English Mysteries Club discussion
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Wendy & Joan, thanks for the encouragement. I'll give it another go.
Just finished the Late Scholar the newest Wimsey/Vane by Jill Paton Walsh. I enjoyed it but didn't like it has much as the previous one Attenbury Emeralds.
I liked the Peter Wimsey series years ago on Mystery theater. Perfect casting. The BBC does so good in drama that when I see a production before reading it, I don't feel the need to read it.
Does anyone else ever have this reaction to good drama?
With so many recommendations on these new adaptions, I'll definitely read them.
Diane -- I'm really enjoying Ann Cleeves's "Vera" series on TV, more episodes than she wrote books, apparently, & I'm not sure I could take that much Shetland Islands bleakness without the warmth of Brenda Blethyn.Wendy, Joan, & others who recommended "In a Dry Season" -- you're so right! Once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Wonderful cross-cutting between exquisite 1940s detail & 1990s sleuthing & character insights. (But, cliche alert: Banks IS a schlumpy middle-aged babe magnet.)
In a Dry Season is excellent. That's one I'd like to reread and also catch up with some of the other books in the series that I missed. I am reading The Janus Stone and quite enjoying it.
I'm in the middle of Scales of Justice, a Ngaio Marsh that I picked up the other day in a thrift store ($.65!). I thought I'd read all of hers-and own most of them- but this is a new one to me. I'm enjoying the writing, and we'll see if I'm right on the whodunnit!
Carol--I hadn't heard of the "Vera" series and so googled it. It is a PBS program and once again there is a good program not shown in our area. Our local station must not be buying it along with many others. I have found it online though. Yeah internet!
Diane wrote: "Carol--I hadn't heard of the "Vera" series and so googled it. It is a PBS program and once again there is a good program not shown in our area. Our local station must not be buying it along with ma..."Diane, my local PBS channel doesn't show "Vera", either, however; I can watch "The Bletchley Circle" and "Endeavor" {Morse, Lewis}. I enjoy both. Yvonne
I saw the first episode of 'Vera' at http://sharetv.com/watch/568518 and really liked the detective Brenda Blethyn.I think that besides the cool accents, I really like British programs because the actresses look like 'real' people you can find anywhere.
My local PBS doesn't show Vera but my WETA UK does. Check you channels and see if you get this. I have comcast.
Diane wrote: "I saw the first episode of 'Vera' at http://sharetv.com/watch/568518 and really liked the detective Brenda Blethyn.I think that besides the cool accents, I really like British programs because the..."
I agree. The characters are much more sincere and believable because the actors bring their own district normalness to roles,. That's not to say that there aren't some very attractive people among them(Clive Owen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Natasha Richardson, John Hannah etc...). But their training has prepared them prepared them not to be just another pretty face
Kaye wrote: "Just started The Kill Call by Stephen Booth. Have read most of the others in the series and really enjoyed it so far."I enjoy Booth - cant work out how far I have got with the series as its been a while since I picked one up.
Ellen I too like the Gil Cunningham series - I have listened to a couple on audio with really strong Scots accents - I love all the quirky words etcAlso I am a big fan of Joan Paton Walsh - I read all her kids stuff years ago but I have not read the Wimsey stuff - are they good?
I really like Ben Cooper but not so much Diane Fry. Guess that's the plan.
Penny wrote: "Ellen I too like the Gil Cunningham series - I have listened to a couple on audio with really strong Scots accents - I love all the quirky words etcAlso I am a big fan of Joan Paton Walsh - I rea..."
I have liked all the new Wimsey/Vane but I didn't like the latest one as well as the others.
Ellen wrote: "Just finished the Late Scholar the newest Wimsey/Vane by Jill Paton Walsh. I enjoyed it but didn't like it has much as the previous one Attenbury Emeralds."I'm glad you liked it. As a matter of principle, I don't read books about other author's characters. It's being done a fair amount today, several books out with Jane Austen's characters, Sherlock Holmes, somebody is writing under Robert Parker's name, etc. But personally, I don't approve of it, and won't read them. I think authors have the obligation to think up their own characters and not filch from others. Isn't that a form of plagiarism?
I do, though, accept minor incursions of characters into books that are otherwise original, such as Jasper Fforde's books.
Everyman wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Just finished the Late Scholar the newest Wimsey/Vane by Jill Paton Walsh. I enjoyed it but didn't like it has much as the previous one Attenbury Emeralds."I'm glad you liked it. As..."
Yes, I am in agreement with you.
Everyman wrote: "I do, though, accept minor incursions of characters into books that are otherwise original, such as Jasper Fforde's books."<\i>I listened to Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series in the car and would smile all the way to work. Very cleverly done.
Everyman wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Just finished the Late Scholar the newest Wimsey/Vane by Jill Paton Walsh. I enjoyed it but didn't like it has much as the previous one Attenbury Emeralds."I'm glad you liked it. As..."
that is an interesting angle - I too used to veer away from authors who 'steal' other's characters but then I read The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel and really enjoyed that, I enjoyed Death Comes to Pemberley but had some reservations, so I dont know how I would feel about the Wimsey books especially as I have not read the original series.
I too avoid "parasitic" or "Goldilocks" fiction, where one author co-opts another's characters, setting, & style, but less for ethical reasons than because only Jane Austen & Conan Doyle can write the Bennetts & Sherlock Holmes, & watching someone else try is usually like fingernails on a blackboard. PD James writes terrific PD James, but I never guessed what a tin ear she has for the Regency period, & Austen's style in particular, until I read Death Comes to Pemberley.What would be interesting is if a really accomplished up-&-comer tackled someone dated enough to improve with polish...maybe Michael Innes or SS VanDine?
I guess I hadn't thought of it from a ethical point of view. I have read others takes on someones original character but until I read the new Wimsey/Vane I had never liked any of them enough to read again. That's sort of how I judge how much I like a book. I have read the Sayers originals many times and have now reread the Paton Walsh also. I didn't even finish P.D. James' Austen.
I am not familiar with the work of Michael Innes, so I just added one of his books to my pile. Thanks. On the subject of "parasitic" fiction: I just finished reading The Mysterious Death of Miss Austen, but I'm not sure if that counts in your category. What of the writer who co-opts not the characters but the original author's life story?
S.K. wrote: "What of the writer who co-opts not the characters but the original author's life story? "I ran into a similar question when my friend Edward Gorey died after we'd jokingly agreed to write a mystery set in our local cafe. First I dropped the project; then I turned it into "Croaked: an Edgar Rowdey Cape Cod Mystery." For me, the permission & encouragement of those involved were crucial.
Mike, I've also been disappointed in the Kate Charles mysteries. They should be really good, but there's always something that's a bit off - at least in the 3 or 4 I've read. It's not that they're terrible; you just see how much better they could have been.
Carol wrote: "S.K. wrote: "What of the writer who co-opts not the characters but the original author's life story? "I ran into a similar question when my friend Edward Gorey died after we'd jokingly agreed to ..."
Is this a new phrase 'parasitic' fiction? What a wonderful phrase!
Just to boast I have just finished the pen-ultimate Morse - only one more to go and we will have read the lot!!!! I never thought I would stick it out but just goes to show you never know until you try!
Penny wrote: Just to boast I have just finished the pen-ultimate Morse - only one more to go and we will have read the lot!!!! I never thought I would stick it out but just goes to show you never know until you try!Did the Morse TV show end before the books or after? I.e., did they run out of original stories & write their own scripts, or did John Thaw's death stop the series with more books still to film?
Carol wrote: "Penny wrote: Just to boast I have just finished the pen-ultimate Morse - only one more to go and we will have read the lot!!!! I never thought I would stick it out but just goes to show you never k..."Morse definitely 'died' before John Thaw because Colin Dexter had already killed Morse off in the last book. I read there was a promise never to make another (different) Morse series while Dexter was still alive. Of course there's been the spin-offs, Lewis, and the recently screened Endeavour, set in 1960s Oxford with Morse as a young copper, which I thought was brilliant. Colin Dexter pops up as an extra during the filming. I spotted him as a passenger on a bus in one recent episode!
I recently finished The Secret Vanguard by Michael Innes, the 5th Inspector Appleby book. Although it starts off as you would expect for a police procedural (with a body and a policeman), it quickly veers into pre-WW2 spy thriller. Very enjoyable but atypical for a mystery.
Reading Dead Water by Ann Cleeves. I've really enjoyed this series although I was a tad annoyed with the ending book 4. It will be interesting to see what happens in this last one.
I'm reading "The Reckoning" by Jane Casey. I tried reading Wolf by one of my favorite authors, Mo Haydar, but just to graphic for me.
Bad Moon Rising
I read the first in the series "Run for Home" some time ago but have had no trouble picking up the thread. Looks promising.
Going through a few series, picking up on the earlier books. Currently reading Peter Turnbull's Chelsea Smile. Do enjoy the way that Hennessey and Yellich solve these crimes, and Turnbull's clever use of little chapter headings.Just finished the last (alas) entry in Anne Cleeve's Inspector Ramsay series. This was The Baby Snatcher. Can understand her concentrating on her Shetland series, but I will miss these thought-provoking books.
Next up, I think I'll delve into Cargo of Eagles, the Margery Allingham Mr. Campion book that was completed by her husband, Philip Youngman Carter. Having a little trouble getting into these later Campion books, finding them overly convoluted, but will carry on 8-).
Kaye, I agree with your comment about the ending of the 4th Shetland Island mystery. I am now enjoying one of her Vera Stanhope books.
Romped through over 1/2 the book yesterday. Think I know who the murderer is but will have to wait and see! A good read.
I just finished the Private Patient by P.D. James and would be interested in discussing the ending.
Romped through it's predecessor "Bad Moon Rising" in 2 sittings. Looking forward to another engaging fast-paced read.
Yvonne wrote: "Kaye, I agree with your comment about the ending of the 4th Shetland Island mystery. I am now enjoying one of her Vera Stanhope books."I haven't read any of the Vera books but did enjoy the Vera series on PBS. Happy reading, Yvonne!
Tom wrote: "I just finished the Private Patient by P.D. James and would be interested in discussing the ending."It's been a while since I read it, but I think I remember the ending. I'll be happy to discuss it.
Ann wrote: "Currently reading Grand Depart by Susan Parry the latest in her Yorkshire Dales Mystery series. It takes its title from the first leg of the French Grand Prix from Leeds to Harrogate via the Dales ..."I picked up a couple of hers in a shop in Leyburn but have yet to read them.
Hello,
new to this group. Could someone explain what members mean when they use the word 'cosy' to describe a crime novel?
new to this group. Could someone explain what members mean when they use the word 'cosy' to describe a crime novel?
Cosies *usually* refer to mysteries where the protagonist/investigator is an amateur, as opposed to police or a private investigator.
And cosy mysteries do not have lots of brutal murders (usually of women) by serial killers graphically described in detail.
Miss M wrote: "Cosies *usually* refer to mysteries where the protagonist/investigator is an amateur, as opposed to police or a private investigator."For example, Miss Marple books by Agatha Christie. Generally speaking, cosy (or cozy) mysteries avoid graphic violence, sex, and foul language - although there are no firm rules and so people do differ in what they consider cosy.
When I've read some intense mysteries I enjoy a good cozy. Just to lighten the mood.
To me "cozy" mysteries usually mean relatively easy reading - not dark or brutal. Might have a little humor and as Susan said, nice to read for a change of pace and outlook.
I've always understood the term "cozy" to refer to a murder mystery in which:1) the detective, usually a woman and usually "of a certain age," is an amateur, i.e., not a police officer or any other type of law-enforcement professional, and
2) the action takes place in a small town or other type of close-knit community. So the victim, the amateur detective, and all of the "persons of interest" know each other.
The Jessica Fletcher tv series exemplifies the genre perfectly.
English Mysteries Club
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Cover Her Face (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alice Clark-Platts (other topics)Chris Ould (other topics)
Adrian McKinty (other topics)
Will Thomas (other topics)
Anna Katharine Green (other topics)
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I agree with you, Joan. In a Dry Season is one of my favourite Peter Robinson novels. I love the story in its dual approach way. Hope you get into it Carol!