The Canary Murder Case - Literary Significance & Criticism

Literary Significance & Criticism

"It is difficult now to grasp the extent of Van Dine's success in America, and to a much lesser extent in Britain. ... Van Dine's second book was on the American best-seller lists for months ... It was said that he had lifted the detective story on to the plane of a fine art, and by his own account he was the favourite crime writer of two Presidents."

Some contemporary reviews: "A model of everything a detective story should be -- a monument, a cathedral amongst detective stories." Arnold Palmer in the London Sphere. "Not only a rattling good yarn that holds you to the end -- it's an education in itself. ... Belongs to the aristocracy of detective fiction." Harry Hansen in the New York World. "One of the most ingenious and thrilling tales of crime that I have seen. Philo Vance is an original and fascinating person." William Lyon Phelps.

The Canary Murder Mystery today is primarily of interest as a classic puzzle mystery with an interesting mechanical solution. "It should be said that the best of the Van Dine stories are models of construction. Utterly remote from real life, they remain fascinating by strict adherence to the rules of their own dotty logic, and through their creator's self-absorbed immersion in his own work."

Author and radio raconteur Jean Shepherd cited The Canary Murder Case as his earliest literary inspriration. One detailed discussion was during his February 1, 1968 broadcast on WOR.