The Emperor's Snuff-Box (Carr, John Dickson) [Mass Market Paperback]

John Dickson Carr (Author)

Book Description

Series: Carr, John Dickson | Publication Date: June 22, 1995

Beside the dead body of Sir Maurice Lawes are the shattered fragments of a snuff-box that once belonged to Napoleon. These fragments tell a tale, or rather two tales, one true and one false. Now, an English expert in criminology forces the evidence to tell the truth about what happened and to point out the real murderer.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf; 2 edition (June 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786702230
• ISBN-13: 978-0786702237
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for those who hate JDC... and those who like him, December 15, 2002

By 

Xavier Lechard "lechardxavier" (Noisy le sec, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Emperor's Snuff-Box (Hardcover)

This is an unusual Carr one meet in "The Emperor's Snuff-Box". No locked room or any other kind of impossible crime here. No Gideon Fell or Henry Merrivale. "Snuff-Box" is a stand-alone, one of those experimental books that Carr attempted now and then. And one of his very masterpieces.
I doubt that there are some people who don't like JDC. But if such people exist, they have to read this book at once: it will have their eyes open. Carr creates fully-drawn characters you won't forget, such as Eve Neill, Ned Atwood, Toby Lawes or Dermot Kinross. He also provides a touching love story, and some really moving scenes, yet humor is never absent. Look at the ending, one of Carr's best ones. Atmosphere is as well done as usual. And the plot... Ah, that plot! Misdirection of the finest sort, that's all I can say. Carr is the all-time greatest mystery writer, and here's another proof. Read it!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More atmospheric than most Carrs, March 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Emperor's Snuff-Box (Carr, John Dickson) (Mass Market Paperback)

Better atmosphere than many of his books, but not quite the top drawer puzzle as in many of his other books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A highly readable though old-fashioned whodunit, July 16, 2009

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Emperor's Snuff-Box (Carr, John Dickson) (Mass Market Paperback)

John Dickson Carr who also wrote under the Carter Dickenson name was superb at "locked room" mysteries. This one isn't one of that type, but it still is a masterfully plotted puzzler with lots of red herrings and colorful characters. A divorced woman, preparing for a 2nd marriage, gets an unwelcome visit from her first husband and the two see the bloodied body of her future father-in-law in the house across from where she's staying. The ex husband then suffers an accident which puts him in a coma from which he may not recover while she becomes the primary suspect in the nurder. The sleuth in this case isn't one of the author's regulars, but all in all, this is a very rewarding read.