There's some GOOD NEWS today on the Counterfeit Christmas!

1) It's available, as you know, from our own B&N Bookstore, as an audio cassette, for $3.95.

2)Apparently, it's very short, and is included IN a Christmas anthology discovered by our Larry Hanna, who reports it's only 31 pages long!

JUST the thing for a busy Christmas season!! A little sweet for under the tree!

Charlotte MacLeod made her fortune with her first book, Rest You Merry, which stars the very same Peter Shandy of Balaclava College, and his dislike of the campus Illumination, so if you LIKE Counterfeit Christmas, you'll really want to get the other book!

And if you HAVE read Rest You Merry we can discuss it here, too, at the same time!

Ginny

Ginny, I got the story in a collection of short stories that Charlotte MacLeod edited (the first one in the book being Counterfeit Christmas called Christmas Stalkings. It is really a fast read as I was able to read it and another of the stories in just a few minutes. I enjoyed the story and think I would enjoy the other book you mention as well as this old guy is quite a character. Will wait until the 15th of December for any discussion of the story itself.

Larry

I love mysteries,too, and am currently reading "Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery" by W.J. Burley. I love the English mysteries such as this one, but no one else ever seems to have heard of this writer. Have any of you ??

No, CJ, I certainly haven't! How about telling us about it, I am crazy about British authors.

Ginny

Ginny, The book is about a body found buried in the sand dunes along the English coast. Seems it had been there some 15 years, and the English CI is finding that there was a party of 6 young people that were to have had a "naughty party" as he termed it, about the time of the young man's demise. Many twists and turns. I'm almost finished with it and will check out another by the same author again. If you read it, let me know how you like it. But to me, Agatha Christie will always be THE English author. Do you agree ?? CJB

CJ: definitely, I don't think anybody compares to Christie, have all her books, and don't think she has an equal.

I do like Margaret Yorke, have you read her? She's awfully good, too. Of course there's MC Beaton's earlier books, the Hamish McBeth and the Agatha Raisin.

That WJ Burley sounds like a pen name, doesn't it? I'm going to look up and see if I can find any on our bookstore.

I read an interesting description of a new book by an author called Jeanne M. Dams, Malice in Mineature about an old Hall, an eccentric owner and a mystery. It LOOKS good, but so much depends on the skill of the writer, has anybody read it?

Ginny

Hi ! No, I haven't read any books by Margaret Yorke, but I'll check into it the next time I'm at the library. I just checked out a good mystery yesterday called "Under The Lake" by Stuart Woods. Another lady also "browsing" in there recommended it to me. At first, I was a bit skeptical, but started it last night and found it hard to put down. It's quite a page-turner. Oh - so many good books - so little time !! Have a good read,everyone! CJ

CJ: Oh I love Under the Lake I think it's one of his best! Truly hard to put down.

I tried to get some Burley but am not finding him/her on B&N. Wonder if he/ she? which is it, is out of print??

I hate for a good author to go out of print!!

Ginny

Ginny, WJ Burley is male. And the only place I've been able to find his books is at the public library. As for being out of print, I've no idea. But I'm like you - sad to have a great author go out of print. Which reminds me - she isn't a mystery writer but I keep wondering if we'll ever see another Jean Auel book. Her Earth's Children books were fabulous !!

FromThe shores of the blue pacific---Elizabeth George is a great favorite of mine. Her Insptor Lynley of Scotland Yard and his trusted Sergeant Barbara Havers, are well drawn. Havers is not like any other female of mystery fiction I've encounterd. she is unattractive looking, chain smokes ( even though it drives the inspector crazy) but she is stalwart, good at her job---I'm going to leave it here. Nuff said.

As this is the first day of our discussion, I'd like to get the ball rolling a little by asking what you thought of the Peter Shandy character and how you would characterize this mystery? I think this short story was the beginning of the Peter Shandy series as well as the Alisa Craig nom de plume series, and many others.

Yet it seems that a good idea played itself out in MacLeod's writings.

Did you find it sufficient to be called a mystery at all? What do you think of her writing?

Will be interested to hear from you all.....back later today,

Ginny

I enjoyed this story and appreciated that it was so short. I did feel the story was pretty far-fetched but putting that aside, it had a nice and warm outcome for the Christmas season. I did feel that the pieces of the puzzle fell together too easily.

Larry

My copy should be here by now, but it wasn't delivered today. I read mysteries in between everything else, but have never joined a discussion here... I'll keep watching and when my copy comes, I'll try to say something intelligent. (Or at least half way.)

Great, Pat, I didn't realize this was your first discussion! I have an admission to make, am quite red faced, but the truth is that I gave, on the NYC trip, my copy of the tape of the book to Sandy who wanted it in the belief that I had one at home. Right. Well, guess what? Can't find it, and the local B&N doesn't have it. Will call Greenville which is 40 minutes away and see if anybody there has it, if not have appealed to her to mail it back!!

I understand from Larry that it's only 30 or so pages long, so hold on all, unless somebody wants to chat over the Rest You Merry? Do sign in, so we can see who's read what!

Red Faced

"Updatory" as Thomas Hoving would say, information! Gee whiz, I LOVE the tape! My friend just had her husband mail it to me overnight, it cost him almost $11, and the tape itself cost $3.00 and I love it!

I've never listened to a modern mystery on tape! So much obstructs! The voice of the reader seems to me to be a little sarcastic? Bitter???

And then he keeps mispronouncing his words!!! He said super FLU ous? Hah?? What??? HUH?? And by the time my poor brain has processed this word, he's way way ahead and mispronouncing another word, I can't keep track, it's driving me NUTS!!!!

I must start it over. So far I perceive it's a sequel to Rest You Merry , the narrator can't speak English properly and I've listened to the first 10 minutes about 5 times.

Back later,

What did you ALL think and where ARE you??

GAGS

OH and MacLeod is pronounced MacLUD.

Ginny

Hi, everyone. Our library does not have Counterfeit Christmas, but I just looked in to this discussion. I am reading another mystery by Charlotte MacLeod, The Plain Old Man. Ginny was commenting on words -- the pronounciation in the tape. And in this book I notice words, too -- unfamiliar ones that she uses. Three of these words were: ukase, parure, and steatopygia, and what is funny is that only one of the three is in my dictionary! Is it the same way with Counterfeit Christmas?
Happy holidays to all.

Yes, Loma, she's got quite a vocabulary. I was listening to the final minutes of the tape when I saw your message and noted "capacious, machinations, (sp) culpability," and several others immediately. I don't mind that in a book, and it seemed natural to her phrasing, what did you think? Do you think she's putting it ON?

Ok, I'm back with more thoughts on the tape. Now, I know Larry read the book, Pat, did you get the tape or read it.

The narrator's voice got worse and worse, and when he took all the parts, young girl, wife and Peter Shandy, Peter's voice kept dipping and dipping until he sounded like Ol King Cole. Awful. Almost distracted me from the non plot.

So this was a little flat, no?

Several things I did notice, and want your opinion on.

In a mystery, everything is supposed to be there for a purpose. Related to the theme. This thing had a LOT of fluff?

Here's some inconsistencies I noticed:

1. Helen put a lighted REAL candle in the outside windows?? How practical is that? That she'd have to light every night. Give me a break. Rain. Snow.

2. Do you know what a balaclava is? Why do you think the author named the college Balaclava?

3. She did do a wonderful job of building suspense up as to WHO was at the door. Were you disappointed when Moira appeared? Did you think it likely she'd have come to HIM with counterfeit money??

4. Did the plot appear shaky to you? Or was it suspenseful? Did you CARE who had passed the bills? Did you understand the cannabis thing?

5. Peter determined that the crook had access to a color copier. So? Don't we all?

6. Did you find it likely that the professors knew every single person on campus, Seniors and Freshmen?

7. Was the supposed connection and the reason for making the catnip cowpats reasonable or logical? Did it make any sense at all?

8. What was your reaction to Peter Shandy's wanting her autograph on the bills?

9. Do you think the punishment fit the crime?

10. What, in your opinion, was the author's POINT in writing this "book."

OK, all, just jump right in, I am interested to see what you thought. I tell you sincerely, if I ever have to listen to that narrator again, I'll trash the tape first.

Ginny

wow merry xmas to me just found this site...love mystery stories and read voraciously ...just finished 5 of sharon mc comb and lynn hightower, seem to favor the ladies of crime more mind games thanviolence...do go once a month to b&n group when i'm not working but this is soooooo much better will get the xmas story saturday... happy holidays and i will be back....

Charlotte, Welcome. It is great having you join us. There are several different book discussions underway all of the time here on SN. I will look forward to seeing your postings.

We are always looking for good mysteries to read and discuss so if you have any you would like to recommend please let us know.

Larry

Welcome, Charlotte! - This really is a great discussion area, isn't it? But just don't stop here! There are almost 300 discussions here on the RoundTables - bound to be something else to interest you, too, so I've sent you some informatin to help you find your way around.

I finally received my copy of the Counterfeit Christmas and read it last night. Sounded a lot like the dull goings on at any small college..

Yes, the punishment fits the crime... Small colleges tend to overlook breaches of law and conduct among their own.. including students. If a student at our local college is found with drugs, before the local police find them, the college puts them on social probation.

Charlotte! Welcome, welcome! You can see you are quite welcome here and we look forward to your comments.

Pat: So glad to see you here, too. Is this your first MacLeod? How do you like her writing?

My first book of hers was the Rest You Merry which continues the Peter Shandy saga and is very well written.

I was quite surprised to find out what a balaclava was and am not sure the relation to the text or why that name was chosen.

So the college taking over the punishment seemed right to you? Isn't conterfeiting of money a federal crime??? Or something? We can see I know nothing.

I thought the signing of the bills and the awards ceremony idea extremely hokey but I do admit to being totally irritated by the reader of the tapes and his attempts at characterization, I mean, really, so it may look better in print. I hope so.

I always like a Christmas mystery, a little sour with the sweet of the holiday season...am not sure this was long enough or developed enough to fit the bill this Christmas, although s he DOES do a good job with the atmosphere...

I don't think she ever attained again what she did in the first Shandy books.

Ginny

I'll have to try some of her other books. Maybe some other with Peter Shandy... He reminds me of a BIL who is a retired Chem Prof in a small midwestern college.

I just noticed she has a brand new one out called The Balloon Man with her other heroes Mac Bittersohn and his wife Sarah Kelling. Many people seem to like these characters, I don't, but many do.

Ginny

So I heard Counterfeit Christmas on cassette. Yes the reader left a lot to be desired. For 3.99 what more could you except? A Tim Curry he isn't. It was the story that made me more than unhappy. I felt she was writing down to her reader. I had the plot down pat even before I got half way throught the cassette. The cats gathering around the booth was so easy to understand that there just wasn't a challenge and that makes a guy get board. I read her God Rest You Merry and I just loved that one, and I like the old scrooge,professor Shandy, but he just didn't show me anything this time out.

I read another one of her books, something about a Worthog plant,now I read that from the beginning to end and after I put the book down I did a huh on that book because I had not a clue to what I read. I really think she is a most difficult writer. I'm not sure its the words or the plot. What do you think?

Ginny, why do you think she put the candles outside? What gave you that idea? No one in their right mind would do that!

I hope you all a super Christmas and Santa gave you all the love and hugs you could use.

Bunny

Bunny wasn't the narrator a trip? Have you ever heard such emoting and deep voice? Mercy.

I, too, loved her Rest You Merry but she went way out there in some of the rest of them, one particularly about fairies? Or whatever, that's when I stopped reading her, while giving her the right to write what she pleases.

Oh he said so! He said Helen was more tasteful than the others on the Crescent and really got into the decorations, but was tasteful, the real candles in the windows outside! Didn't he?? Or maybe I was too irritated at his voice to pay attention!

Tell you what, I'll bet you a lunch she DID say they were real candles outside and if I'm wrong, I'll pay! And if I'm right, you just motor all the way here to SC and YOU pay!! hahhahahahaha, How about that??

Yes, it was silly and obvious, really. Perhaps we should rate it??

Our next selection will be Ratking by the British sensation Michael Dobbs, led by Ed Zivitz, but this will occur on February 15 and on January 15 Joan G will have a surprise for Mystery fans here so stay tuned!!

Ginny

Bunny: The question is, which one of us is self flagellating enough to listen to the awful tape again to find out!

hahahahaha

Ginny

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Hear that tape again! No.No,No. I've got it! You sweet people who have the written word please look up the part with the candles. Are they on the outside or inside the windows? Now this has become a very important thing. Ginny can morter west and I will be more than happy to take her to lunch and maybe even find a pow-wow, cool huh? I'll even feed you a Najavo taco. So Its up to you good people.

Love, Bunny

Eschewing the excesses of her neighbors, she'd made low arrangements of evergreen twigs for all the front windows upstairs and down, and trimmed them with a few small rose-colored baubles and velvet bows to complement the aged brick walls.  In the middle of each arrangement she'd set a real candle, protected by a glass hurricane-lamp chimney so that it could be lighted after dark without setting fire to the house.

Normally Peter would have flung open the window and stuck out his head to settle the matter with a lusty bellow, but he was loath to disarrange Helen's artistically disposed greenery and even loather(not in my dictionary) to smash the hurricane lamp

These are the references that I found to the window decorations... Will look for more.

HA!! I win!! That's IT, Pat!!

Want my luncheon, please!!! You can come too, Pat!! Bunny's treat!

hahahahaha

And don't be telling me they were INSIDE!

Ginny

But it doesn't say they were outside either... And they probably lived in one of those old rambling houses where the sills inside were at least 8" deep...

Hey Ginny, it never said the candles were outside,don't be so fast, this might go on for a while. I understand there were windows upstairs, how in the world would you light the candles up there? Open the windows? With as cold as it gets there I wouldn't think so. So little Pal you haven't won all yet!

Thanks for doing all that typing Pat thats a lot of work. So do you believe she had the candles on the outside of the house? Sounds nuts to me.

Love, Bunny Oh and a very wonderful New Year to all!

Ah now don't weasel out of this, let's not get so picky, why couldn't she put candles on the windows upstairs? If she could put greenery, why not a candle!!

AHA, you are wrong, I immediately sense victory: note Pat wrote that he was afraid to open the window because he'd knock off the hurricane lamps! He could reach AROUND the lamps if they were inside, ERGO, they were outside.

I win!

I want my lunch and Pat does too!

Ginny

Are they serving "crow?"

HAHAHAHAHAH! hahahahahahahha!!! I don't eat crow even when I should! hahahahahahahah

Boy we're off to a hilarous start here in the Books!

Ginny

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie, and thats what your going to get Ginny. I won't give in yet. Candles are on the sill on the inside of the house.

Hey Ginny I have another idea! Why don't you write the author and ask her! LOL LOL hee hee hee. Tell you what, I'll agree to what she says. Big of me huh?

Pat stick with me on this.

Love, Bunny

Ginny,

I have to agree wtih Bunny. The canles were on the inside of the windows. No one would put real candles outside on a window ledge.

Joan

Sorry Ginny, But I think the quotes do not say the candles were outside.

Here's the address for MacLeod's Publisher.

Warner Books
1271 Ave of the Americas Fl 9,
New York,  NY 10020-1302

Love you people, I knew only a sick mind would------- love ya Ginny.

Bunny

Ganged up on!!! hahahahahah Well, I certainly do NOT want to give in!! Now the point was the outside illuminations? And Shandy's participation in same? What good are inside candles to outside illuminations? Even tho she does pass that remark about FIRE, you could have fire outside, too.

Oh I do hate to lose. Tell you what, Bunny, two out of three!! and Lunch is on Thee?? hahahaahaha And the next time, our Joan and our Pat can help foot the bill!! The challenge is afoot and who knows where it will rear its head next? Stay tuned, and I will go scout out expensive restaurants.

Broken but Unbowed

No of course I'm not going to WRITE her, and have her look in here and see what we've said? I don't think she'd like it, and wouldn't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but SOMEBODY should get another reader for that BOOK!!!!!!

Sissy La, La. You could write her and just ask her about the candles you don't have to tell her about the way we have been slamming her book. You don't have to tell her we think it was a shaky plot or that she was writing down to her readers. Gee, Pat even gave you her address. You know Pat really deserves lunch. She has truly worked hard.

I looked up the word Balaclava and it said, no such word. You know somewhere I heard that it was a word for a mask skiers use. But not really to sure.

Bunny, the winner.

Oh by the way if you light up the inside of your house it shows to the outside!

Bunny the Winner is a bit much. Are YOU a Leo?

hahahahahah

Ginny

I'll bet Bunny is a Leo...

Pat, Ginny, wrong. Try again.

Love, Bunny

WEll, she's got to be either an Aquarius or a Capricorn~ it's too bad this book couldn't hold out for one month, but I think we gave it more than it's due! Too bad also that the original Rest You Merry was not available, as it IS good.

On the 15th Joan Grimes will begin a bimonthly Mystery Trivia Quiz, always on the 15th, and on the 15th February, Ed Zivitz will begin Ratking by Michael Didbin, the hottest English import in Mystery, hope you will all join the gaggle of Leo's there!

Ginny

Very cool Ginny. But no cigar yet. Can't guess me Huh? Ah well you were wrong about the candles too. Fun being a twin? Hint!

Gemini!

Ginny

Looking forward to Ratking haven't found it yet. Is this going to be easy to come by? Sounds like Joan has some good stuff coming. Ginny a Sherlock your not. I'm the mystical, magical water baby, Pieces. Sure I know what I said but I lied.

Bunny

Bunny, I got my copy of Ratking from our Boostore and it was $9.60 and came immediately. I am anxious to find out for myself what all the shouting is about, because in England Didbin is all the rage, you can't believe the number of his books, just now available here.

So it will be good to see what he's like.

Pisces: I should have known, I only really know two: Leo and Aquarius, and not well for either!!

We're in the teeth of another "ice or snow storm," many here in SC have just now gotten their power back on, I hope it won't go off again.

Ginny

Sally!!!

Go look in the Library!

DON'T be shy, say HI!!

Love,

Ginny Who Won, Incidentally, on the Candle Issue

I just heard about a series of medieval mysteries. The author is Edward Marston and the series is called The Domesday Books. There are apparently 7 so far, beginning in 1993: The wolves of Savernake. The ravens of Blackwater. The dragons of Archenfield. The lions of the North. The serpents of Harbledown. The stallions of Woodstock. The hawks of Delamere. I haven't tried any of them as yet, has anyone else? I'd like to know if they are worth starting.

Jean, they sound wonderful!! I've not read them, but just saw my first Brother Cadfael last night (don't know WHERE I've been)and that was sure different? Of course I love Derek Jacoby. Have you read any of the books in THAT series and if so, are they as good not as good or how do they compare to the ones you've just recommended?

Ginny

Charlotte, I think you are right, it's an entertaining read, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. We've all got our ideas about what makes enjoyable, entertaining reading. I like EF Benson which we're just finishing with in the Book Club Online, but I like to laugh! hahahahaha

I thought a balaclava was some sort of head wrapping?

Ginny