Nine Times Nine

Nine Times Nine is a locked-room mystery novel published in 1940 featuring Sister Ursula, a nun detective who investigates an impossible crime. When a suspect vanishes from a sealed study, leaving behind evidence of violence, the police are baffled by the seemingly supernatural circumstances. The investigation brings Sister Ursula into contact with a cult leader who claims mystic powers and a group of suspicious characters connected to the victim. The plot incorporates elements of stage magic, religious zealotry, and classic detective fiction as Sister Ursula works to expose the truth behind the vanishing act. The case forces Sister Ursula to confront questions about faith, reason, and the tension between religious belief and scientific skepticism. Boucher's novel stands out for combining traditional mystery elements with deeper philosophical themes about the nature of truth and illusion.

Readers appreciate the locked room mystery elements and religious cult subplot in Nine Times Nine. Several reviews note the fair-play clues and logical solution. The character Sister Ursula, a nun detective, stands out as an original investigator type. Readers point to the pacing issues in the middle sections and find some of the secondary characters underdeveloped. A few reviews mention the dated cultural references require extra context for modern readers. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) From readers: "Creative locked room setup but takes too long getting there" - Goodreads reviewer "Sister Ursula makes a refreshing change from the standard detective" - Amazon review "The cult angle adds tension but loses steam halfway through" - LibraryThing user "A solid puzzle mystery though some 1940s references are obscure now" - Goodreads review Note: Limited review data available as this is an older, out-of-print title.

The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley Members of a crime circle propose different solutions to a puzzling murder involving poisoned chocolates, mirroring Nine Times Nine's focus on impossible crimes and multiple theories.

Death from a Top Hat by Clayton Rawson A magician-detective investigates murders among fellow performers using locked-room techniques and misdirection in this mystery featuring occult elements and seemingly impossible situations.

The Judas Window by Carter Dickson Sir Henry Merrivale tackles a murder in a room locked from the inside with every entrance sealed, presenting the same type of "impossible crime" challenge found in Nine Times Nine.

The Three Coffins by John Dickson Carr Dr. Gideon Fell investigates a shooting in a locked room with no footprints in the snow outside, delivering the intricate puzzle-solving that readers of Nine Times Nine seek.

Death Has Many Doors by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth A private detective encounters a case involving apparent supernatural elements and locked-room scenarios while investigating deaths predicted by a psychic.

🔍 Anthony Boucher wrote "Nine Times Nine" under the pseudonym H.H. Holmes - a name he borrowed from a notorious 19th-century serial killer. 📚 The book features Sister Ursula, one of the earliest nun-detectives in mystery fiction, predating the more famous Sister Fidelma series by several decades. 🎭 The plot revolves around an impossible crime scenario involving a locked room murder, which was a signature element of Boucher's mystery writing style. ✒️ Boucher was not just an author but also an influential mystery critic; the annual mystery convention "Bouchercon" is named after him. 🗞️ When published in 1940, the book received praise for combining elements of traditional detective fiction with deeper philosophical and religious themes, which was unusual for that era.