Reading the Detectives discussion
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The Case of the Canterfell Codicil
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June 24: The Case of the Canterfell Codicil: PJ Fitzsimmons (Challenge Title)
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After so many disappointing reads, I was so relieved that I enjoyed this one...
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I'm currently reading this - not too sure what I think as yet, as I have quite a long way still to go, but there's a lot of humour.
The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I’m waiting to see what the general vibe is - as Susan said, so many disappointments! I did read the first few pages a while ago when I tried kindle unlimited and got this book. Seemed very Wodehouse, but I always feel it’s so easy to miss the mark when copying a master!I’m nitpicking here, but right away the bizarre name of the lead character bugged me - Anty? Tony is the usual nickname for Anthony as far as I know-Anty makes me think of “Auntie” or “Ants in the pants”, a teasing childhood descriptor for someone who can’t sit still! I always feel if an author gives a character an odd name, physical feature, or other descriptor, there should be a good reason-if it’s meant to be whimsical or funny and it falls flat, it’s a turnoff - I feel like their humor, if there is any, probably won’t be very entertaining.
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That's true, as seen with all the sequels to classics by other authors, although I am sometimes tempted to try those and have found a few I've liked over the years.
I have come across people called Anthony who are known as "Ant" and indeed there is a famous Ant on British TV, but I haven't met an "Anty" as yet!
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Ok, I’ve started it, and I think I will enjoy it. I was afraid he was going to try and have a dithery amateur detective like Bertie Wooster, which probably wouldn’t work- Bertie brings all of his problems to the much wiser Jeeves! That’s a great part of the humor and appeal of those books - the dippy, wealthy young gentlemen get into trouble, and smart Jeeves bails them out! I don’t think anyone would expect the denizens of the Drones Club to solve a mystery, sometimes they can barely get themselves home…
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Good point about there not being many servants in this book, Susan - then again, maybe they have all been laid off as part of the household's economies!
I found the audiobook available as part of my Audible subscription, the narrator is entertaining and I can knit and listen at the same time. Tim Bruce has a pleasant voice, works for what I’d imagine Anty would sound like!
Judy wrote: "I'm about halfway through now and must admit this one isn't doing a lot for me. I don't actively dislike it, but am just finding it a bit boring. I feel Clara Benson gets the Wooster vibe a bit bet..."I found that strange, about the family’s supposed wealth, but lack of servants - I will be interested to read on and see if the wealth has been depleted! I’m only about 30% into it, but from what we’ve learned so far, Fiddles at least believes his uncle’s parsimonious management drove the quality staff away…seems fishy (dead uncle aside!)
Started yesterday but didn't get very far. It is not one that has grabbed me right from the start.
Just finished this one - the audiobook was enjoyable, moved it along at 1.75 speed to enjoy the clever dialogue without getting bogged down. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 since we can’t rate 1/2 stars. This was more entertaining than several of the other challenge titles I’ve tried. I’d listen to the audiobook, if available, if I decide to read on.
My review of this one was "Quite fun but a few too many anachronisms for me". I enjoyed this story well enough and the range of characters were interesting. The pace was good, staying the right side of frantic without getting stodgy. There were however too many errors in language and terminology for my tastes.
It was a pleasant enough read but I doubt if I will go on with the series.
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HJ, I agree - I also thought there were too many anachronisms, errors in language, etc. I also got irritated with the writer constantly spelling "Mister" like that - why not write "Mr" like every other author? It's so distracting. (Well, it distracted me, anyway.) I suppose at least we didn't get "Missus" as well! Maybe I'll try the audiobook for the second in this series and see if I get on better that way.
I also think, as Susan in NC mentioned earlier, the author made a bit of a mistake in comparing himself with Wodehouse, since his writing style can't compare with the master. He seems to be trying too hard for my taste, with a lot of bizarre descriptions and heavy-handed humour that slow the story down too much. For instance, I noticed there was a two-page description of who ate what for breakfast at one point!
I like how the narration says how to pronounce the main character's name right away, but I still managed to completely forget.
The first book in the Anty Boisjoly Mystery series was written by P.J. Fitzsimmons and first published in 2020.
1920s gadabout Anty Boisjoly takes on his first case when his Oxford chum is facing the gallows, accused of the murder of his wealthy uncle.
Not one but two locked-room murders later, Boisjoly's pitting his wits and witticisms against a subversive butler, a senile footman, a single-minded detective-inspector, an errant goat, and the eccentric conventions of the pastoral Sussex countryside to untangle a multi-layered mystery of secret bequests, ancient writs, love triangles, revenge, and a teasing twist in the final paragraph.
The Case of the Canterfell Codicil is a classic, cosy, locked-room mystery with an improbable plot inspired by Agatha Christie and prose in the style of an homage to PG Wodehouse.
Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.