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Fell Murder
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July 2020 - Fell Murder by E.C. R. Lorac
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Who is reading this one? I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it - it has a classic Golden Age feel to it and is very readable.
I got confused and read this last month! I thought it was better for the background than the actual mystery, and gave a thoughtful account of the hardships and labour of a farming community during WW2 - especially the role of women.
I'm hoping to get to it but am a bit bogged down right now, reading a current-affairs chunkster.
Since I nominated, I’m reading - I’m about halfway through, Macdonald just arrived. I always enjoy his style with witnesses and suspects, and as always with this author, very much enjoying how thoroughly she sets the scene in this wartime, rural farming community.
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Will be starting tomorrow, looking forward to it.
Susan wrote: "I really liked this. I think the characters, and the setting, worked very well. I would definitely read more by this author."Oh, I am glad! Always worrisome to nominate a book one wants to read, but then you rope others in, and it may fizzle out as a bore or a stinker! I’ve read several Lorac mysteries, and enjoyed them all. I really enjoy how Macdonald takes his time, gets to know the people, places around a murder. Around Halloween, I might nominate Bats in the Belfry - atmospheric and creepy, but good mystery, too!
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https://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/out-...
Beautiful shots! Thanks for finding them.
I've just started reading this book and I LOVE this writer's style! This is the first book I've ever read by Lorac. In fact, I'd never heard of her until this book was nominated. If her writing is consistently this rich, I might just have a new favorite mystery author!The only problem is that I haven't been able to find very many of her books.
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Of all the books we've read this year, this is by far my favorite! I will look for more Lorac books to read. I just finished Fell Murder and enjoyed every word. Good choice for book of the month of July. Thank you for this nomination Susan in NC!
Judy wrote: "If anyone wants a quick flavour of the type of landscapes featured in this book, this article has several nice photos. I was looking for a photo gallery of the Lune Valley/Lunesdale but haven't man..."Thank you, Judy!
Carol wrote: "I've just started reading this book and I LOVE this writer's style! This is the first book I've ever read by Lorac. In fact, I'd never heard of her until this book was nominated. If her writing is ..."Yes, British Library Crime Classics has reissued four, I think, and I’ve found an additional two on Scribd. This is her fourth book I’ve read, all with Macdonald- just starting listening to a short story audiobook for a challenge while this book is fresh in my mind, curious how she does in short story format.A Bit of Wire-Pulling
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I'm finding Lorac readable and kind of OK so far, but that's based on two books only. I'll need to dig in a little deeper to see if my opinion changes much. I'm someone who cares much more about the mystery and I've not been all that impressed with what I've seen on that score. On both occasions I had figured out the murderer well in advance of the reveal, and I also feel I can discern a certain pattern in her characterization.
From my own admittedly selfish perspective, I'd like to see a bit less waffle and description, and a bit more sleight of hand in the plotting. We'll see.
The latest episode of the excellent podcast Shedunnit is about Lorac. The host interviews an expert on Lorac and talks about Lorac's background. They both agree that one strength of her books is their sense of setting. By the way, Lorac is Carol spelled backwards. (The Shedunnit podcast is about British crime writers between the world wars. I really enjoy the podcast.)
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https://promotingcrime.blogspot.com/2...
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Thank you Diane! Here is a link to the episode - I hope to listen to it tonight.
https://shedunnitshow.com/ecrlorac/
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Judy wrote: "I've just found a nice article about Lorac for anyone who wants to know a bit more about her. https://promotingcrime.blogspot.com/2..."
Thanks, Judy!
Thanks for the info! Finally started this, and like the setting!
Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
A Bit of Wire-Pulling (other topics)Bats in the Belfry (other topics)
Fell Murder (other topics)
This is the 25th in the long-running Robert MacDonald series (Amazon say it was the 23rd book, but - having done a little research - I think it is the 25th - forgive me if I am wrong!), a series which ran from 1931 to 1959, the year of the author's death. E.C.R. Lorac was the pen name of Edith Caroline Rivett, who also wrote under the name Carol Carnac. Rivett was a member of the Detection Club and a prolific author. Although not all of her books are, currently, in print, a growing number are now available on kindle.
Fell Murder centres around the Garths, who had farmed their fertile acres for generations, and fine land it was with the towering hills of the Lake Country on the far horizon. Here hot-tempered Robert Garth, still hale and hearty at eighty-two, ruled Garthmere Hall with a rod of iron. Until, that is, old Garth was found dead–‘dead as mutton’–in the trampled mud of the ancient outhouse.
Glowering clouds gather over the dramatic dales and fells as seasoned investigator Chief Inspector Macdonald arrives in the north country. Awaiting him are the reticent Garths and their guarded neighbours of the Lune Valley; and a battle of wits to unearth their murderous secrets.
First published in 1944, Fell Murder is a tightly-paced mystery with authentic depictions of its breathtaking locales and Second World War setting. The British Library Crime Classic edition also includes the rare E.C.R. Lorac short story ‘The Live Wire’.
Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.