''The White Priory Murders'' is a

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

novel by the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

writer

John Dickson Carr John Dickson Carr (November 30, 1906 – February 27, 1977) was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn. He lived in England for a number of years, and is ...

(1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a

locked room mystery The "locked-room" or "impossible crime" mystery is a type of crime seen in crime and detective fiction. The crime in question, typically murder ("locked-room murder"), is committed in circumstances under which it appeared impossible for the perpetr ...

and features his series detective,

Sir Henry Merrivale Sir Henry Merrivale is a fictional amateur detective created by "Carter Dickson", a pen name of John Dickson Carr (1906–1977). Also known as "the Old Man," by his initials "H. M." (a pun on "His Majesty"), or "the Maestro", Merrivale appears in ...

, assisted by Scotland Yard Inspector Humphrey Masters.

Plot summary

Marcia Tait is a Hollywood star who has come to England to make a historical film. She is found beaten to death in the Queen's Mirror pavilion, the 17th-century trysting place of King Charles II and his mistresses. The problem is particularly puzzling because the pavilion is surrounded by newfallen snow, with only one set of footprints leading to it and none leading away. The suspects include a man who thought he was marrying her — and her husband, whose marriage was unknown to all.

lends a hand to

Inspector Masters Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

in the investigation, but is too late to stop the second murder before Merrivale solves the case.

Literary significance and criticism

"Sir Henry Merrivale is caught up in the murder of a wilful actress; it's done inside a pavilion, snow is on the ground, and there are crowds of candidates for her favors and for the role of murderer. ... The telling is done in Carter Dickson's usual long and diffuse talk which he thinks conversation; oddities are added for pseudo suspense; people shout, whirl, say What! in italics, and generally the thing is irritation unrelieved even by a second murder."Barzun, Jacques and Taylor, Wendell Hertig. ''A Catalogue of Crime''. New York: Harper & Row. 1971, revised and enlarged edition 1989.

Publication history

* 1934, USA, William Morrow, Pub date December 1934, Hardback, 305pp (first US edition) * 1935, UK, Heinemann, Pub date 1935, Hardback, 282pp (first UK edition) * 1942, USA, Pocket Books 156, Pub date 1942, Paperback, (first US pb edition) * 1946, USA, serialized in ''Crime Digest'', June * 1951, UK, Penguin Books 811, Pub date 1951, Paperback, 251pp (first UK pb edition) * 1982, USA, Bantam 20572-2, Pub date 1982, Paperback, 214pp * 1991, USA, International Polygonic , Pub date 1991, Paperback, 191pp (Library of Crime Classics)

References

1934 American novels Novels by John Dickson Carr Locked-room mysteries William Morrow and Company books {{1930s-mystery-novel-stub