PUB. 1930LOCKED ROOM
John Dickson Carr
◆
It Walks by Night
INVESTIGATORHenri Bencolin
CATALOG NO.JDC-001
ARCHIVAL PROXY • TYPOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION
CATALOGUE REF.JDC-001
First Published1930
Imprint BylineJohn Dickson Carr
InvestigatorHenri Bencolin
Work Formatnovel
ClassificationLocked Room
Henri BencolinLocked Room MysterynovelJohn Dickson Carr
It Walks by Night
FIRST PUBLISHED:1930BYLINE:John Dickson CarrINVESTIGATOR:Henri Bencolin
“Carr's debut novel and the public introduction of Mephistophelean sleuth Henri Bencolin.”
The Publication Ledger & Historical Editions
| Year | Title | Country | Publisher | Format | Acquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | It Walks by Night | US | Harper & Brothers | First Edition | |
| 1930 | It Walks by Night | UK | Hamish Hamilton | First Edition | — |
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
In a shadowy Parisian gambling salon, the Duke de Saligny steps into a private card-room while police guard every doorway and the windows remain barred. Within minutes, a scream pierces the salon. When Henri Bencolin forces the door open, the Duke is found decapitated—yet no other soul is present and no weapon remains in the room.
Impossible Crime Problem Classification
Decapitation in a guarded card-roomGuarded threshold impossible crime
ARCHIVAL DOSSIER: SEALED SOLUTION & MECHANICS
RESTRICTED ACCESSThe Solution to “It Walks by Night” Remains Sealed
This dossier contains exhaustive, scholarly revelations regarding the locked-room architecture, mechanical trickery, and identity of the perpetrator. Do not unseal if you have not yet read the novel.