As you might surmise, a
Locked Room Mystery is a mystery novel centering around a seemingly impossible crime
that occurs within a locked room. The
puzzle is paramount, so it is critical that the reader be privy to all of the same
facts a the protagonist. That way the
reader can “play along” and attempt to ferret out the murderer, too. But in The
Mystery of the Yellow Room, several key details are withheld, and there are
some huge leaps in inductive logic (rather than deductive logic) necessary to accurately determine the
culprit. That’s another reason I say the
novel is so Holmesian (it seems I’m using that phrase a lot these days). But despite all that, the novel was still
enjoyable. It just wasn’t “the best.”
The Holmes stand-in for this
adventure is one Joseph Rouletabille, a young French reporter and a brilliant
amateur detective. But while
Rouletabille is certainly the protagonist of the tale, the story is told by his
friend and lawyer, Monsieur SainClair.
Sounding familiar yet? Anywho, a
gruesome attack has been perpetrated at the Chateau du Glandier located in the
French countryside just outside Paris . There, a Miss Stangerson—daughter and
scientific partner of Professor Stangerson, a world-celebrated chemist—has been
brutally attacked and nearly murdered in her chambers, the “yellow room” of the
novel’s title. At the time of the attack
her room was locked from the inside, and her father and his assistant had to
batter the door down to get inside.
There they found Miss Stangerson, bloody and lying on the floor, but no
assailant. There were several items also
found—a bloody mutton bone, a cap, some old boots, and a bloody handprint on
the wall. The police are called, at
which time the media gets hold of the story, Rouletabille reads about it, and fixates
upon this most-impenetrable mystery.
The investigation stretches
on for weeks, during which Rouletabille unravels the layers of the mystery,
solving some other minor quandaries on his way to solving the big quandary of
who tried to kill Miss Stangerson. There
are a lot of other supporting characters thrown in the mix, most of which only
serve as red herrings for the protagonist to chase down. He also matches wits with the famous
detective Frederick Larson, who also happens to be investigating the murder at
the Glandier.
All this makes for a grand
little mystery, but there were some inconsistencies in the plot and in the resolution
that left me shaking my head. It’s
because of these inconsistencies that I simply can’t understand why The Mystery in the Yellow Room has been
called “the best of the best.” Some of the
plot holes are outlined in the “Remarks on the Plot” section of the book’s Wikipedia entry,
but there’s another one that really irked me.
That’s because the logical handling of it would have made unraveling part
of the mystery so elementary.
What I say next could be
construed as a spoiler, but I
honestly don’t care—mostly because anyone who really wants to read the book has
probably done so already, but also because the plot has been spoiled many times
before me, and my tiny entry in the blogoverse ain’t gonna make a difference
anyway. At any rate, Rouletabille
eventually reveals that the attack on Miss Stangerson did not happen when
everyone thought it did. It actually
happened several hours earlier, and what occurred at midnight was due to Miss
Stangerson awakening from a nightmare and thinking the would-be murderer had
returned. All well and good, except for
one detail. A bloody handprint and a
bloody mutton bone were found on the premises—the first having been left by the
perpetrator when Miss Stangerson shot him in the hand, the second having been
used by the perpetrator to club Miss Stangerson upside the head. All well and good, except for one thing. If the real attack had happened hours
earlier, the blood in both cases would have already dried. It should have been obvious to the men who
initially surveyed the scene that the blood had not been shed recently. Therefore they should have easily come to the
conclusion that the real attack had occurred hours earlier and thus solved the “impossibility”
of the locked room component of the mystery.
Add all this up, and you are
left with a plot that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief in order to buy
into its plausibility. For a genre that
depends so heavily upon a rational mystery, this is a deal killer. Well, for me at least. There are plenty of people who thought it was
perfectly brilliant—people a lot smarter than me—so what do I know?
In the end, I give it three
stars. I enjoy vintage mysteries—cozy
mysteries not so much as hardboiled or noir fare, but I still enjoy them. There’s something quaint and comforting about
these kinds of books, and anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes (as I do) will
certainly enjoy The Mystery of the Yellow
Room. Therefore, I’m not at all sad
that I read the book. It was worth it to
read such a seminal work in the locked room genre, but as far as that “best of
the best” stuff? I’m just not seeing it.
Note: if you’d like to obtain your own copy of The Mystery in the Yellow Room, it is
now in the public domain and can be had for free from sites such as booksshouldbefree.com and projectgutenberg.org. And we all know free books are cool.
Thanks for the Gutenberg site. It worked. It said "point" my Kindle browser. Cute. I am looking forward to finding the Yellow Room. I downloaded The Runaways just now.
ReplyDeleteNo prob! Project Gutenberg is a phenomenal site. I had to use it a lot during my college days, and it's one of the few tools I still make use of pretty regularly. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou didn't miss much by not having the maps.
ReplyDeleteI read this book some years ago and don't remember all the details, but I know I was confused. I never understood why they didn't figure out some things sooner, like some of the injuries.
I actually liked the book a lot though. I like crimes that look impossible.
Delete(It would be great if blogs had editing for comments)
Raymond Chandler said it best in his essay, "The Simple Art of Murder":
Delete"[Dashiell] Hammett gave murder back to the people who commit it for reasons, not just to provide a corpse."
So many of the locked room, cozy mystery type books do just that. Someone gets murdered just to provide a corpse and kick off a mystery--not for any of the typical reasons that people kill. As for The Mystery of the Yellow Room, the murderer's motives are somewhat more plausible, even if the means of perpetrating the crime are a bit... unorthodox. But that's one of the reasons why I don't like the Agatha Christies as much as I like the Dashiell Hammetts of mystery fiction. Chandler just said it better than I ever could have.
Great review, and I completely understand your qualms about the plot inconsistencies and leaps in logic. Thanks for the Gutenberg link as well--although I may see if Librivox has it, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephanie. As it so happens, the copy of The Mystery of the Yellow Room I had was a librivox recording. It's great stuff (especially for the budget conscious), and some of the narrators are actually very good. The only thing I didn't like about the recording I listened to was that there were multiple narrators (as many as 10, I think), and they constantly altered chapters. Not a big deal, but still a tad annoying.
DeleteThanks Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it could be a fun, quick yarn- something mindless to read on an airplane or something. But Rouletabille sounds insufferable.
All in all, makes me glad Sherlock Holmes is back on PBS :)
Sherlock Holmes can be insufferable, too... but he's an endearing kind of insufferable. :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Erin. Enjoy some PBS for me!
shijun 6.4
ReplyDeletechristian louboutin outlet
oakley sunglasses discount
ray ban uk
ralph lauren outlet online
michael kors
christian louboutin shoes
abercrombie store new york
jordan retro 11
cheap oakleys
gucci outlet
michael kors uk
lebron 12
oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
michael kors
cheap oakleys
fitflops
coach outlet store online
coach outlet online
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton handbags
coach outlet
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
www.louisvuitton.com
lv handbags
gucci outlet
abercrombie & fitch
white timberland boots
hollister outlet
jordan 13s
michael kors handbags
mont blanc legend
cheap ray bans
hollister
jordan 6 retro
louis vuitton
abercrombie
michael kors outlet online sale
abercrombie kids
2015-7-24 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletesnapback hats wholesale
air max shoes
cheap beats headphones
ed hardy
ralph lauren
michael kors outlet online
prada handbags
coach outlet online
oakley sunglasses
michael kors
fitflops sale clearance
kate spade
cheap jordans for sale
michael kors handbags
abercrombie outlet
oakley sunglasses outlet
coach outlet store online
snabacks wholesale
ray bans
ray ban outlet
borse louis vuitton
gucci outlet
michael kors bag
fitflops outlet
coach outlet online
kate spade uk
coach factory outlet
toms shoes outlet
nike tn pas cher
prada outlet
chaussure louboutin
cheap oakley sunglasses
gucci outlet
sac longchamp
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet
kate spade handbags
michael kors outlet online
burberry scarf
louis vuitton
2015-7-25 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletepolo ralph lauren
jordan homme
mont blanc pens
gucci
mcm handbags
air max 90
jordan shoes
air jordan
ray ban sunglass
ralph lauren uk
michael kors uk
michael kors bags
snapback hats wholesale
louis vuitton pas cher
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory outlet
ed hardy clothing
michael kors handbag
cheap ray ban sunglasses
michael kors
cheap true religion jeans
ed hardy clothing
cheap oakleys
chanel outlet
michael kors
true religion sale
kate spade
coach outlet online
louis vuitton
longchamp handbags
christian louboutin
gucci outlet
chanel bags
air max shoes
coach outlet
tory burch shoes
ray ban sunglasses
longchamp outlet
borse louis vuitton
soccer shoes
hermes bags, http://www.hermesbags.co.uk/
ReplyDeletefoamposite shoes
lacoste shirts
nike huarache
the north face jackets
seattle seahawks jerseys
chanel handbags, http://www.chanelhandbags-outlet.us.com/
nike air max uk
christian louboutin uk
abercrombie
giuseppe zanotti outlet
nba jerseys
oakley sunglasses
kobe 9 elite
babyliss pro
true religion jeans, http://www.truereligionoutletstore.us.com
new york jets jerseys
foamposite gold
louboutin shoes
hollister, http://www.hollistercanada.com
cheap soccer jerseys
rolex watches
ray ban,rayban,occhiali ray ban,ray-ban,ray ban occhiali,ray ban sunglasses
abercrombie and fitch
the north face outlet store
nfl jerseys
ralph lauren uk, http://www.ralphlauren-outletonline.co.uk/
chanel handbags
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet store
vibram fivefingers
cheap jordans
cheap nba jerseys, http://www.nbajerseys.us.com
moncler coats
0911maoqiuyun
replica handbags,replica handbags outlet,cheap handbags,purses and handbags,wholesale replica handbags,replica bags,bags outlet,replica handbags wholesale,cheap purses,discount handbags,handbags sale,wholesale purses,handbags and purses,replica purses
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlet online
barbour jackets
discount oakley sunglasses
baltimore ravens
mulberry uk
karen millen uk
denver broncos
north face jackets
tory burch outlet online
canada goose outlet
nike air huarache
jordan shoes 2015
kobe 9
michael kors outlet sale
green bay packers
ugg boots on sale
cheap wedding dresses
cheap jordan shoes
juicy couture tracksuit
1112minko
20160105 junda
ReplyDeletetrue religion outlet
louis vuitton handbags
cheap jordans
ugg boots
jordan 8s
ralph lauren pas cher
nike outlet
michael kors outlet online
toms wedges
michael kors outlet online
ugg australia
ugg boots
coach factorty outlet
jordan 8
coach factory outlet
jordan 6
nike uk
burberry outlet
air jordan uk
nike roshe run women
polo ralph lauren
air max 95
ugg sale
moncler jackets
michael kors handbags
gucci outlet
toms outlet
moncler jackets
ugg outlet
michael kors outlet
burberry outlet
canada goose outlet
jordan 13
adidas gazelle
nike tn
christian louboutin
cheap ugg boots
ghd hair straighteners
hermes uk
ralph lauren uk
2016-02-18keyun
ReplyDeleteugg outlet
ugg for cheap
coach outlet online
polo outlet
louis vuitton bags
celine handbags
louis vuitton handbags
nfl jerseys
kate spade purses
cheap toms
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
gucci outlet
ray ban sunglasses
swarovski crystal
true religion
hollister clothing
michael kors
toms shoes
cheap air jordans
rolex watches
beats by dr dre
louis vuitton outlet
cheap jordans
michael kors handbags
nike air huarache
air max 95
michael kors outlet
longchamp handbags
louis vuitton purses
michael kors outlet clearance
red bottom shoes
true religion jeans
marc jacobs outlet
louboutin femme
uggs on sale
oakkey sunglasses
chanel outlet
cheap rolex watches
tory burch outlet
lebron james shoes
ReplyDeleteair max 90
insanity workout
beats headphones
kate spade handbags
jordan 3
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
ray ban outlet
pandora jewelry
michael kors outlet online
mont blanc pens
nike basketball shoes
canada goose jackets
prada uk
tiffany and co
canada goose outlet
air jordan retro
kate spade handbags
ray ban outlet
toms shoes
michael kors outlet clearance
marc jacobs
replica watches for sale
coach outlet
longchamp outlet
louis vuitton handbags
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton outlet online
2016307yuanyuan
jordan shoes
ReplyDeletefitflops shoes
kate spade outlet
new balance shoes
cheap jordans
coach outlet online
coach outlet online
vans outlet store
stephen curry basketball shoes
air jordan shoes
polo ralph lauren
abercrombie & fitch
true religion outlet
nmd adidas
fitflops
adidas superstars
michael kors outlet stores
coach factory outlet online
instyler max
coach purses on sale
ralph lauren
jordan pas cher
valentino bags
fitflops sale clearance
valentino
michael kors outlet
coach outlet store
yeezy boost 350 white
armani outlet
cheap ray bans
rolex submariner
coach outlet online
versace sunglasses wholesale
gucci borse
oakley sunglasses outlet
micahel kors
coach outlet online
fitflops
ghd hair dryer
ferragamo outlet
chenzhen20160428
2016-5-17 leilei
ReplyDeleteoakley sunglasses
coach outlet online
hollister clothing
armani exchange
toms shoes
jimmy choo shoes
nike cortez red
michael kors outlet clearance
ralph lauren outlet online
michael kors outlet
cheap nike shoes
air max 90
under armour shoes
adidas stan smith
oakley sunglasses
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors outlet
nike cortez shoes
ugg sale
ray ban outlet
cheap basketball shoes
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors outlet
polo ralph lauren
true religion outlet
fitflops sale
michael kors handbags
pandora charms
kate spade outlet
michael kors bags
canada goose jackets
kate spade outlet
hollister clothing store
reebok shoes
ralph lauren
cartier watches
michael kors outlet
adidas nmd
louboutin outlet
chenlili20160616
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbags
michael kors outlet
pandora outlet
louis vuitton outlet
hollister uk
tiffany and co
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
michael kors purses
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet
louboutin shoes
retro jordans 13
louis vuitton outlet stores
the north face outlet
hollister jeans
louis vuitton purses
kate spade outlet
kate spade handbags
coach outlet store online
vans sneakers
pandora charms
michael kors outlet
asics shoes
coach outlet store online
michael kors outlet
beats solo
mont blanc pens
louis vuitton handbags
ralph lauren polo
coach outlet store online
christian louboutin sale
nike air max uk
ray ban sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
lebron 13
louboutin shoes
chenlina20160727
ReplyDeletetoms shoes
jeremy scott shoes
coach canada
kate spade outlet
fitflops shoes
tod's shoes
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet online
nike air max 90
louis vuitton handbags
replica watches
coach outlet
christian louboutin outlet
coach outlet
coach outlet store online clearances
michael kors outlet
oakley vault
louis vuitton outlet
coach outlet online
louis vuitton outlet
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
celine handbags
jordan 4
vans shoes sale
coach outlet store online clearances
replica watches
supra sneakers
toms shoes
coach outlet
coach outlet
louis vuitton
giuseppe zanotti
coach outlet
jordan 13
pandora outlet
coach factory outlet
michael kors uk
michael kors outlet online sale
as
ray ban sunglasses discount
ReplyDeletebirkenstock outlet
ugg outlet store
michael kors outlet stores
uggs outlet
chi flat iron
air max 90 black
salvatore ferragamo
michael kors handbags
reebok uk
skechers shoes
coach factory outlet
ferragamo shoes
hermes belt
ray ban sunglasses
basketball shoes
polo ralph lauren outlet online
uggs outlet
fitflops shoes
longchamp bags
louboutin shoes
nike roshe run
mont blanc pens for sale
abercrombie outlet
moncler jackets outlet
canada goose outlet
coach outlet store online
rolex watches
cheap ray ban sunglasses
true religion jeans outlet
kobe 11
birkenstock shoes
montblanc pens
nike blazer
oakley sunglasses wholesale
nike free flyknit 5.0
polo ralph lauren outlet
2016822yuanyuan
nike blazerpost
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbagsthe
asics shoesfor
jimmy choo shoesthe
ghd flat ironyour
jordan shoesbook
cheap oakley sunglassesThis
michael kors handbagsbook,
michael kors handbagsworking
nike air huarachepost
new york giants jerseys
ReplyDeletechristian louboutin shoes
miami heat
skechers outlet
rolex replica watches
ecco shoes outlet
michael kors handbags sale
toms shoes
ralph lauren pas cher
los angeles lakers jerseys
tiffany and co outlet
ReplyDeletekobe sneakers
yeezy boost
hermes belt for sale
michael kors handbags
skechers shoes
air yeezy
hermes belts for men
michael kors outlet store
roshe shoes
achang
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
ReplyDeletecheap ray bans
nike free
nike store uk
toms outlet
true religion jeans
cheap nike shoes sale
armani exchange
michael kors
oakley sunglasses
fitflops
ReplyDeletelouboutin shoes
red sox jerseys
pandora charms outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
christian louboutin
coach outlet online
coach factory outlet
burberry outlet store
packers jerseys
xushengda0321
coach outlet
ReplyDeleteralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren
canada goose jackets
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet
fitflops sale
coach outlet online
ralph lauren
nike outlet
20170621wanglili
nike air max 2017
ReplyDeleteadidas yeezy
birkin bag
nike shoes
nike hyperdunk 2017
crazy explosive
yeezy boost
20180606lck
ReplyDeletemulberry bags
uggs outlet
nike pegasus
air jordan shoes
cheap oakley sunglasses
uggs outlet
coach outlet
kobe 9 elite
jordan 3
air jordan retro
20180606lck
now present in your city cara menggugurkan hamil
ReplyDelete