Customer Reviews

The Problem of the Green Capsule: Being the Psychologist's Murder Case (Gideon Fell Series)

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Sub-titled "Being the Psychologist's Murder Case" (and with good reason), THE PROBLEM OF THE GREEN CAPSULE is truly one of Carr's many masterpieces. As adroitly plotted and atmospheric as THE THREE COFFINS and THE JUDAS WINDOW, this novel introduces us to not another locked-room murder but an impossible crime that is just as baffling. The clues are there as plain as day, but it takes a truly nimble mind to put them together. I could not believe how I could have missed the solution. Another subtle and brilliant piece of ingenuity, masterfully written by John Dickson Carr.

Let me start out by assuring you that I'm not spoiling this story for you. The facts I mention are in the opening pages of the book . . . thereafter, you are on your own.

Who would deliberately poison a group of school children? This is the larger framework of the novel.

The main story takes place in a sprawling rather Victorian mansion-- all Carr's repertory of atmospheric effects.

Again, there's an inexplicable crime -- only a motive is missing. How could anyone profit from these crimes? There's also a person accused who's possibly innocent.

Carr not only presents the conventional mystery, with a number of suspects and -- initially -- no clue to the enraveling. He takes the reader on a tour of the murderer's mind. Carr discusses through the voices of his characters some of England's most diabolical murderers. Through the voice of his chosen detective, the obese and eccentric Dr. Gideon Fell, an exploration is made of at least six infamous poisoners. What motivated them? Can it apply to the present case?

As other reviewers have stated, the plotting is meticulous. Every detail is considered. The conclusion is very consistent with the presentation.

I will say this-- the book proceeds slowly. There's limited action. The book seems designed for readers with an analytic turn of mind.

As I recall, the novel was written in 1941. It is definitely an "old classic."

Personally, I thought it was well worth the price.

One of my favorites from one of my favorite authors. Carr's mysteries can be clever and interesting, or contrived and tedious. This one is in the first category. The murder takes place during a staged performance to prove the unrealiability of witnesses. And of course, everyone sees things differently. It's one of those mysteries where you'll be flipping back through it to see how you could possibly have missed the obvious clues.

John Dickson Carr took a heavy-handed turn toward romance in "The Problem of the Green Capsule," which is why I almost immediately picked out the poisoner. If you think romantically instead of using Carr's carefully scattered clues and logically deducing who poisoned Marcus Chesney on a stage in front of witnesses, you'll have the solution right away. Otherwise, this mystery could prove to be quite a challenge.

Carr's serial detective, the humungous Dr. Gideon Fell doesn't show up until halfway through the book, and three poisoned corpses have already littered the landscape. One of the victims is a little boy who was done in by candy from the local tobacconist's shop. The other two murders occur in the house where, according to local gossip, the child killer lives.

The chief suspect certainly doesn't do herself any favors when she is seen trying to buy poison by the Scotland Yard inspector who is assigned to the case. Earlier in the story, she is also spotted asking the little boy who was poisoned to exchange some candy for her at the tobacconist's shop. I guess if I had been one of the locals, I would have thrown stones at her, too.

The main drawback to this book's readability is the artificial nature of the second murder. How believable is it to have someone set the stage for his own murder, just to prove that eyewitnesses are unreliable? He even writes out a questionnaire for his audience to fill out after his staged murder (which turns out to be real).

Of course Marcus Chesney didn't really expect to get murdered. He was so insufferable about proving the unreliability of eyewitnesses that he made it easier rather than more difficult for the poisoner to strike again.

There really wasn't anyone to like in this book except for Inspector Elliott. All of the other characters were either intellectually arrogant, pompous, obsequious, or hysterical. If you enjoy watching Dr. Fell sorting through his bag of tricks, i.e. snorting, wheezing, coyly hinting, and asking mysterious questions, then enjoy, enjoy. "The Problem of the Green Capsule" has one of John Dickson Carr's most ingenious plots--except for romantics like me.

When I received this book, I realised I'd read it many years' ago. As I tend to re-read Carr, this was not a problem and I recalled that it was one I'd particularly enjoyed.

It's a nice, lazy paced mystery, the clues are all there in true Carr fashion (if you can spot them!) and the subtitle of "A Psychologist's Murder Case" is doubly emphasised through a psychologist suspect and a lovely bit of criminal profiling towards the end by Carr's amateur detective, Dr Gideon Fell.

I enjoyed it just as much the second time as the first and blush to admit that I didn't deduce the answer the second time, either (although this time I didn't seriously try to solve it).

It's a well paced mystery, atmospheric in places, though not as creepy as some of his supernatural mysteries. The characterisation is well done and for those who enjoy it, there's a bit of romance included.

It cannot be classified as true locked room puzzle but it might just as well be, as the suspects seem incapable of committing the crime and an outside murderer is unthinkable. True to Carr, there are a few twists which keep the reader guessing.

A thinker's mystery - a psychologist's mystery - a true classic.

There is a certain feel about this mystery, an atmosphere as Agatha Christie might say. A young lady's life is threatened and only one man can save her. Once you start it, you'll have to read to the end!!!!!

John Green
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