Even though majority of my reading wants are mysteries and thrillers, on occasion I try some regular novels, written by acclaimed authors. In one instance several years ago, I found out critics' fave Joyce Carol Oates wrote this book, a supposed spoof of detective stories.
Three novellas form one novel, involving the cases of one Xavier Kilgarvan, an American version of Sherlock Holmes. The first of the stories is purportedly a locked room mystery. It was a locked room mystery all right (can't remember the details - I think it was about the death of child). Unfortunately, the biggest mystery was the solution. The denouement was convoluted and confusing. I was unable to find out how the locked room gimmickry was done, nor could I determine how the detective arrived at his conclusion. I still have the book and is still hesitant to read the remaining two stories hoping to avoid bigger headaches.
Has anyone out there read the book and can explain the mystery - in plain English?