An English Murder by Cyril Hare

Inspector Lynley

I read mystery series in order usually, but I jumped ahead in Elizabeth George's series on Inspector Lynley and read A Suitable Vengeance. I was surprised it was a look at the past, the beginning of the romance between Deborah Cotter and Thomas Lynley. The story has Inspector Lynley bringing his fiance back to Cornwall to announce his engagement. Long time friends and some employed on his family estate get involved in a murder of a local journalist. Inspector Lynley does his investigating with his long-time friend Simom St. James, the forensic scientist. A very good read and a basic background to Inspector Lynley's romantic background. Then I read Well-Schooled in Murder, no. 3 in the series. Lynley gets caught up in a disappearance of a student at a prep school where on of his former Eton chums is now a teacher. It becomes clear that the boy disappeared at the school and the body was dumped at the village churchyard. A sad story, but the sequence is in timing with Payment in Blood. I like the background stories of these well written mysteries as well as the mystery itself. I am looking forward to continuing the series.

Inspector Morse

I started watching the Inspector Morse series on DVD that I borrowed from the library. I like to start things at the beginning, and The Dead of Jericho was Colin Dexter's fifth book in the series. Detective Lewis is his co-worker and has been with him for awhile in the book. Lewis knows all the quicks of Morse such as his uncanny ability to solve a mystery, his moodiness, his penchant for women and his high intelligence. Morse is well read and listens to classical music. The setting is University of Oxford in England, which plays well with the series as the scenery is beautiful and historical. Lewis is married with one young daughter. I liked the story, but there were so many twists and turns I don't know if I could have followed it as well if I hadn't seen the TV version ahead of time. I like the erudite, literate writing style and I think I will try to read more of this interesting series. For the TV series The Dead of Jericho introduces Inspector Morse and Detective Lewis.

Summer Reading

I finished the Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan.  If you like Rosemunde Pilcher then you would like this English romance novel. Rose Lloyd has been replaced by her assistant as her husband, Nathans mistress. Not only has he betrayed his wife, but now he is in love and wants to leave his wife for the assistant, Minty. Then as things couldn't get worse, her company has replaced her job with the assistant. This book is filled with reminiscences, garden descriptions and lots of family drama. A good read for the summer months. I also liked the audio version with Jean Gilpin as the reader. Excellent.

Charlaine Harris and Caroline Graham

      There is more to Charlaine Harris than the Sookie Stackhouse True Blood vampire series. Although Ms. Harris is getting all the fame for that series, I prefer the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. I know its simple and fun, but there you have it. I just finished reading A Bone to Pick about a small town librarian who inherits a house and a lot of money. What fun! Only trouble there is a secret in the house and Miss Teagarden isn't about to involve the police with her name this time. How will she protect her name and the name of her benefactress with what she discovers hidden in the house? A fun read, and more in the series. Always nice to know if its a series that I like has more to continue with.
     I also finished a book by Carline Graham of the Midsomer Murder series on BBC. I know she only wrote seven of the Tom Barnaby series and I have been wanting to read all of them, but maybe I have already and just forgot. I picked up Murder at Madingley Grange hoping it was a Chief Inspector Banaby mystery, but it proved to be something else entirely. Not bad, a comedy of errors in a grange house that is owned by the protagonist's aunt who has gone off on a cruise, leaving her niece and nephew Laurie and Simon Hannaford in charge. He thinks it's a great idea to invite strangers to the house for a mystery "Murder" weekend of fun and games. Laurie is shy and hesitant, but a good cook and she is persuaded to play the part of hostess. Its a fun farce and easy reading for a summer day.

Payment in Blood

I'm on the second in the Inspector Lynley mystery series by Elizabeth George. Payment in Blood has the typical house guests snowed in at Westerbrae, a Scottish mansion on Loch Achiemore.. The guests are all attached to a new theatre production and have come to hear the reading of a play that has been altered by the playwright. The playwright, Joy Sinclair, is found stabbed to death in her bed by a dirk found on the wall of the estate. Things become complicated when Lynley finds that the only access to the victim's room is through his best friend, Lady Helen Clyde's room. And she did not spend the night alone. Lynley's emotions take over and Sergeant Barbara Havers, Deborah and Simon St. James start their own investigation to protect Lynley's career.  A good mystery with all the drama between friends to spice up the story. Next up, Well-Schooled in Murder.

Rennie Airth

I just finished Rennie Airth's third book in the John Madden Mystery series, The Dead of Winter. The story is set in World War II England and there is much background of the time and place in detail. There is an assassin loose the likes of which Madden and the Chief Inspector Sinclair had never seen before. A young land girl working at Madden's farm is murdered as she makes her way to visit her Polish aunt. Suspicions point to a murder for hire from the continent. Things become only more mysterious when this same man seems to be on a killing spree and for what motive. Madden is retired from the Yard but he gets involved to help out his friend Sinclair, but also to seek justice for Rosa Novak, the young land girl he somehow feels responsible for. A good mystery, Airth is getting attention these days for his John Madden mysteries. "The first, River of Darkness, won the Grand Prix de Literature Policiere for best international crime novel of 2000 ans was nominated for Edgar, Anthony and Macavity awards."

The Mistress of Kings

I have been reading Alison Weir's book, Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings, a biographical historical study of the sister of Anne Boleyn. It's fairly interesting, not a novel, but a factual study. Alison Weir points out inconsistencies in the story of Mary Boleyn, and why she differes from the modern version. It is not like Philippa Gregory's book, The Other Boleyn Girl, which is based on rumors and is a novelization of Mary's life. I like the historical details of the times, what was considered appropriate behavior of the players. Weir explains why it was common for kings to take mistresses during their wife's confinement during pregnancy. Although it was common to take mistresses, King Henry VIII was discrete and therefore there is little real evidence that Mary Boleyn was his mistress as his enemies claimed. Although he claimed Elizabeth Blount's child, Henry Fiztroy as his bastard child, Henry never claims the daughter by Mary Boleyn, Katherine, even though she resembles him, because Mary Boleyn was married to his cousin William Carey at the time. An engrossing study.

The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek was a fun read. Two half-sisters are united at their dead aunt's house to settle the estate. It's in the Hamptons, and the story is about the parties, the social manners, the love connections that take place in the summer of 2008, Everyone is critiqued, from their style to their entertaiment engagements. A painting is stolen on the first night they give a party and this only adds the the wild and crazy summer they are having.  Made me want to read her first novel. Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him. A long way off from some of the thrillers I have been reading. I only hope she writes more.Witty and literate. Loved it.

A Ruth Galloway Mystery

Elly Griffiths has written another Ruth Galloway mystery, A Dying Fall, published 2013. Ruth Galloway loses one of her friends from college, a Dan Golding, by a fire in his home. After she hears the devastating news, she receives an letter from him, saying that he is scared. He has uncovered the archaeology discovery of his lifetime, and wants Ruth's help in the identification.  She gets an invitation from the head of the department to help  with the discovery, as she is a forensic archaeologist. She decides to take her daughter with her and make a vacation of it. She also invites Kate's godfather, Cathbad, to go along and help with her eighteen month old. This a a good read as I always enjoy the adventures of Ruth Galloway. Elly Griffiths is the 2011 winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award and longlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library award 2012. I like to see the advancement of the series as I started with the first, The Crossing Places, shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. The House at Sea's End was shortlisted for the Barry Award for best British Crime Novel (US). I can't wait for the next one in the series. Elley Griffiths lives in Britian.

A Kurt Wallander Mystery

     Henning Mankell wrote The Dogs of Riga after the Soviet Union was breaking up. It was originally published in Swedish in 1992, then translated by Laurie Thompson in 2001. Like the character Kurt Wallander I know very little about Latvia, but this novel gives a grim picture of its history. In the afterword Henning Mankell writes, "The revolutionary events that took place in the Baltic countries during the last year were the basis for this novel." In the novel Wallander is a police inspector who gets drawn into a strange case when a life-raft drifts ashore on a Swedish beach with two dead men who have been murdered in it. Trying to locate where the raft has come from and what is the identity of the men is completely baffling to Inspector Wallander. Because of the currents and the various countries along the Baltic sea, its any one's guess as to which country these men have drifted from. The raft proves to be made in Yugoslavia and used by the Russians, so Interpol is notified and a police officer from Latvia is arriving to help identify the bodies. The mystery becomes more complicated and the suspense becomes greater and I am reminded of Alan Furst's novels of spy thrillers in early World War II era, only this is 1991 and the reality of the hardships is difficult to read. This is the second in the Kurt Wallander series.

Agatha Christie

Just finished reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. Very engaging, quite different than some of her later books. Featuring Hercule Poirot in a small village as the investigating detective, the book is written in first person, with the local doctor introducing the story from his point of view. As friends with the victim, Dr. James Sheppard is at the scene of the discovery of the body found in the victim's own home. One of the few Christie novels that has drawing of the actual scene of the crime, reminding me of the Clue game. A well done mystery, from the cover of the book, " the book became a landmark in its field. In their invaluable reference work, Twentieth Century Authors, Stanley J Kunitz and Howard Haycraft call it a ' brilliant tour de force...one of the few undoubted classics of the modern detective story.'" This book was first published in 1926 and probably one of her earliest of Hercule Poirot. Must find them in order, my passion. I must say that I don't always like seeing him in the films, but the reading of this novel was enlightening as to his character.

Another Police Procedural

     Elizabeth George writes English police procedural even though she lives in America, born in Warren, Ohio. She maintains a flat in England to help her with her research. I just finished her first novel, " A Great Deliverance" with the characters Thomas Lynley as Inspector and Barbara Havers as his partner. A great novel with a psychological study to keep the mystery intriguing. With  Agatha Christie as her model, George writes the crime novel without the suspense that is usually found in the more gritty thrillers. There is a who-dun-it aspect of the novel, but the story meanders through the personal histories of the detectives and their colleagues. Her first novel was a great success winning the Anthony and the Agatha awards for best first novel. She has continued her series successfully with seventeen more mysteries in the psychological suspense genre. This was a wonderful introduction to the series and I hope to check out some of the PBS television series based on her characters as well.
    In this story Barbara Havers is taken off the street patrol duty to give her another chance as detective. She is furious and hates being partnered with Thomas Lynley, a complicated character who is of the titled gentry. Told to learn something from Lynley, Havers stutters through the beginning days, trying hard to keep up the appearance of cooperating, but the strain is too hard on her.Their case is the decapitation of a farmer in York, whose only witness is his daughter who confesses to the crime and then is put into an asylum. Lynley is unsure of her guilt and wants to understand the town and its inhabitants and the incongruity of a daughter using a ax to kill her father. This is a study of the village life and the mysteries of the villagers. Lynley wants to know who is lying and why. The story contains a runaway mother and a runaway sister to the accused. What they discover only adds to the horror of the decapitation.

Police Procedurals

I have been keeping up with my reading, just stuck on the police procedural by English authors, the latest being Jerusalem Inn by Martha Grimes. She has the knack of writing literary mysteries, an unusual accomplishment. Her main character, Richard Jury, the single Superintendent of Scotland Yard manages to throw in Greek characters and comparisons that go over the head of most of his companions, and mine too. This was a good mystery, it included the setting of an old English home snowed in for Christmas with a houseful of guests and a body found in the snow. The story had all the makings of an Agatha Christie mystery, only this was 1982 not 1932. Most of Martha Grimes novels are named after pubs in England and this was no different, Jerusalen Inn was within skiing distance to the home where the characters gathered for questioning, a good read.

I love to knit

Just wanted to share a link to http://www.loveofknitting.com/blog/ a knitting blog that interests me. It is afffiliated with the magazine "Love of Knitting". I have been instructing people in various techniques of knitting, the latest was teaching some ladies how to knit socks on four needles. Loved that experience.

Finding a new book to read

Looking for a new book can be quite daunting, which is why the libraries have the Reader's Advisory, either in person, or a a website such as Novelist. I tried to read " A Brew to a Kill: A Coffeehouse Mystery," by Cleo Coyle but couldn't get caught up in all the fancy writing. Maybe there are just a little too many quips and jargon-filled fodder for my taste. The author seemed to think that a smart remark was needed in every sentence. It was just a little too off-putting for me. Now then, maybe if I had started at the beginning of the series I would find that it what I was expecting. I'll have to try the first one to compare. So, I was waiting for Ian Rankin's next on my list of titles in order, "Tooth and Nail." His prose was just what I expected, the language flows, there is enough of unknown words and sayings. Because he is Scottish those new phrases pique my interest. I like learning something new. I always thought that his books would be a bit too edgy for me, but because someone likened Rebus to Cynthia Harrod- Eagles' character, Bill Slider, I thought I'd take a go at his works. Rebus is the main character, another CID, a member of the Criminal Investigation Department. In this book he is called in to be an expert in a London investigation of a serial killer. Usually he is based in Edinburgh, where the author lives. His last case was a serial killer and now the expectations are high for him to help with the investigation. Four murders have already taken place, and he is here to find the clues that link the victims to the killer. There is a visit to his ex-wife and daughter while he is in London, and an fairly interesting psychologist, Lisa Frazer to add more depth and romance to the storyline. I am only halfway through, but it is proving to be a page-turner.

Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths has written three novels in the Ruth Galloway mystery series that I have read. I like to read a series in order, so I have read "The Crossing Places,' "the Janus Stone," and "The House at Sea's End." All take place off the coast of England in a town called Norfolk. From the description of the area it seems rather desolate, but Norfolk is actually a large town with many colleges. The University of North Norfolk where Dr. Galloway teaches is a fictitious university. From wikipedia I read that there is a large section of Norfolk that is under the protection of the Broads authority and is a National Park. Much of Elly Griffiths' story is the atmosphere of the lonely, desolate areas of Norfolk, often being part of an archeology dig. This is how Ruth enters the story, finding bones in a dig brings her expertise in forensic archeology into play. Griffiths knows her area well as it is a key character in the story. Griffiths brings in interesting characters, building each story with more of their background. There is a mixture of religion, as Ruth's parents are born again Christians, which Ruth rejects. Druid Carthbad appears in every story as a friend of Ruth's, and Catholic DCI Nelson from the police has his own story as well. One gets a taste of the cultural and social life in Norfolk. It is an interesting series with something new to learn in every book without being too academic. From Elly Griffiths' website I find there are two more novels in the series I haven't read, so I have something to look forward to. A great series for the anglophile that I am.

Day After Night by Anita Diamant

Tonight at 7 pm our Booklovers Book Discussion group will discuss "Day After Night" by Anita Diamant who wrote the bestseller "The Red Tent." in her book, "Day after Night" she recreates a refuge camp in Palestine after World War II. Many Jews from all over Europe find their way to the Promised land only to end up in a camp called Atlit. There they are given food and shelter, plus lessons in Hebrew and introduction to the Zionist state. Diamant tell the story of disparate women all whom have secrets and their own personal heartbreaks they are unwilling to share. There are different jobs for some, such as working in the infirmary or the kitchen, or greeting the new arrivals and help with the delousing treatment. They are hoping for placement in Kibbutzes or perhaps freedom in the cities. They are unsure of their date as they wait to be released, some faster than others. They are young, attractive to the male counterparts, unsure if they are willing to encourage the advancements of men, as many have been raped or tortured in various ways. Little by little the stories come out, their shame and their fears. It's a good story of women surviving the worst life has to offer, and the friendships that help them cope.

Anita Renfroe

I listened to the book by Anita Renfroe, " Don't Say I Didn't Warn You, " which is a personal account of her life with children and husband. She is a comedian who usually performs at churches, for her clean comedy. My daughter had me YouTube her William Tell Overture momisms called the "Mom Song" and although it went viral in 2009, I hadn't seen it. It's really funny. Anita Renfroe has put out some videos of her performances and written a few books, but she narrates this one and it was pretty funny. I especially liked the part where she said she married Santa Claus, for his over the top decorating of the house and his personal love of anything Christmas. He was the youth pastor at his church, and they usually have to enjoy youth and fun, so it makes sense. This is a fun audio book to listen to.

We hosted our book discussion last night on Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colón. The book was about the author's adjustment to a single salary after she lost her job writing in New York City. She wanted to look at her grandmother's recipes, but found also with the recipes her grandmother's writings, which she included in her book. She looked back at her family and saw the strength they had surviving much worse than she had, and she felt inspired by their tenacity and sense of humor. We talked about our own families and how we try to stay in touch with distant relatives. We shared ideas to entertain large groups of relatives, like game playing. And we talked about the meals we cooked for our families that we have been doing for years. The economy has me brown bagging my lunches, and making homemade meals at night. Thank goodness I have a husband who loves leftovers. They are my life savers. But I sure would love to have a husband who could run down to the  beach when the blues are running, and catch some fresh fish for dinner as Suzan's grandfather did for her many years ago along Long Island Sound. That was one of our favorite memories from her stories of family.

Police Procedural

Because I like to read Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and her police procedurals, I was alerted to read Ian Rankin. I started at his first Inspector Rebus, Knots and Crosses written in 1987. I am glad I did start with the first one because it explains his personality as a character. Rebus has nightmares, and sudden visions of someone being trapped. During his investigation he is sent notes with references to knots and crosses, a game in England similar to Tic-Tac-Toe I am guessing. He thinks the clues are a hoax, but as an informer solves the acrostic clue, he is suddenly driven into the mystery and suspense of his lifetime. And with help from his brother, a hypnotist, his deeper knowledge solves the mystery, but not the where. A suspenseful ending to a good book.

I finished reading the Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. It was a very engaging story, with a forty three year old man who has lost both of his parents in an accident. He finds a letter to his father. The letter is about his sister and he decides he must go to California and claim his sister's body. He has been depressed all his life over the loss of his sister and her mental problems, so this "quest" that he is on brings him many positive experiences with people and helps him to reach out and claim a better side of himself. The journey starts in Rhode Island on a bike and his adventure begins without any preparation; he just knows he need to go there and resolve his relationship with his sister. He loves her very much, but has been unable to help in the past. The book flashes back to the past to understand the history of Smithy Ide.

The Booklovers Book Discussion for this month on January 28th is Hilary Mantel's 2009 Booker Prize winning novel, Wolf Hall. Set in the 1520s, King Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn. The author recreates this immensely volatile time in historical fiction, and then in 2012, presents the sequel, Bring up the Bodies. The books are available at the front desk if you are interested in joining the discussion. The group meets on the fourth Monday night at 7 p.m.

     Our Mystery Lover's Book Discussion group meets next on Monday, January 14th at 7 pm. They will be discussing the novel, The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters, a Brother Cadfael mystery, no. 6 in the series. Join the group for a fun evening, and you may pick up the novel at the front desk of the Tipp City Public Library. The novel takes place in Medieval England: "In the winter of 1139, raging civil war has sent refugees fleeing north from Worcester, among them an orphaned boy and his beautiful 18-year-old sister. Traveling with a young nun, they set out for Shrewsbury, but disappear somewhere in the wild countryside. Now, Brother Cadfael embarks on a dangerous quest to find them." Barnes and Noble For further information on this novel check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Virgin_in_the_Ice

George Smiley

     I started to get interested in this book, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre, this year due to an article in Booklist magazine by Will Manley. There was a new movie of this book coming out and the author said he just couldn't see anyone else besides Alec Guiness playing George Smiley, the chief operator in the book, a M16 spy for the "circus". That piqued my interest. Then I found a copy of the book in our library catalog with Frank Muller as the reader. Another famous name, someone really known for his excellent reading of audio books and I wanted to listen to him read the book. I would also read the book myself at times. It was hard to follow at first, but the audio helps. George Smiley is retired, and the authorities come to him to research undercover for a mole in the organization. I think that Frank Muller deliberately "did" the voice of Alec Guiness, the man famous for his role as George Smiley. It is filled with tension, especially as they get closer to trapping the spy. I have read le Carre years ago, and it's his detail, his dialog, and drama that all set his work apart. Because there is so much detail, description, that it makes the novel harder to follow than the sparse, action-now thrillers that are so popular. It is worth sticking with, George Smiley is one character that grows on you, the reader feels for his desperation in finding the mole. I also found out that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a trilogy, so I am now reading, ie. listening to The Honorable Schoolboy, part 2of the trilogy. It is read by Michael Jayston. Frank Muller died in 2008. I notice that Jayston also does the voice of George Smiley as Alec Guiness. By the way, I did watch the BBC production of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a six hour production that was excellent. Now to compare it to the new version with Gary Oldman in the key role.

Good Reads

Here is a recommendation  for the New Year, " A Land More Kind Than Home," by Wiley Cash. It is a first novel, beautifully written, and recommended to me by Julie Smith, one of the book reviewers here at Tipp City Public Library that I can trust. From the back cover, " The narrative is strong, clean, direct and economical. He is very familiar with this part of rural North Carolina, its mountains, valleys, rivers, vegetation and farms. " by Ernest Gaines.
I am in the middle of "Memory of Running," by Ron McLarty. Julie has been trying to get me to read it for years now, and my to be read pile has dwindled until I finally caught up with it and I needed something light. Julie has recommended this book to many people and I have finally taken up her offer. I am not disappointed. It's a good read so far.