March 2022 group read - winner

[Jill]

I'm also going to give this one a miss, and wait until someone I know more reads it.

[Sid]

Tara wrote: "Unfortunately, I often find that newer historical mysteries have too much of the modern world and its perspective creep into the story and characters, and it's too jarring for me to get immersed in..."

I agree, Tara. I think I'll probably give this a cautious try, but if it doesn't gel with me I won't persist. I'm becoming more determined not to keep on slogging through books I'm not really enjoying; there's so much that I really want to read that life's too short...

[Wayne]

I had a look at some of the reviews, and that's not too bad. I placed it on the list for March

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "Tara wrote: "Unfortunately, I often find that newer historical mysteries have too much of the modern world and its perspective creep into the story and characters, and it's too jarring for me to ge..."

I’m with you, Sid! There are still so many good golden age mysteries I’ve not read, I’d rather stick with the real thing than a pale modern imitation. So many books, so little time - saw a documentary on London the other night, they touched on the British Museum’s massive book collection, and said if you read 5 books a day, it would take something insane like 8,000 or 80,000 years to get through them all! My mind seized up, I can’t remember the exact amount of years, but more than a lifetime! Plus, I was drooling watching the employees walk through the endless stacks with their carts full of books…;)

[Sid]

Well, the British Library (now separate from the British Museum but still associated with it, I think) is a Copyright Library, meaning that, by law, publishers must send it a copy of any book published in the UK. Given that, plus it's colossal historical collection, I imagine you'd be lucky to get through it all in 80,000 years. :o)

It's a magnificent collection. When it was part of the BM, there was a gallery which had a changing display of exhibits and I've seen some marvels there - including original manuscripts of Gray's Elegy, Keats's Ode To A Nightingale and many other wonders.

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "Well, the British Library (now separate from the British Museum but still associated with it, I think) is a Copyright Library, meaning that, by law, publishers must send it a copy of any book publi..."

Oh, my, you are lucky, to be living surrounded by so much history! Thanks for the information. The documentary was from a couple years ago, actually about “Secrets of the London Underground”, so everything from tunneling under the Thames in the Victorian era, to covered rivers like the Fleet, to ancient Plague pits, to WWII hidden headquarters for Churchill, to the British Museum adding another four stories underground the current structure. Talk about a complex undertaking- and all without closing the building to visitors. If they knew Covid was coming, I guess they could have done it during lockdown, make as much noise as they wanted…

[Michaela]

Pity the poll vanished, as I´d otherwise have changed my vote back to my nomination of Death of an Airman.

[Susan in NC]

Michaela wrote: "Pity the poll vanished, as I´d otherwise have changed my vote back to my nomination of Death of an Airman."

That’s on my TBR list, also, we’ll have to nominate it again for April!

[Michaela]

Susan in NC wrote: "Michaela wrote: "Pity the poll vanished, as I´d otherwise have changed my vote back to my nomination of Death of an Airman."

That’s on my TBR list, also, we’ll have to nominate it ..."

Nice! :)

[Jill]

I also have it, so hope you do nominate again. I have not read the author at all. In fact I don't think I have heard of him before.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "I also have it, so hope you do nominate again. I have not read the author at all. In fact I don't think I have heard of him before."

I hadn’t heard of him either, I think I read he died young (maybe in our The Golden Age of Murder?)

[Jessica-sim]

I’ll still be reading the chosen book. I’m optimistic!

[Jill]

oh good. We will be able to see how you get on with it.

[Susan]

I enjoy some of the modern mysteries, set in those time. The Clara Benson series is contemporary, I enjoyed the egg-cosy book, and I liked the Daisy Dalrymple series.

[Susan in NC]

I love the Sam Wyndham series, that’s set in 1920s India, but current. Clara Benson is fun, isn’t she? And thanks for reminding me of Daisy Dalrymple - ugh, too many books, not enough time!

[Jill]

After reading 20 of Dunn's Daisy quite close together I did find myself saying "Jolly" a lot. Even now it sometimes slips out!

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "After reading 20 of Dunn's Daisy quite close together I did find myself saying "Jolly" a lot. Even now it sometimes slips out!"

Jolly good! (You’re right, it’s addictive…)

[Susan]

Yes the Sam Wyndham series is good. Also liked The Strangler Vine series. Overall, I prefer original GA mysteries, but there are a lot of unexplored current series around and I am sure many are good. I want to go back to the Mitford ones too. I think someone nominated the first a while ago and, of course, Nicola Upson's books are very popular.

[Sid]

Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, my, you are lucky, to be living surrounded by so much history!"

We are. I've spent quite some time in the US in various points in my life and have seen some fantastic, awe-inspiring sights there. My conclusion is that you've got big, but we've got old. :o)

I imagine that Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May series is well known here, but allow me recommend them heartily anyway. Good mysteries, excellent writing, plenty of wit and steeped in fascinating aspects of the history of London even though the setting is contemporary.

[Susan]

I think you tend to just become accepting of the amount of history surrounding you in London. The old and the new sit alongside each other quite comfortably. I do love the theatres, galleries, markets and museums in London. When you travel in the UK, a lot of people say they wouldn't live in London, and it is expensive, but I am a history buff and love those aspects of the City.

[Sid]

I'm not a history buff and I used to hate the idea of London, but I agree, Susan. I moved here 40 years ago (I fell in love with a London girl - what can you do?) and I've grown to love those aspects of the city. The fact that you can just nip to John Donne's cathedral (as redesigned by Wren) to look around or go to a concert, for example, is just wonderful. Are you a Fowler fan?

[Susan]

I read the first one and didn't get on with it too well, but possibly I was not in the mood. Like so many series, I probably need to give it another try.

I am really a City person. I don't cope well with the country, but, saying that, I am really enjoying next months read, Fear Stalks the Village. Looks perfect, but underneath....

[Sid]

The first isn't that great and there are a couple of weaker ones in the series, but I've read over half of them now and love them. Worth persisting with, I'd say.

I'm fine in either city or country. I mean, who doesn't love St. Mary Mead? :o) I'm rather fond of an occasional Miss Seeton, too, plus plenty of other country-set books.

[Susan]

My father came from a small village in Ireland, but the countryside is not for me. It's fine from a distance, but I will happily visit in print!

[Sid]

Susan wrote: "My father came from a small village in Ireland, but the countryside is not for me. It's fine from a distance, but I will happily visit in print!"

😊

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "Yes the Sam Wyndham series is good. Also liked The Strangler Vine series. Overall, I prefer original GA mysteries, but there are a lot of unexplored current series around and I am s..."

Oh, thanks, I read the first Strangler Vine mystery from Amazon Vine years ago, didn’t know there were more books!

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, my, you are lucky, to be living surrounded by so much history!"

We are. I've spent quite some time in the US in various points in my life and have seen some fantastic, awe-..."

You sum it up very well, we’ve got big, you’ve got old! Our son is grown and out of the house, we were hoping at this point to be out there seeing more of our huge country, fingers crossed we can do that in the next few years. So much to see here, let alone the rest of the world!

I love Bryant & May, I’ve read every book and just finished London Bridge Is Falling Down! The “Secrets of London Underground” had me thinking of Arthur and his expert crackpots! I bet tour guides in London dread PCU fans, they want to show off the dazzling bits, and the B&M freaks want to see the seediest underbelly of the metropolis…

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "I think you tend to just become accepting of the amount of history surrounding you in London. The old and the new sit alongside each other quite comfortably. I do love the theatres, galleries, mark..."

I have heard that, I think anyone who watches the news realizes the real estate market is crazy expensive, London is a dazzling international center for so many things and has been for centuries. Bound to be pricey. I’m glad you can appreciate the beauty and appeal of your city - people always say that here about New York City, and being from Chicago, when I attended college downstate, I’d hear the same from locals about my city. I think there are city people, and small town or rural people, and neither group can comprehend what the other sees in their home!

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "I read the first one and didn't get on with it too well, but possibly I was not in the mood. Like so many series, I probably need to give it another try.

I am really a City person. I don't cope w..."

I read the first chapter to get a taste, before I started my current book, and I agree, it’s going to be very interesting! A shame White didn’t write more.

I hope you get a chance to try the PCU mysteries again - Fowler says in his latest afterword, the 20th anniversary book, that he had his mum read the manuscript of book three, and she basically told him, “well, I think you’ve exhausted that premise!” Aaaand, 17 books later, here we are…

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "The first isn't that great and there are a couple of weaker ones in the series, but I've read over half of them now and love them. Worth persisting with, I'd say.

I'm fine in either city or countr..."

Oh, I’d want to live near Miss Marple, she’s one of my literary idols! Joan Hickson is Miss Marple to me, and I love that combination of sweet smile, baby blue eyes, and a mind like a Victorian sink trap, as I read her described once. She’d have all the dirt on everybody- you’d live a clean life with Miss M about!

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "My father came from a small village in Ireland, but the countryside is not for me. It's fine from a distance, but I will happily visit in print!"

I fear I may be the same - I love looking at it, and gardening, and a nice walk in the woods, but at the Revolutionary War park near my house - since it’s preserved as a federal park, guess it’s not real country - we do see deer, sometimes.

[Tara]

Susan in NC wrote: "Sid wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, my, you are lucky, to be living surrounded by so much history!"

We are. I've spent quite some time in the US in various points in my life and have seen some fan..."

I was born and raised in NYC, but it is my dream one day, perhaps once my husband and I retire, to visit all of the National Parks. I do love the country, although not so much all of the bugs!

[Sid]

Susan in NC wrote: "Joan Hickson is Miss Marple to me"

Quite right. For me There Is No Other. :o)

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Joan Hickson is Miss Marple to me"

Quite right. For me There Is No Other. :o)"

I treated myself a few years ago to the Joan Hickson complete collection on DVD! She’s the best, but I love the production values and scenery as well - plus, as we’ve discussed in this group, she was the last Marple before writers started fiddling with plots, inserting odd casting/plot twists to Christie’s mysteries- I guess to try and gain younger viewers?

[Susan in NC]

Tara wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sid wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, my, you are lucky, to be living surrounded by so much history!"

We are. I've spent quite some time in the US in various points in my life an..."

Oh, Tara, that’s a lovely idea, I’d love to do that, after seeing the Ken Burns documentary on our national parks, this city kid was mesmerized!

[Jan C]

Well, I missed out on another nomination/voting period.

I would have voted for Barrakee which I am still reading. It is my second Bony book. It is a look into a different world for me.

I am also a fan of Fowler's odd couple. I think I am currently on the fifth book, White Corridor.

City girl (Chicago) trying to live in small town western North Carolina. Asheville is about half an hour away. I was stunned though when I discovered that it had about the same population as the suburb I formerly lived (and grew up) in. It is a shock to the system.

This also means I live about 20-30 minutes from the most visited national park - the Blue Ridge Parkway, I guess we didn't have too much money growing up (my father was a pastor until I was 8). Not much pay but I think they had good vacations. And we would go to National Parks - they were free then. Although we usually went to the same one - Rocky Mountains. I've missed a number in the SW and some in California. I would one day like to see Yosemite although it always sounds so crowded and Grand Canyon - only have seen it from the air.

[Sandy]

For many years my vacation was one of the various National Parks, so I have been to quite a few. They were always well staffed with interesting programs, and I hope that continues.

[Jill]

My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, the theatres. My husband has memories of playing on the beach at the Tower of London. I went on to work in London until I married, then we moved to Essex, which was considered the countryside, and it really did seem like it, although it was only a short commute away We were woken every morning by the birds singing, which was something that had never happened to us in London. When we had children, we visited our parents, and took them to see the major attractions but the boys used to say how dirty the place was compared to where we live. Funny really as both have gone on to work there, but they would never think of living there. I find now that I really dislike the crowds and the amount of buildings hemming them in. I would have loved to have moved down to the West Country, where we holidayed every year but there were just not jobs to be had.
The Bryant and May building in Bow was something of a landmark.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, the theatres. ..."

It was interesting, after growing up on the far south side of Chicago , then moving to NC after college, then revisiting the city with our small son. We were standing on North Michigan Avenue, and he was holding his ears, asking why it was so loud! I had gone downtown with my sister and friends in high school, and dreamed of living and working down there eventually - but have to admit, the traffic noise, the crowds were a bit much after living in a medium-sized southern city for years!

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, the theatres. ..."

I think I’ve read in in a PCU book, but I’m not sure - Bryant & May were a brand of matches, right?

[Jill]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, t..."

Yes Lots of the workers got Phossy Jaw.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Pa..."

Awful!

[Sid]

Susan in NC wrote: "I think I’ve read in in a PCU book, but I’m not sure - Bryant & May were a brand of matches, right?."

Yes. Boxes like this were ubiquitous when I was young in the 50s and 60s: https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pi...
(This one seems to be from 1987, so they lasted a long time.)

[Susan in NC]

Sid wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I think I’ve read in in a PCU book, but I’m not sure - Bryant & May were a brand of matches, right?."

Yes. Boxes like this were ubiquitous when I was young in the 50s and 60s: ..."

Thanks for sharing this, I missed it - London's Glory was a PCU short story collection, I imagine this was the inspiration for the title!

[Jeff]

Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, the theatres. ..."
I'm lucky enough to have been born in the West country and returned 20 years ago to bring up another generation. Jill, you are correct about lack of jobs. however homeworking has now changed this but means house prices far outstrip wages her in Cornwall.
I'm a big fan of Arthur and John and
Christopher Fowler in general. I'd also recommend Christopher's blog, though not an easy read over the lockdown period. Looking forward to rereading the PCU books.

[Susan in NC]

Jeff wrote: "Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, the museums, t..."

Thanks, Jeff, I have signed up for Fowler’s blog, and enjoy trying to tease out whatever future plans he has for the PCU!

Wow, Cornwall is gorgeous, from what I’ve seen on tv, you’re lucky to live there! We have a similar problem here in the US, pandemic working from home allowed some workers to escape the high cost of more crowded cities and move to other areas of the States, but that drives up housing costs for others in the area.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The Tower, St Paul's, t..."

So many moving to Asheville area it is pricing locals out of the market. People can't afford to live where they work. We have lovely waterfalls and mountains but the problem is who is there left to work in stores, restaurants, etc? So a lot of places have to close early or have to schedule days to be closed around their workers. I was surprised when McDonald's was closed for a couple of days and Starbucks had a closing at 4. Although a new restaurant opened with Chicago-style hot dogs and, after a bumpy start, had regular hours. Offering $15 an hour. So other places have had to up their rates.

So its not always peaches and cream in a tourist town.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Jill wrote: "My husband and myself were both born in the East End of London and attended the same senior school. As children we did all the usual tourist sites. The..."

I imagine- two of my sisters live in Charleston, SC, home prices there are crazy high, as well.

[Tara]

I feel like urban living is really for the young. I loved the vibrancy of NYC when I was in my 20s--restaurants, clubs, wine bars all were so exciting. There is still the draw of museums and libraries, but the dirtiness, crowds, noise, and lack of natural beauty are huge negatives. Of course there are pros and cons to every type of living environment, but I think one of the biggest draws for me to a more secluded lifestyle is the autonomy and self-sufficiency of rural communities.

[Susan in NC]

Tara wrote: "I feel like urban living is really for the young. I loved the vibrancy of NYC when I was in my 20s--restaurants, clubs, wine bars all were so exciting. There is still the draw of museums and librar..."

Very good point. I enjoy visiting relatives and friends in tourist destinations like Charleston or Florida, appreciate the weather and/or natural beauty, but appreciate the accessibility, comforts of my small city. Always glad to get home!