Seeing Is Believing (novel)

Last updated
Seeing is Believing (also published as Cross of Murder)
SeeingIsBelieving.jpg
First edition (US)
Author John Dickson Carr writing as "Carter Dickson"
LanguageEnglish
Series Henry Merrivale
Genre Mystery fiction, Detective fiction
Publisher Morrow (US, 1941)
Heinemann (UK, 1942)
Publication date
1941
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages272
Preceded by Murder in the Submarine Zone  
Followed by The Gilded Man  

Seeing is Believing (also published as Cross of Murder) is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters. The novel was originally published in 1941.

Plot summary

Arthur Fane arranges an unusual entertainment for his uncle, a long-term guest, and a few other witnesses—he hires Dr. Rich to hypnotise his wife Victoria. The guests, but not Victoria, have been shown that a gun in the room is actually harmless; everyone, including Victoria, is aware that a dagger provided is made of rubber. The hypnotised Victoria is invited to shoot her husband, and refuses; when told to stab him, though, she agrees. Unfortunately, someone has substituted a real dagger for the rubber one, even though everyone in the room agrees that it would have been impossible to make the substitution.

Although Sir Henry Merrivale is busily engaged in dictating his scandalous and slanderous memoirs to a ghost writer, he takes a hand to solve the murder with his friend Chief Inspector Masters, and brings things to a head just as another death occurs.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dickson Carr</span> American mystery novelist and playwright (1906–1977)

John Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published using the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn.

Sir Henry Merrivale is a fictional amateur detective created by "Carter Dickson", a pen name of John Dickson Carr (1906–1977). Also known as "the Old Man," by his initials "H. M.", or "the Maestro", Merrivale appears in 22 of Carr's locked-room mysteries and "impossible crime" novels of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, as well as in two short stories.

<i>The Judas Window</i> 1938 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Judas Window is a famous locked room mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, writing under the name of Carter Dickson, published in 1938 and featuring detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Plague Court Murders</i> 1934 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Plague Court Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who wrote it under the name of Carter Dickson. The first Sir Henry Merrivale mystery, it is a locked room mystery of the subtype known as an "impossible crime".

<i>The Ten Teacups</i> 1937 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Ten Teacups, is a locked room mystery by American mystery writer John Dickson Carr, writing as Carter Dickson. It features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale, working with Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The White Priory Murders</i> 1934 novel by John Dickson Carr

The White Priory Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features his series detective, Sir Henry Merrivale, assisted by Scotland Yard Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Red Widow Murders</i> 1925 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Red Widow Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features his series detective, Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Unicorn Murders</i> 1935 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Unicorn Murders is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features his series detective, Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Punch and Judy Murders</i> 1936 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Punch and Judy Murders is a 1936 mystery novel written by John Dickson Carr under the alias of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit which features the fictional detective Sir Henry Merrivale. It was the last book read by the former American president Franklin D. Roosevelt before his death.

<i>Death in Five Boxes</i> 1938 novel by John Dickson Carr

Death in Five Boxes is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Reader is Warned</i> 1939 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Reader is Warned is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>And So to Murder</i> 1940 novel by John Dickson Carr

And So to Murder is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Gilded Man</i> 1942 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Gilded Man is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>She Died a Lady</i> 1943 mystery novel by John Dickson Carr

She Died a Lady is a mystery novel by American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit featuring the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>He Wouldnt Kill Patience</i> 1944 novel by John Dickson Carr

He Wouldn't Kill Patience is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his long-time associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Curse of the Bronze Lamp</i> Mystery novel by John Dickson Carr

The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery or, more properly, a subset of that category known as an "impossible crime", and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale. Carr considered this one of his best impossible crime novels.

<i>My Late Wives</i> 1946 mystery novel by John Dickson Carr

My Late Wives is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit featuring the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his long-time associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>The Skeleton in the Clock</i> 1948 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Skeleton in the Clock is a 1948 mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnit and features the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his long-time associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.

<i>Night at the Mocking Widow</i> 1950 novel by John Dickson Carr

Night at the Mocking Widow is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr, who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a whodunnitfeaturing the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale.

<i>The Cavaliers Cup</i> 1953 novel by John Dickson Carr

The Cavalier's Cup is a mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr (1906–1977), who published it under the name of Carter Dickson. It is a locked room mystery and the final appearance in novel form of the series detective Sir Henry Merrivale and his long-time associate, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Humphrey Masters.