The 10 Teacups by Carter Dickson
The Golden Age of detective fiction brought us so many talented authors. But one in particular, stands out repeatedly – and he was a “master of locked room” mysteries. Whether you know him as Carter Dickson or John Dickson Carr, they are one in the same. His books under either name, are classic treats for serious detective fans.
The Ten Teacups opens with Chief Inspector Masters of Scotland Yard, receiving a puzzling invite to tea for ten. This simple invite seems innocent at first. But when it comes with a warning and clues, Masters is drawn back into an unsolved murder case. The case involved 10 teacups found beside a body.
The setting for this tea party is a decaying and abandoned house. The police stay in the shadows surrounding the house well before the tea party begins. No one gets in or out of this party without being noticed – but they do! And once again, an elusive killer dispatches a second victim and, like Houdini, simply vanishes!
Scotland Yard and the Chief Inspector call in the “big guns”– Sir Henry Merrivale, a superior sleuth, who has worked with them in the past on their toughest cases.
The suspects are an eclectic group. A rich bachelor with no friends, no enemies. Cousins who are as different as night and day: One protecting a married woman, another with a questionable fiance.
Previous owners of the house where the first murder occurred, now own the second house where yet another murder occurred. They don’t seem particularly concerned.
Others living the lifestyles of the wealthy and elite, are now being put under a stiff magnifying glass. Is there jealously and cheating going on? Blackmail re-surfacing from decades ago? Inheritances coming into play? Ties to a secret society? And there’s something curious about an old oriental divan found at the second house.
The Yard and Merrivale relentlessly dig deep into their suspects backgrounds, and there’s no shortage of motives. They discover so many people are speaking half-truths – others are flat-out lying and there’s no shortage of hushed up secrets and indiscretions.
As usual, Carter Dickson gives us a flawlessly atmospheric mystery, immediately setting the mood and tone as to what is to come – a subtle, disquieting mystery featuring a cunning murderer, masterminding their own twisted game.
This is another British Library Crime Classic brought back for us to enjoy. It is also another superior locked room mystery by Carter Dickson. It’s an “impossible crime” that will have armchair detectives, especially those who appreciate The Golden Era of detective crime/fiction, anxious to have the motive and culprit deliciously unveiled.
Cover photo and book were provided by Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks.