Below Suspicion, by John Dickson Carr
Murder and Satanism and mostly fun Carr
(Review posted 27 Nov 2004 23:13:43)

"She was caught in a frenzied nightmare of murder and profane desire -- a Dr. Gideon Fell mystery"

So as reported elsewhere, I'm becoming disenchanted with Carr, an author that in my youth I relished greatly. This one didn't squick me as much as "Dead Man's Knock" did, but it does have a certain air of self-righteousness and puritanism in what seems to me an utterly fictional and somewhat (what?) Roman Catholic picture of "Satanism" as a religion involving profanation and naughty sex and murder and all. I suppose it might really be, or have been in some era in England, but this novel didn't convince me of it.

But anyway! This is basically a good solid Carr novel, dark and twisted, with strong emotions disguised as other strong emotions, a certain amount of surprise, a clever method of murder, overlapping layers of suspicion and evidence, and all like that there. Even a ripping battle in a burning Satanist temple, with documents rescued at the last moment from a hidden chamber, a violent attacker with gold teeth, and burning roof-beams falling at opportune moments. All of which is good fun, and I really shouldn't let the somewhat smug attitudes of the good guys at the end leave such a bad taste in my mouth.