Punshon, ER - Diabolic Candelabra (1942)

Review by Nick Fuller

4/5

There is more than a hint of the Brothers Grimm in this story of a mysterious hermit living in the woods, a wild girl who talks to animals, her wicked stepfather, two disappearances, two El Greco paintings and a Cellini (the Diabolic Candelabra of the title). Like the Babes in the Wood or Hansel and Gretel, the plot takes the reader into the very midst of a forest of confusing branches and paths, with a surprise around every corner - yet the complexities are more rewarding than overwhelming, demonstrating once again the simple fact that in the construction of mazes, Punshon's only rival was John Dickson Carr (and what could be higher praise?). The murderer is very difficult to spot - the alert reader will require a good hour of solid thinking to arrive at the correct conclusion, and will be very pleased with himself for doing so. Like all good fairy-tales: spell-binding.

See also http://prettysinister.blogspot.com/2011/10/diabolic-candelabra-e-r-punshon.html