1952-53 was a tough time for John Dickson Carr , who in his mid-forties suffered from physical illness and overall disenchantment with life....

Let's face it.  The thing does have an element of--well, of what some people would call the ridiculous.  But does that make the problem ...

"...he's being deliberately mysterious." "Well, so are you." "It's sex, Leo....Sex! The unbreakable taboo!...