Beaumont DuBois

When Villins Clash Beaumont DuBois

This is very close in form to the inverted detective story. We see most of the events leading up to the first crime, and know who the criminal is. We do not see such events from the criminal's point of view in the second murder. But so much is known about this crime immediately by the police, that is almost as if we have seen the events leading up to it. The reader can guess, in both cases, most of the facts of the murders. The pleasure of the tale is seeing Waterberry unravel the crimes. DuBois leaves a few surprises up his sleeve, which give pleasure to the reader; these surprises prevent the tale from being a pure, 100% inverted detective story. Still, it is very close to the inverted form. The lack of mystery in the tale is unexpectedly compensated for by the clarity with which the reader can follow all the events of the case. Both crimes are full of interesting detail. The tale is lacking in the brilliance of Mr. Carlson's Oversight.