Joseph Commings

Joseph Commings (1913-1992) was an American mystery writer known for crafting intricate impossible crime stories and locked-room mysteries. His most notable creation was the character of Senator Brooks U. Banner, who appeared in numerous short stories as an amateur detective solving seemingly impossible cases. During his writing career spanning the 1940s through 1970s, Commings published primarily in mystery magazines like Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and The Saint Mystery Magazine. His work demonstrated a particular focus on "miracle problems" - mysteries involving events that appeared to defy logical explanation. The majority of Commings' published works were short stories rather than novels, with many featuring elaborate plots centered on sealed rooms, vanishing weapons, and other classic locked-room puzzle elements. His stories "The X Street Murders" and "Fingerprint Ghost" are considered among his finest contributions to the impossible crime genre. The Banner stories were later collected in the anthology Banner Deadlines, published in 2004, which helped introduce Commings' work to a new generation of mystery readers. Much of Commings' writing career ran parallel to his work as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

Limited reader reviews exist online for Joseph Commings, making it difficult to gauge broad reader sentiment. His locked room mysteries attract a niche audience of impossible crime enthusiasts. Readers point to his innovative puzzle plots and fair-play clues, with several highlighting "The X Street Murders" and "Death by Black Magic" as standout stories. Some note similarities to John Dickson Carr's style while praising Commings for finding fresh approaches to locked room scenarios. Critics cite uneven story quality across his collections and occasional reliance on coincidence to resolve plots. A few readers found his detective character Banner less compelling than contemporary sleuths. Available Ratings: Goodreads: Insufficient data (under 5 total ratings) Amazon: No customer reviews for in-print collections Rue Morgue Press reissues: Not enough ratings to analyze Note: Most online discussion appears in mystery fan forums and blogs rather than mainstream review sites. The scarcity of his works in print likely contributes to limited reader feedback.

Banner Deadlines (1947) A collection of short detective stories featuring Senator Brooks U. Banner solving seemingly impossible crimes from his bathtub.

The Death Lamp (1949) A mystery novella where Senator Banner investigates a murder where the victim was found dead in a room with all entrances sealed.

Death By Black Magic (1949) Three interconnected cases challenge Senator Banner as he unravels murders staged to appear as supernatural occurrences.

The X Street Murders (1950) Senator Banner solves a series of locked-room mysteries occurring in a residential neighborhood.

Murder Can Be Fun (1959) A compilation of Senator Banner's investigations into apparently impossible crimes, including several previously unpublished stories.

Murderer's Progress (1960) Senator Banner tackles five connected cases involving disappearances from sealed environments.