Late Carr--Worth a read ?

[Carr Newbie]

We all know that late Carr's books are terrible. Just curious if someone recommend to read late Carr. My definition was those works after 1947 (because I think Sleeping Sphinx was the last good piece). So, my questions are:

1)For Fell and HM, which book at least can have a read? If compare to 30's-40's Fell and HM, how would you value those late Fell/HM?

2)Historical novels played an important role in late Carr life. The best of them were "The Devil in the Velvet" and "Fire, Burn". But it seems none of them can be rank top 10, top 20 or even top 30. Are they really so bad? Any historical novel can be ranked as high as Fell/HM novels?

[BlackAdder]

It's all a matter of taste. If you are a Fell or Merrivale fan, it doesn't really matter except in a minor way that you can complain about to this group. But Carr's later works varied considerably in quality, from the absolutely lousy "Behind the Crimson Blind" to the excellent "In Spite of Thunder." Same with the Historicals, although in that area you have to enjoy that genre in the first place and not try to rate them as detective stories (although he always included a mystery). He actually had a 'theme' behind "Fire, Burn," "Scandal at High Chimneys," and "Witch of the Low Tide" -- namely selective history of Scotland Yard as it developed. If you want a really excellent 'historical whodunnit' try "The Murder of Sir Edmund Godfrey" -- which isn't even a novel, but a historical excercise in solving an old true crime.

[Carr Newbie]

although in that area you have to enjoy that genre in the first place and not try to rate them as detective stories

Any Historical novel really "read like" a detective story? What I mean is the novel has less historical material but more mystery,detective,and puzzle elements.

[mescallado]

Not sure how Paul Doherty aka P.C. Doherty, aka Paul Harding would rate here but his mysteries are historical and his hero, Brother Athelstan, has solved a couple of locked-room mysteries. Great atmosphere and I guess the plots are fairly-clued.

[mescallado]

Sorry for going off-topic there, but if you're going for historical mysteries with lots of fair clueing, it's better if you read books other than Carr. I like the later Carrs for his attempt at shifting direction: from the formulaic whodunnit to eras where chivalry and swashbuckling is honored. Yes, there are still mysteries to explore in these books, but not as "fun" (hate to call a tale of murder fun) or ingenious as his early works. Carr later novels work more as visceral pieces while his early ones are intellectual exercises.