Dickson Carr, John: The Hollow Man

This is one of the classic locked-room mysteries of detective fiction first published here in 1935.   The
action takes place in and around the Russell Square area of Bloomsbury in London even though the
author was American.   In fact, many of his works are set in England.   This particular one features
Dr Gideon Fell, one of Carr's two main protagonists, eccentric, large and highly intelligent, a great
friend with Inspector Hadley of Scotland Yard.   The latter is called to the scene of the crime while
visiting Fell who accompanies him on his investigation.   Despite the acclaim which the novel has
received, I found it a little on the tedious side with overmuch elaboration of the possible explanations
that are offered, particularly a rather long exposition by Fell of different ways of purportedly undetectable murders.   The solution is ingenious and unexpected though I confess I am not one of
those who claim to know who the murderer is almost before the corpse is cold!