The Clue of the Twisted Candle
by Edgar Wallace
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Ruthless criminal masterminds, deliciously devious villains, last-minute escapes, mysterious figures lurking in the shadows, a spunky female detective—when it comes to classic detective novels, Edgar Wallace's The Clue of the Twisted Candle definitely hits all of its marks. Fans of the genre will adore this fast-paced thriller..
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raizel an early locked door mystery
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I read this because Edgar Wallace seems to be one of Bertie Wooster's favorite authors and I was favorably impressed. Yes, I guessed most of it except for the details of how the last crime was done (and I still don't completely understand them and I'm not sure Mr. Wallace does either); but it kept my interest and the style of writing wasn't too far from P.G. Wodehouse: None of the short sentences that modern-day detective fiction delights in. The main baddie is a foreigner, who only wants to take over one country and not the entire world; another foreigner, however, balances the scales. Women also get the chance to be brave, perceptive and intelligent. The evil, filthy-rich megalomaniac wants a cozy, English study and is clueless about show more how to achieve this; rather like Captain Hook, who wants to have good form. The story was originally published in 1916 but except for some references to our villain causing international troubles, there is no mention of war or events leading to it. show less
Edgar Wallace seems to be good at laying out clues and deeply confusing mysteries but not so good at the plotting and explaining bits. I kept feeling like I missed a page because things never connected. Also, he should never try romance.
Un romanzo molto carino, soddisfacente da leggere, anche se piuttosto inusuale come giallo. Una piacevole lettura!
http://www.naufragio.it/iltempodileggere/22329
A very nice novel, satisfying to read, even if rather unusual as a detective story.
A pleasant reading!
http://www.naufragio.it/iltempodileggere/22329
A very nice novel, satisfying to read, even if rather unusual as a detective story.
A pleasant reading!
Quite enjoyable.
John Lexham, a thriller writer, finds himself involved in a plot of Kara "the Black Roman"
Kara (¡¡¡ojo, es un nombre de hombre!!!) odia las velas. El cree que se ha perdido un gran criminal en la persona de John Lexman, un escritor de historias detectivescas envuelto en una trama más fantéstica que cualquiera de sus ingeniosos misterios. No es ningún secreto que Kara espera casarse con la bella Grace, pero ella sigue estando casada con Lexman. Lexman le debe dinero a Vassaralo, un prestamista griego que ha tratado de matarle. Un cuento intenso que se drámaticamente fluctua entre Londres y los Balcanes
Dec 25, 2010Spanish
"Lexman de estremeció, ocultó su cara entre las manos, y su mujer, rodeándole el hombro con un brazo protector, le murmuró algo al oído. Pronto se repuso, y continuó: - No estaba muerto del todo; le oí decir algo, pero no distinguí sus palabras. Corrí a la aldea, busqué al agente, se lo conté todo y retiraron el cadáver. - Entre usted, agente- dijo, y cuando el hombre hizo su aparición le habló: - Supongo que levantaría usted el cadáver con el mayor cuidado y recogería todo lo que hubiera en su inmediata vecindad. - Sí, señor, recogí su sombrero y su bastón , si es eso a lo que usted se refiere." (pág.39)
Nov 11, 2022Spanish
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Author Information
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Among the most prolific of all authors of adventure fiction was the redoubtable Edgar Wallace. Born in London, Wallace received his early education at St. Peter's School and the Board School. Wallace served in the Royal West Kent Regiment in England and later as part of the Medical Staff Corps stationed in South Africa. During World War I, Wallace show more acted as a special interrogator for the War Office. As was the case with a number of successful popular authors, Wallace experienced a rich and diverse life before turning to professional writing. From 1886 to the 1930s, he worked in a printing shop, a shoe shop, and a rubber factory, and served as a merchant sailor and milk deliverer. Beginning in 1899, Wallace became a journalist and wrote variously for the London Daily Mail and the Rand Daily News, among others; he also worked with the racing periodicals, having founded two of them---Bibury's Weekly and R. E. Walton's Weekly. Like Sax Rohmer, Wallace earned a fortune from his writings, yet, because of a lack of business sense and a tendency to overspend, he died in debt. A prodigious writer of fiction, Wallace published, over the course of his professional life, some 173 books and wrote 17 plays. Many of his adventure narratives featured elements of crime or mystery, but they all thrived on action. Although Wallace's handling of plot was superb and he was respected for his ability to blend suspense with humor, he was less successful with his characters, who tended to be two-dimensional and stereotyped. One of his early crime adventures, The Four Just Men (1906), introduced what was to become a trademark for Wallace---lurid sensationalism coupled with dramatic violence. Wallace published in a wide range of genres, including poetry, short fiction, autobiography, and epic political history. Regrettably, much of what he wrote has lapsed into obscurity today. As sometimes is the problem with popular fiction, perhaps it was too hurriedly written---too intimately connected with its contemporary audience---to stand the ultimate test of time. But Wallace's work was highly influential, especially in the American pulp magazine markets of the Great Depression, and stands today, despite its many flaws, as some of the most effective literary adventures ever written. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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The Four Just Men / Eve's Island / The Clue of the Twisted Candle / The Man Who Knew by Edgar Wallace
The Door with Seven Locks / White Face / The Man at the Carlton / The Clue of the Twisted Candle / The Day of Uniting by Edgar Wallace
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Clue of the Twisted Candle
- Original title
- The Clue of the Twisted Candle
- Alternate titles*
- Victima care ucide
- Original publication date
- 1916
- People/Characters
- T X Meredith; John Lexman; Grace Lexman; Mr. Kara; Remington Kara; T. X. Meredith (show all 9); Mansus; Miss Holland; Fisher
- Important places
- London, England, UK; Scotland Yard, London, England, UK
- Related movies
- Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960)
- First words
- The 4.15 from Victoria to Lewes had been held up at Three Bridges in consequence of a derailment, and though John Lexman was fortunate enough to catch a belated connection to Beston Tracey, the wagonette which was the sole co... (show all)mmunication between the village and the outside world had gone.
The 4.15 from Victoria to Lewes had been held up at Three Bridges in consequence of a derailment and, though John Lexman was fortunate enough to catch a belated connection to Beston Tracey, the wagonette which was the sole co... (show all)mmunication between the village and the outside world had gone. - Quotations
- There was in this room a harmony, a quiet order, and a soothing quality which made it a haven of rest to a literary man with jagged nerves. (Ch. 1; p. 15 re John Lexman's drawing-room)
Kara, who was a frank admirer of ... (show all)the comfort of the room and who lamented his own inability to secure with money the cosiness[sic] which John had obtained at little cost, went on a foraging expedition whilst his host applied himself to a proof which needed correcting. (Ch. 1; p. 19 re John Lexman's study)
T X found himself in a large room very handsomely furnished, but just lacking that sense of cosiness[sic] and comfort which is the feature of the Englishman's home. (Ch. 8; p. 115 re Kara's London house)
'Don't you know that great criminals are never influenced by material desires or by the prospect of concrete gains? The man who robs his employer's till in order to give the girl of his heart the 25s pearl and ruby brooch her soul desires gains nothing by the glow of satisfaction which comes to a man who is thought well of. The majority of crimes in the world are committed by people for the same reason --- they want to be thought well of. ...' (Ch. 8; p. 111 in conversation by T X Meredith to Mansus) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'It will never be written,' he said, '---by me.'
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"It will never be written," he said, " - by me."
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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