Which modern crime authors have that Golden Age touch?

[Ruth]

I got quite enthusiastic about Ruth Dudley Edwards after seeing her recommended here and reading some of the reviews. But she seems to be unavailable on audio at the moment. I'm wondering if that's because the audio versions were by BBC Audio who were taken over by a company that no longer existd now?

[Carolien]

Colin wrote: "I would suggest Paul Halter,an author I've recently discovered.His writing style is a homage to the locked room mysteries of Dickson Carr.Written originally in French,I think ten have been translat..."

Thanks for this one, I'm always on the look out for translated crime fiction.

[HJ]

Ruth wrote: "I got quite enthusiastic about Ruth Dudley Edwards after seeing her recommended here and reading some of the reviews. But she seems to be unavailable on audio at the moment. I'm wondering if that's..."

You could try the library. That's where I got them from.

[Ruth]

HJ wrote: "You could try the library. That's where I got them from. ..."

They just have a couple of the later ones :-(

[HJ]

eBay? I found a surprising number of audiobooks at reasonable prices there.

[Ruth]

HJ wrote: "eBay? I found a surprising number of audiobooks at reasonable prices there."

That's a good idea, thanks HJ :-)

[Lady Clementina]

I don't think this is the right forum for this comment but would Earl Derr Biggers count as Golden Age- I've read (so far) the first two of his Charlie Chan books which are quite interesting. Nothing like the film where they made a mess of poor Chan.

[Susan]

We are not that precise in our commenting, so don't worry, Lady Clementina! Our discussions tend to veer off a bit at times, which is fine. I have never read or seen Charlie Chan, but somehow it is a name that I know - it's odd when that happens, like these characters lurk in your subconscious...

[Lady Clementina]

Susan wrote: "We are not that precise in our commenting, so don't worry, Lady Clementina! Our discussions tend to veer off a bit at times, which is fine. I have never read or seen Charlie Chan, but somehow it is..."
This is a series of six books (if I remember the number right) and I've read the first two. Chan didn't have very much of a role in the first (as far as the detecting went) but in the second he does,

[Jan C]

I'm on the third book. But I don't think I had finished the second book when Amazon yanked them away from me. They said they wouldn't until I finished but unfortunately my kindle broke and when I got the new one it was no longer there. Not sure if Amazon has all of them now or not. But I did find the third one there. I will look for the second one later. My original copy was a collected copy which had all of the books under one title.

I enjoy the movies, too.

The first book was particularly enjoyable. I don't think he even shows up until halfway through the story. And he's not like he is in the movies.

[Susan]

Do you mean that Amazon removed them from your kindle, Jan? I have had books before which were taken off the Amazon site on kindle, but they remained on my kindle.

[Jan C]

Susan wrote: "Do you mean that Amazon removed them from your kindle, Jan? I have had books before which were taken off the Amazon site on kindle, but they remained on my kindle."

If you're in the middle of reading the book, they won't. But if you're through with it and it has been withdrawn from their circulation/library they will. There was a big furor a few years ago about the withdrawal of, I think, a George Orwell book - possibly 1984 or Animal Farm. I don't recall which it was now. Especially since I didn't have either one of them on my Kindle. I think they sent an e-mail saying that the author's family/estate/publisher had taken this omnibus of Earl Derr Biggers off their shelf. I subsequently found the omnibus on Kobo's shelf.

[Susan]

That surprises me. When Jane Haddam's books, for example, were withdrawn from the Amazon UK site, the books I had already purchased stayed on my kindle. I've never had that happen, luckily!

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "That surprises me. When Jane Haddam's books, for example, were withdrawn from the Amazon UK site, the books I had already purchased stayed on my kindle. I've never had that happen, luckily!"

Jan C, is it purchased books or ones you got through their borrowing plan? I have many unread books I would hate to see disappear, many bought but for no money.

[Jan C]

Sandy wrote: "Susan wrote: "That surprises me. When Jane Haddam's books, for example, were withdrawn from the Amazon UK site, the books I had already purchased stayed on my kindle. I've never had that happen, lu..."

Purchased. I think they must have given me a credit.

I don't think they take books back very often but they have been known to. As I say, there was a famous instance a few years. I believe it caused op-eds in some magazines, papers - possibly NYT, The New Yorker.

And I've only had it on the one book. But having already heard about the other instance wasn't completely surprised.

A reason to start everything you buy. You don't have to finish right away but if they're started they won't take them away until you're done with it.

[Lady Clementina]

Jan C wrote: "I'm on the third book. But I don't think I had finished the second book when Amazon yanked them away from me. They said they wouldn't until I finished but unfortunately my kindle broke and when I g..."

Yes, he doesn't have very much of a role in the first but he is there all through the second. I thing some of these at least are out of copyright and should be available online.

[Susan]

I enjoy all sorts of crime novels - but I think there are a few contemporary authors who have that GA feel. I suppose M C Beaton is the most prolific, with her Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series, but I can think of a few others just off the top of my head - I think you would like the Gregor Demarkian series (first book - Not a Creature was Stirring) which combines a long running series of characters with mysteries which are not violent. Perhaps I'll nominate the first next December, but, sadly, it is not on kindle in the UK. There is also Ruth Dudley Edwards (Corridors of Death) and R T Raichev (The Hunt for Sonya Dufrette). I'm sure I could think of more, but they are all fairly contemporary, but do have that earlier feel.

[HJ]

Glad to see another Ruth Dudley Edwards fan!

[Lady Clementina]

HJ wrote: "Glad to see another Ruth Dudley Edwards fan!"

I just read one of the Agatha Raisins about a month or so ago- the Murderous Marriage. I liked that she made her heroine a normal woman. The mystery wasn't bad either.

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "I enjoy all sorts of crime novels - but I think there are a few contemporary authors who have that GA feel. I suppose M C Beaton is the most prolific, with her Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin seri..."

I really liked the Demarkian bookNot a Creature was Stirring, I read it around Christmas, and intended to continue the series immeditely but so many other books! Must get back to it.

[Lady Clementina]

Any fans of Father Brown here? And what about Dick Francis- I love his books (though sometimes they can be violent)- especially the racing settings.

[HJ]

I do enjoy Dick Francis, and frequently re-read his books, but I would not say that he is at all similar to the Golden Age writers.

[Lady Clementina]

HJ wrote: "I do enjoy Dick Francis, and frequently re-read his books, but I would not say that he is at all similar to the Golden Age writers."

I agree- just wasn't sure where else to put this post. I figured he'd count as detective fiction, though.

[Everyman]

HJ wrote: "I do enjoy Dick Francis, and frequently re-read his books, but I would not say that he is at all similar to the Golden Age writers."

Ditto and ditto.

I also like Father Brown, but again, not really golden Age material.

[Susan]

Grantchester, Sidney Chambers

[Phyllis]

Sarah Caudwell - 4 books - unfortunately, she passed away around the time of publication of the 4th book - all are wonderful, and regular re-reads for me (also good on audio).

[Susan]

Another author I keep meaning to read, Phyllis... Too many books and too little time!

[Christopher]

How is Father Brown not Golden Age material? Chesterton was the first president of the Detection Club, which pretty much defined the Golden Age.

[Everyman]

Christopher wrote: "How is Father Brown not Golden Age material? Chesterton was the first president of the Detection Club, which pretty much defined the Golden Age."

I enjoy Father Brown, but he really isn't traditional Golden Age is he? We often don't get all the clues we need to solve the mystery, and some of them are quite bizarre and unrealistic. Enjoyable, yes. But "follow the rules" mysteries?

[Lady Clementina]

Everyman wrote: "Christopher wrote: "How is Father Brown not Golden Age material? Chesterton was the first president of the Detection Club, which pretty much defined the Golden Age."

I enjoy Father Brown, but he r..."

Er I didn't mean that he was Golden age but couldn't find the right discussion thread to put him in...

[Christopher]

Ah, Father Brown showed up exclusively in short stories. Short Stories, I think, have a little more leeway than novels when it comes to "the rules". And in a way, Father Brown is a bridge from Holmes to the Golden Age detectives, interesting if you want to consider the evolution of the mystery story form.

[Susan]

I would think that Father Brown comes into our definition of Golden Age, because we sort of cover anything from the earliest period to the classic Golden Age, which is between the wars. I remember reading The Cask, a very early mystery and you could see where mystery writing was headed from that, so it is often interesting to see the evolution of mysteries.

[Everyman]

Christopher wrote: " And in a way, Father Brown is a bridge from Holmes to the Golden Age detectives, interesting if you want to consider the evolution of the mystery story form. "

I like that way of looking at him.

[Lady Clementina]

Everyman wrote: "Christopher wrote: " And in a way, Father Brown is a bridge from Holmes to the Golden Age detectives, interesting if you want to consider the evolution of the mystery story form. "

I like that way..."

I hadn't thought of him that way- and that would be interesting to explore as a theme- the path/s mystery stories have taken over the ages. My reading has been so random that I haven't consciously looked at how the genre has evolved.

[Ruth]

Has anyone read anything by Catriona McPherson?

[Judy]

I've read one of her mysteries, Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder - I didn't start with the first one in the series, I think because I was on holiday and picked it up in a bookshop.

I don't remember it in any detail now - I think I liked the period setting but that it was a bit hard to follow the characters and relationships, and I would have done better to start with the first book in that series.

[Ruth]

Judy wrote: "I've read one of her mysteries, Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder - I didn't start with the first one in the series, I think because I was on holiday and picked it up ..."

My sister spotted one in a bookshop and thought it looked like my sort of thing! The covers of some of the series look a bit like Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple books which I was a bit lukewarm about so I might pass at the moment.

[[deleted user]]

Catharine Aird does a wonderful job of recreating the Golden Age. Lucky for readers, she is still writing. Her books are delightful. And of course the great Simon Brett, who is a member of the Detection Club (founded by Christie, Sayers, and other Golden Age masters).

[Daniele]

Ruth wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've read one of her mysteries, Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder - I didn't start with the first one in the series, I think because I was on holiday and ..."

Judging a book by its cover ! :)

[Daniele]

Ruth wrote: "Has anyone read anything by Catriona McPherson?"

She looks interesting. I think I will give her a try. But what with all the Christmas mysteries, it may take a few weeks.

[Natalie]

Some of the names that come to my mind as possibilities include (and are not limited to): Nicholas Blake, Peter Lovesey, Deborah Crombie, Louise Penny, Donna Leon, Charles Lennox,.

I reallly enjoyed Sarah Caudwell, but her premature death sadly left us with only 4 in her series. I think that they are well worth reading.
Other names that come to mind that you may have already noted are Edmund Crispen, Michael Innes, Colin Dexter, etc.

[Judy]

Welcome Natalie, great to see you here! I've read books by some of these authors but not all - will aim to read Sarah Caudwell's books soon after seeing your comments.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Welcome Natalie, great to see you here! I've read books by some of these authors but not all - will aim to read Sarah Caudwell's books soon after seeing your comments."

I plan to read Caudwell after a recent 'classic mysteries' podcast reviewed Thus Was Adonis Murdered

[Everyman]

Christine wrote: "Catharine Aird does a wonderful job of recreating the Golden Age. "

It's actually Catherine Aird if you are searching online (I tried Catharine and my library said they had none. Of Catherine they had a bunch. Stupid computer.)

[Susan]

Computers are horribly pedantic, Everyman. As is the Goodreads search engine, which won't find a book or author if one letter is incorrect...

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "Computers are horribly pedantic, Everyman. As is the Goodreads search engine, which won't find a book or author if one letter is incorrect..."

I expected the Goodreads search engine to improve with Amazon involvement. Amazon is good at guessing what you really want (financial incentive?)

[Jill]

I am wildly devoted to Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series. They are absolutely off the wall and so much fun. And they seem, at least to me, to have the golden age touch...no violence, no gore....just good solid stories even though they can get a little strange sometimes. If you haven't read them, you need to give them a try.

[Jan C]

Jill wrote: "I am wildly devoted to Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series. They are absolutely off the wall and so much fun. And they seem, at least to me, to have the golden age touch...no violence, no go..."

I, too, love the Bryant & May series. Very enjoyable.

[Ruth]

Jan C wrote: "Jill wrote: "I am wildly devoted to Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series. They are absolutely off the wall and so much fun. And they seem, at least to me, to have the golden age touch...no vi..."

Me too - he's a fantastic writer and also does a great daily blog.

[Susan]

I have never read them, although I've often meant to - perhaps one of you would like to nominate the first in the series one month?