has not always been his strongest point as a writer.
You might like The Seventh Hypothesis, Sergio.
Thanks for that TC – I’ll make sure that is the next one on the list then 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this, Sergio — it’s far from perfect, but I persinally love the resolution of that “window shove”, it mightr be my favourite impossible resolution of the non-classic era (though the man found crushed to death in his bathroom in John Sladek’s Invisible Green runs it very close…actually, pretty much every solution in Invisible Green runs it very close)
And when you say There are probably too many plot strands for comfort and some of the overly melodramatic dialogue that tries to resemble the kind found in Golden Age stories can be somewhat facile at times…yeah, that’s kinda Halter through and through, I feel. His entusiasm tends to get the better of his judgement, but the same was arguably true of Carr at times, and for sheer ingenuity alone I’m willing to forgive too many threads. Hell, given the run I’m currently on of books with not enough plot, I’d take an overstuffed Halter narrative right now just to relieve the tedium!
Thanks for that JJ – I read this one pretty much on your say so and did have a very good time and the main surprise worked well. I did laugh though when I saw that the book is promoted as having been singled out on the Miles Jump Radio BBC radio documentary on Locked Room mysteries as, well, it was John Pugmire himself who did that when he was interviewed on the programme!
Completely agree with JJ’s sentiment about too many ideas – the window fall is near perfect, but there really isn’t any need for the Headless Horseman guff.
I do wonder though about the air of artificiality that runs through Halter’s work – how much of that is due to the translation? Not a question that I can answer, unfortunately…
Some of that may be Pugmire, but in an interview Halter praised Carr’s artificiality. I think he’s trying to recreate his (Halter’s) vision of that atmosphere. Honestly, though, there’s always at least one layer too much of everything in Halter.
Bad on the Italian translations I would say this is Halter’s own doing/.
Did you think I was going to swirl in like the Wicked Witch of the West and ruin the festivities? Well, my pretties, I happen to think The Demon of Dartmoor is the best of the lot that I’ve read, and I think your review hit the highs and the lows perfectly, Sergio! However, I might argue that the whole thing works because it’s Halter at his most Carr-ian, rather than Christie-like. I think his most Agatha-ish book that I’ve read so far is Death Invites You. Anyway, I’m just the old grump, so I’ll go sit in my corner and leave you all to your discussion . . . 😦
To be honest, it’s nice that I’m not the one fulfilling this role for once…
Harsh! 🙂
Thanks very much Brad for all the great info – I think it’s the killer’s identity that feels Christie-like to me (avoiding spoilers here, obviously) but al very Carrion of course. And Carr was the best after all … which reminds me, when are you and JJ going to get round to the big Carr-Christie square-off then?
You mean, when are we going to effortlessly prove that Christie was the best by far, Sergio?? I believe that rout is slated for April, right, JJ?
Them’s fighting’ words Brad … 😉
Indeed; April…sometime.
Well, don’t hold back on my account! 😉
Sounds intriguing, Sergio. Both Christie and Carr?? Well okay, I’ll try and get a copy. Paul Halter, an author I’d never heard of. No news there. 🙂
I’d lend you mine but my nieces “borrowed” it 😉
I love the moody cover on The Demon of Dartmoor, I’ll have to track down a copy. Occasionally, I trek over to Canada and find books like this that never seem to be around in the U.S.
Would love to know what you make of it 😀
I have not ever been attracted to Paul Halter’s books, but maybe someday I will try one. Very nice review, Sergio (as always).
Thanks Tracy – now what is your position on John Dickson Carr again? 😀
My position on Carr is: I will definitely read one of his books in the next few months. My plan is to read The Emperor’s Snuffbox first. And I will try more than one of them, at least three for sure.
Just checking on your progress Tracy 🙂 And that book is a great place to start.
I have read his THE FOURTH DOOR which had its moments. But this sounds even more interesting.
Thanks for that Neeru – I do love a good puzzle!
This was my first Paul Halter and i enjoyed it so much that it led me to his other books. So far I have read 15 novels by Paul Halter (all 12 English translations and 3 in original French)
Which is your favourite of the others Santosh?
My ranking of Paul Halter novels is given in the comments section of JJ’s post on The Killing Needle.
https://theinvisibleevent.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/33-the-killing-needle-1871-by-henry-cauvin-trans-john-pugmire-2014/
Thank you for that.
Personally, I’d say that The Picture From The Past is the best of the translations – the explanation of the genie really killed The Tiger’s Head for me. And stay away from The Vampire Tree.
Oh, I do have a soft spot for The Seven Wonders Of Crime. I know it’s silly and has at least one victim as stupid as that bloke from The Problem Of The Wire Cage, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks for that. I think my next Halter will be in Italian though.
“L’immagine dal passato” or so Google Translate suggests. Does it exist in Italian?
What I meant was that I have one from Italy to read already – can’t remember which one it is but it’s not one featuring Twist as I recall …
Ah, je comprend. Sorry, can’t do Italian, so French is the closest thing…
Pas de problème monsieur le docteur
Is it L’OMICIDIO DI ATLANTIDE ?
Might be actually – will check over the weekend but it is one of the Mondadori releases in the ‘Classici’ line.
The Italian translation of Picture From The Past is actually titled Cento Anni Prima
Which in English would be “100 years before” or ‘earlier” – not bad …
Paul Halter is an author I’m always hearing about online, particularly in crime forums, and I have read some arguments and conflicting views. But I have never read him, nor seen one of his books, nor heard of him anywhere else. Frankly, I had no proof that he ever actually existed – he could have been an in-joke, one of those testing inventions. But now I hear it from you Sergio I actually believe it. And if I have to try one, it might as well be this one.
I wouldn’t trust me that far Moira 😀 as far as I know he is still writing. This is probably a very good place start as far as I have gathered!
All new to me, Sergio, but now I wanna find out how it happened–all of them. I kept seeing Richard Widmark, but he kept vanishing.
I think I may have missed something Matt – Widmark?
Kiss of Death (1947), his breakout- scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oesSyvh76g
I lost the flow there for a minute. Just got that movie on blu-ray
I’ve not seen the whole movie. Just that scene. Widmark’s one of my favorites.
Very good Nour and Victor Mature, the main star, is probably better than you might anticipate.
Hai letto il mio ultimo articolo, Sergio? Guarda che è rivolto specialmente a quelli come te che vivono all’estero ma capiscono l’italiano!
Avrai sicuramente una sorpresa perchè sono sicuro che molti dei titoli citati, non li conosci proprio!
Vai al link:
http://deathcanread.blogspot.it/2017/03/the-miracle-of-gad-italian-publishing.html
ASPETTO SUL BLOG UN TUO COMMENTO.
Ciao.
Piero
Una lista davvero dettagliata!
Yes, he has listed all the 177 books of the publisher !
Pretty amazing stuff
Also, he has listed every story in the anthologies !
That’s being a really devoted fan, that is 🙂
In un commento ho citato 3 doppioni che ho e che sicuramente tu non avrai letto perchè si tratta di romanzi molto rari ( figurarsi trovarli in lingua inglese!). Se ti interessano, mandami il tuo indirizzo attuale e vedo di inviartene uno o due (dipende dal peso della spedizione): non so se con l’uscita del UK dall’Unione Europea vi siano ancora facilitazioni nelle spedizioni o siano mutate le condizioni. Comunque ti farei arrivare quello che tu desiderassi. A dire il vero sono non dell’edizione originale, ma di una edizione del Corriere della Sera che ha pubblicato anni fa un cospicuo numero di questi romanzi ed io acquistai questi (ad un prezzo pari al 50% di quello originale) proprio per regalarli ad amici. Io ho gli originali invece. Ma salvo la copertina, sono esattamene gli stessi.
Molto interessante e ti ringrazio ma meglio di no – ormai sto leggendo gialli sempre di meno e in verità questo blog andrà avanti solo per un altra paio di mesi. Non chiudere le botteghe completamente ma quasi, ormai non ho ne il tempo che l’energia.
Sergio, il blog non lasciarlo del tutto! Ci hai profuso tenpo ed energie: semmai congelalo. poi quando avrai di nuovo voglia, vi posterai dell’altro. Del resto mica uno è tenuto a postare articoli a scadenza: se tu vuoi postarne uno dopo due settimane lo fai. Che ti frega? Mica lo fai per lavoro!
E poi alla mia offerta pensaci: mica ti sto chiedendo soldi! Ciao. Piero
Sergio, thanks for this review and, personally, an introduction to Paul Halter and his novels. The name doesn’t sound French even though Halter was born in France, and it’s interesting that he should write the Dr. Twist and Chief Inspector Hurst series in French. I’m glad for the translations, though.
All good news for fans of Golden Age detective stories
Certainly better than The Fourth Door, but that’s not saying much. The solution to the final murder is clever but one doubts whether it would work in practice, and it relies on the police not questioning an obvious clue. The hypothesis as to how one of the earlier murders was committed is frankly banal and unbelievable – the witnesses would certainly have seen how it was done. Other people have mentioned the awkward dialogue and stilted narration, but it’s when you compare it with writers like Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingam and yes, Agatha Christie, that you realise this book leaves a lot to be desired in terms of characterisation, wit and atmosphere, not to mention sheer good writing, which no amount of ingenuity can compensate for.
Ouch!
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