Carter Dickson
Lettore, in guardia! (The Reader Is Warned)

LA RECENSIONE

England, 1938

John Sanders, a young coroner, Lawrence Chase, a lawyer, and Hilary Keen, an employee of the Home Office, are invited to the majestic country home of the Constables: Fourways Villa.

The purpose of the invitation is to examine a phenomenon that borders on the paranormal but does not seem like a carnival trick: Herman Pennik is a mysterious individual who claims to be able to read people's minds. Contrary to what usually happens with such claims, Pennik has gained surprising credibility with anyone who tests him.

Although the guests are skeptical, once confronted with the abilities of the 'reader', they can only be shocked and shaken by a chill of subconscious terror.  

Sanders: "Do you want me to test you then?" Pennik: "Certainly." S: "Well, begin." P: "Look, as you... no, no, no! ...That's not right! ...You're trying to block out every genuine and important thought from your mind; mentally you're running all over the place slamming doors and windows shut in my face. Don't be afraid of me, I won't harm you... For example, you decided to concentrate on a marble bust of a scientist... Lister, I believe... that is on someone's library mantelpiece."

IT WAS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH

The stakes rose when Pennik claimed he could also kill with just a thought. Once challenged, amid general skepticism refusing to believe such scientific heresy, he declared that the host, Sam Constable, would die by eight in the evening; so the good 'reader', who also kindly offered to prepare dinner, set the table for just five.

The death occurred as predicted, without any plausible medical explanation. No sign of violent death was found during the autopsy of the corpse.  

Again, the guests, along with the investigator Masters who arrived at the crime scene, refused to accept such an odd explanation. But Pennik insists and declares himself guilty, and once challenged again, another murder occurs—the deceased's wife, Mina Constable, lies in her bed dead 'killed by no one knows what'.

John Dickson Carr (Carter Dickson) crafts a clever and captivating mystery, an absolutely unpredictable thriller. A novel from the series featuring the scientific and infallible mind of the head of counter-espionage and part-time investigator Sir Henry Merrivale: the great 'Old Man'.

The personal characterizations of the protagonists are essential (unlike those of Stout and Christie), in a style where only the facts matter. The settings and tense scenes are described perfectly. Even though there are many elements at play by Dickson, in the end, everything fits seamlessly, and every piece fits perfectly into the mosaic.

A must-read for fans of the genre.