Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910584 times)

JoanK · « **Reply #4040 on:** August 12, 2012, 02:40:29 PM »

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Pull up a comfortable chair and join us here to talk about mysteries and their authors.
We love hearing what YOU enjoy and recommend!

Links:
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Our Favorite Old Mystery Writers
Fantastic Fiction
Stop You're Killing Me

Discussion Leader: JoanK

JEAN: I don't know Miss Julie. Who is the author?

Don't know Megan Abbott, either. But here she is:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/megan-abbott/

Babi · « **Reply #4041 on:** August 13, 2012, 08:20:33 AM »

I hadn't heard of Megan Abbott, either, but from looking over her titles and book covers, I
don't think she writes books I would be interested in.
JEAN, I am constantly flabbergasted by stories and TV shows that blithely overlook the
obvious and ignore blatant illegalities and inconsistencies.

Still watch them, tho'.

Steph · « **Reply #4042 on:** August 13, 2012, 08:47:18 AM »

I finished The Chalk Girl.. I loved it, but oh boy, it twisted and turned a wild wild ride. To relax from all that tension, I am reading the second Kate Carlise about the bookbinder..She obviously once wrote romance, since everyone without exception is handsome, beautiful etc. etc. I do wish she would stop that.

marjifay · « **Reply #4043 on:** August 13, 2012, 10:25:37 AM »

I have read a couple mysteries by Megan Abbott. She writes noir mysteries, and while I love good noir, I didn't care for hers. After the last (The End of Everything), I decided not to read any more books by her. My notes say "Don't care for her writing, repetitive, takes too long to say anything and she tries hard to make the story sound "deep" when it isn't."

Marj

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4044 on:** August 13, 2012, 12:45:22 PM »

The Miss Julie series is written by Ann B. Ross. Here's her Fantastic Fiction page. I would suggest reading the series in order, but its not imperative. I think you probably need to start w/ the first one at least, if you can. Miss Julie is a 60 something, proper, Presbyterian lady in N. Carolina - near where Steph is now

.

She frequently has to move out of what she considers "proper" behavior to take care of immediate situations and the story is quite humorous at times as she has to deal w/ people who are not as "proper" as she is.There's an interesting cast of characters around her.

These are the light, fun, easy stories we need to intersperse our heavier reading. By the way, her books are shelved in my library in the fiction section, not in mystery.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/ann-b-ross/

Jean

JoanK · « **Reply #4045 on:** August 13, 2012, 12:55:55 PM »

GRRR. just lost a long post. I hate it when that happens.

Your "Miss Julia" reminds me of the old "Tish" stories by Mary Roberts Rhinehart. Does anyone else remember them.v Three very proper ladies in the early 1900s who keep having adventures and solving mysteries. They wind up in WWI, capturing a German general. Dated but very fun. I reread them on my kindle.

The first one is called "Tish".

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4046 on:** August 13, 2012, 03:40:26 PM »

Thanks for that tip Joan. I just ordered the whole M.R. Rhinehart series on my ipad, for ninety-nine cents!

Jean

pedln · « **Reply #4047 on:** August 13, 2012, 10:45:19 PM »

And thank you, Jean, for your tip also. It's been at least 40 years since I read any Mary Roberts Rinehart, and after reading your post I headed over to Amazon to see what they had. Have just downloaded two FREE titles for my Kindle -- Circular Staircase and The Man in Lower 10.

Steph · « **Reply #4048 on:** August 14, 2012, 08:24:34 AM »

Oh I loved her stuff and read all of it way long ago. As well as the Tuppence and Tommy series by AGatha.. Both were great fun. Finished the Kate Carlisle last night. I like her plotting, now to figure out how to make her stop with the ohhhhso handsome, so sexy...so stupid.. Darn. A almost good author..

marjifay · « **Reply #4049 on:** August 14, 2012, 08:50:20 AM »

I, too, Pedln, had just put Mary Roberts Rinehart's Circular Staircase and The Man in Upper Ten on my TBR list after reading these recommendations from an Amazon reader as two of her best. I'd read a couple by her that I could not finish because the logic, or rather the lack thereof, of the stories was so irritating.

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #4050 on:** August 14, 2012, 08:57:09 AM »

JEAN, Miss Julie sounds a lot like Miss Marple. Are they very much alike?

JoanK · « **Reply #4051 on:** August 14, 2012, 03:15:27 PM »

Starting to read "Miss Julie Speaks Her Mind". She is the recent widow of a horrible husband who has her browbeat into believing that she can't do anything but obey his endless commands on how to do everything in her life. GRRRRRRRR! She is gradually and painfully finding herself, in spite of all the people who are trying to move in and tell her what to do. Can't wait to see what she blossoms into!

Of course there is a mystery, too.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4052 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:40:20 PM »

Babi - i've never read Miss Marple, but from what i've seen on tv, there does seem to be a similarity. My impression is that MM has more self-confidence, altho Miss Julie blusters her way through situations giving those around her a belief in her self confidence. Maybe Joan can give you a better comparison.

JoanK · « **Reply #4053 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:39:04 PM »

I don't see them as similar. Miss marple is a life-long spinster,very quiet, happy with who she is and enjoying observing people and solving little puzzles.

I can't imagine her getting into the situation julie is in. Julie has been browbeaten all her life into thinking she's not good for much and needs others to make decisions and take responsibility for her, by first (I guess) her family, then her husband, now that her husband is gone, others in the community trying to take over that role. At rthe moment, she is realizing that this is the case and she can change it, but of course, it's not going easy. She is blundering around, reacting to events, trying to find her way.

JoanK · « **Reply #4054 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:41:07 PM »

BABI: you've never read Miss Marple?

Oh, my, what a treat you have. I suggest "A Murder is Announced"

salan · « **Reply #4055 on:** August 15, 2012, 06:09:11 AM »

I hate to be a "nit-picker", but it is Miss Julia--not Julie. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed this series. The books are light cozy mysteries.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #4056 on:** August 15, 2012, 08:42:15 AM »

Miss Marple in book form is great, but the tv series and the movies make her into some sort of huge busy body.. They used a very large actress in the tv that I saw and that was so silly.. I hate when they change the character to suit the actress.. Stephanie Plum and Katherine Hegl were a good example. Take the blonde of the year.. who cannot act.. Oh Stephanie.. there are so many good character actresses to to do this..And Debbie Reynolds. I like her, but she is not Grandma.

Babi · « **Reply #4057 on:** August 15, 2012, 08:42:19 AM »

Oh, I've read all the Miss Marple's I could find. It's Jean who has read Miss Julie (I
haven't) but hasn't read Miss Marple. Thanks for the input, JOAN. The age bracket appears
to be all that links the two, and I do want to try Miss Julie as well.
I have two goodies. I have Carol O'Connell's "Mallory's Oracle", recommended here. And
I'm delighted to say I have a new Anne Perry from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.
Just came out this year.

dbroomsc · « **Reply #4058 on:** August 15, 2012, 10:24:57 AM »

One of my first jobs many years ago was in a hardware store that also sold books both new and used. The saleslady allowed me to read the books without having to pay for them, if I would return them undamaged. She introduced me to the mystery genre starting with Mickey Spillane's Sam Spade, then Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. I have been a Miss Marple fan ever since. Christie wrote 12 Miss Marple novels and some 20 short stories. They are all good. My favorites would have to be "The Body in the Library," "A Murder is Announced," and "The Moving Finger." I have watched many of the TV productions. Only Joan Hickson's portrayal of Miss Marple comes close to my idea of the Miss Marple in the books. I have enjoyed reading the Hercule Poirot books too. Mickey Spillane's Sam Spade sort of fell by the wayside.

JoanK · « **Reply #4059 on:** August 15, 2012, 03:03:57 PM »

Sam Spade fell by my wayside, too.

Sorry, BABI, I wronged your Miss Marplehood!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4060 on:** August 15, 2012, 05:11:36 PM »

Altho i have liked the other 6 or 8 Miss Jula books i've read before, i won't recommend Miss Julia Strikes Back. It is a series of decisions made by Miss J that no one having any semblance of intelligence would make and in previous books Ross has set up Miss J as a smart woman. So much of the story is unbelievable that it was not enjoyable to read, altho i kept reading

skimming much of it.

Jean

FlaJean · « **Reply #4061 on:** August 15, 2012, 10:41:12 PM »

Jean, I'm glad you mentioned downloading the free Mary Roberts Rinehart books. I downloaded many of them from the iPad bookstore and am looking forward to reading them at my leisure. I hadn't checked the bookstore recently and didn't realize so many books had been added.

Steph · « **Reply #4062 on:** August 16, 2012, 08:29:09 AM »

I used to read Anne Perry, but got so turned off by what she had done as a teen, that I stopped. Probably silly, but could not bear to help her make money.

Babi · « **Reply #4063 on:** August 16, 2012, 08:32:57 AM »

You're forgiven, JOANK. No damage done.

Thanks for the caution about that particular Miss Julia, JEAN. It would have been most
disappointing if I had started with that one. I have no idea which of the Miss Julie books
my library might have.

pedln · « **Reply #4064 on:** August 16, 2012, 10:05:18 AM »

Steph, I'm with you on Anne Perry. I doubt I'll ever read any of hers.

Dean, Joan Hickson is my favorite Miss Marple also. I just can't see Geraldine ?? as her, nor that Rutherford/Rutledge woman.

You're in for a treat reading Miss Marple. A favorite is What Mrs. McGillicudy Saw -- has a different title in UK -- The something from Paddington.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4065 on:** August 16, 2012, 10:32:04 AM »

I've just started Murder on the Leviathan by Boris Akunin. The ship is headed for Cairo. On board are Ernst Fandorin and a French detective on the trail of a multiple-murder and theft suspect. The French detective initially considers Fandorin a person of interest. I am not sure, at this point, whether or not the detective has completely ruled Fandorin out as a suspect.

dbroomsc · « **Reply #4066 on:** August 16, 2012, 11:29:56 AM »

PEDLN What Mrs. McGillicudy Saw is titled 4:50 from Paddington in the UK. Actually the TV version with Joan Hickson is not bad.

FRYBABE Murder on the Leviathan by Boris Akunin is on hold at the library waiting for me to pick up. I hope its a good read.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4067 on:** August 16, 2012, 11:44:38 AM »

Dean69, this will be my third Ernst Fandorin mystery. I've read The Winter Queen and The Death of Achillies so far. Fandorin is a very interesting character: detective, diplomat, foppish, very intelligent and intuitive, and a keen observer.

dbroomsc · « **Reply #4068 on:** August 16, 2012, 02:05:26 PM »

Thanks FRYBABE. Ernst Fandorin sounds like the type of detective I like.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4069 on:** August 16, 2012, 02:28:10 PM »

Yipee! I just found Henning Mankell's The Man from Bejing in my library ebook selection. I am going to have to download that when I have finished the Akunin.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4070 on:** August 16, 2012, 03:21:49 PM »

Starting Rinehart's Circular Staircase, delightful. I've laughed several times already. She also reminded me of a few things: mail delivery more than once a day ( she mentions THREE times in the city. In my little town we had mail delivery twice a day); the electricty goes off at midnight ( i remembered reading about that, never experienced - not quite that old).

One comment that made me chuckle : re: a characters mustache "One never knows why certain men cling to a messy upper lip that must get into things, any more than one understands some women building up their hair on wire atrocities."

Thank you Joan for mentioning her, i AM going have to a lot of reading enjoyment reading thru her books.

Jean

marjifay · « **Reply #4071 on:** August 16, 2012, 06:22:54 PM »

Thanks, Frybabe, for mentioning Boris Akunin's mysteries that are set in Russia. I really liked his The Winter Queen and have meant to read more.

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #4072 on:** August 17, 2012, 08:18:42 AM »

Fandorin is a new name to me. I'll have to see if my library has him.

I heard the story about Anne Perry, and was shocked as you and sTEPH are, PEDLN. But I could
see that the strongest underlying theme of both her major series has been the strong passion
of her characters for justice. The more I read by her, the more convinced I become that,
however mistaken, that teenage crime had it's roots in a belief that it was justice. I know
that is a reach, but from the sense I have of her from her writing, I would say it is a good
possibility. I have to suspect that her friend was being badly abused, and hope I am not
traducing a good woman in my own mind.

Steph · « **Reply #4073 on:** August 17, 2012, 08:50:10 AM »

There was no evidence to that.Only evidence the girls were determined not to be separated at any cost and willing to kill to accomplish it.That is what got me..

Babi · « **Reply #4074 on:** August 18, 2012, 08:16:48 AM »

I'm reading Mallory's Oracle, and enjoying it very much. Mallory is an unusual character, with
many troubling features. Naturally, I'm hoping she will gradually be more able to relate to others
and soften some of her more piratical aspects.

Steph · « **Reply #4075 on:** August 18, 2012, 09:15:40 AM »

Kathy Mallory.. No, Babi, she does not visibly soften, but if you watch the edges?? Plus the other characters are wonderful.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #4076 on:** August 18, 2012, 03:04:11 PM »

As i said, i am reading M.R. Rinehart and Miss Innes does remind me of Miss Julia, probably because Miss Julia is such a Victorian woman in many ways.

. I don't yet know if Miss Innes is a continuing character in a series, but i hope so.

Jeanr

Babi · « **Reply #4077 on:** August 19, 2012, 08:23:45 AM »

I think I know what you mean, STEPH. Tiny breakthoughs?

I know of an author named Innes, JEAN, but not a character. Where does this one appear?

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4078 on:** August 19, 2012, 08:28:27 AM »

I have just started another Catriona MacPherson 'Dandy Gilver' mystery. This one is set (so far) in the New Town in Edinburgh - Dandy goes undercover as a lady's maid to help the lady herself, who thinks her husband wants to kill her. I'm enjoying it so far. It's called "Dandy Gilver & the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains'. It's set on the eve of the General Strike in the 1930s, and I think it's also going to involve mining communities.

I'll report back...

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #4079 on:** August 19, 2012, 08:55:45 AM »

I have never seen a MacPherson book in the book stores here.I am reading Celebrity inDeath,, I do love my silly J.D.Robb stuff.. Slumming but fun.

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Author Topic: Mystery Corner ~ 2 (Read 910584 times)