Mystery Corner ~ 2

[JoanK]

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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    

Mysteries with cats are popular, and lately mysteries with ghosts helping the detective are popular. Here is a mystery with the ghost of a cat! "Gray Expectations" by Clea Simon. The detective, a graduate student, is helped both by the ghost of her former cat, who contacts her, and by her present kitten (whom she can't understand yet). It's a little too much for me, but the graduate student trying to finish her thesis brought back a lot of memories of that late, unlemented part of my life. I'll probably read more.

I forgot to mention there's also a ghost from her historical research. Why not? In for a penny, in for a pound! But the subject is interesting: a feminist novel writer of the early 19th century and what happens to her.

[JoanK]

I see the same author wrote books about dogs that I've read.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/clea-simon/

[Scottieluvr]

Mysteries with cats are popular, and lately mysteries with ghosts helping the detective are popular. Here is a mystery with the ghost of a cat! "Gray Expectations" by Clea Simon. The detective, a graduate student, is helped both by the ghost of her former cat, who contacts her, and by her present kitten (whom she can't understand yet). It's a little too much for me, but the graduate student trying to finish her thesis brought back a lot of memories of that late, unlemented part of my life. I'll probably read more.

I forgot to mention there's also a ghost from her historical research. Why not? In for a penny, in for a pound! But the subject is interesting: a feminist novel writer of the early 19th century and what happens to her.

Many years ago during my “cat detective” reading period, I enjoyed mostly Lillian Jackson Braun. The characters were a Siamese cat living with a single older man.

[Scottieluvr]

From my post on “The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins” forum: http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=3772.msg187945#msg187945

Confusingly, th Mystery Timeline says that the mystery story as we know it didn't emerge until Poe, but "the moonstone is considered the first detective novel.

http://www.mysterynet.com/timeline/history-of-mystery/

Interesting that among early mystery writer, they also list Cicero, the Roman orator. He didn't write mysteries, but they say that "

I love that web site you've cited; its bookmarked on all my computers. That site also introduced, to me, a female mystery writer of the 40-50's, Craig Rice. I'm not ready to buy any of her works because I haven't gotten to the library to investigate this new author further.  Sorry a bit off topic...  but I do find the web site valuable in information.

To add to this conversation…

I read Craig Rice’s biography, downloaded from Amazon (a Kindle freebie): “Who Was That Lady?: Craig Rice: The Queen of Screwball Mystery”, by Jeffrey Marks. Lingering well after reading this book was how this woman’s own mother left her in the USA while she (mom) gallivanted across Europe. When Craig was 3 years old, mom returned for a short period then left for Europe. When Craig became a mother her maternal instincts were no more developed than her mother’s; even though raised by a loving aunt and uncle.  The other point that stayed with me was how prolific a writer Craig was; she massed produced short stories/novellas like a well oiled machine.  However, that ended when her alcoholism took over her health.

[mabel1015j]

Just read McPherson's Lament by Sharyn McCrumb. Unless you just don't have something you'd really like to read, don't bother picking it up. It wasn't so bad that i wanted to throw it across the room, but if it was the first one of hers i had read, i wouldn't look for another.

[Steph]

Oh Jean, that is the series and I hated them, but McCrumbs Norah Bonesteel novels.. I.E. The Ballad of Frankie Silver are marvelous. Retelling of folk legends from North Carolina and matching them to something happening in the now.. Excellent, but the Scottish stuff is silly.

[maryz]

Thanks for the heads up - I normally will read anything by Sharyn McCrumb.

[MaryPage]

I read her for years and years and loved her, but then I read one that had tumbled off her high throne and was written just to get a book to her publishers, obviously.  I think if the passion and inspiration leave an author, they leave.  Shut the door and do not come back.  Pity.

[JeanneP]

Seems to be happening to a lot of the, what use to be Great Writers.It has to be that they are writing more books a year. Some I know are getting older but that should not change how they write. Lot of new ones now writing are awful.  Some I can figure what they end is going to be before being half way through the book.

[JoanK]

I agree about writers getting worse as they go on. it seems to happen to many and it's always sad. I'm loyal: it usually takes me wading through too many bad books before I give up on an author.

The saddest for me was when one of my favorite authors, Dorothy Gilman, went downhill. I love her books. (No, maybe tthe saddest was Agatha Christie).

Interesting about craig Rice. I'll have to try to find the ones I read as a child (with children as the detectives) and see what I think. Maybe my grandchildren would like them. Now there are more mystery series for children. In my childhood, these were the only "whodunnits", I knew (Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were a slightly different format).

[Steph]

craig Rice was a funny mystery writer and probably one of the first. I can remember laughing hard over her version of detectives.

[MaryPage]

Oh Joan, I so adored Dorothy Gilman!  Thanks for giving me back that memory.

[JoanK]

In casae any of you don't know Dorothy Gilman and her Mrs. Pollifax, the retired woman who is bored and goes to the CIA to volenteer to be a spy because she is expendable, here she is. Start with "The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/dorothy-gilman/

Mrs. Polifax is who I want to be when I grow up.

[Scottieluvr]

In casae any of you don't know Dorothy Gilman and her Mrs. Pollifax, the retired woman who is bored and goes to the CIA to volenteer to be a spy because she is expendable, here she is. Start with "The Unexpected Mrs. Polifax

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/dorothy-gilman/

Mrs. Polifax is who I want to be when I grow up.

Me too!  I want to be Mrs. Pollifax too.   

Thank you for this share as I've been looking for stories that feature older.  As I grow older I want my characters to do the same. 

[Scottieluvr]

I agree about writers getting worse as they go on. it seems to happen to many and it's always sad. I'm loyal: it usually takes me wading through too many bad books before I give up on an author.

The saddest for me was when one of my favorite authors, Dorothy Gilman, went downhill. I love her books. (No, maybe tthe saddest was Agatha Christie).

Interesting about craig Rice. I'll have to try to find the ones I read as a child (with children as the detectives) and see what I think. Maybe my grandchildren would like them. Now there are more mystery series for children. In my childhood, these were the only "whodunnits", I knew (Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were a slightly different format).

I wonder if its a curse from being creative; the abuse of substances and the following decline? Maybe the stress from "performing" on cue,  i.e., in meeting unreasonable deadlines? Still, its obvious that many great authors suffered personally while generating such wonderful work. Today's authors don't seem to suffer as those in the early 20th century. Or maybe they hide it better. 

[Scottieluvr]

craig Rice was a funny mystery writer and probably one of the first. I can remember laughing hard over her version of detectives.

I've never read any of her books, Craig Rice. What kind of detectives did she write? I think it was Joan who mentioned children detectives...what were some others?

[mabel1015j]

Boohoo, my library has none of her books.

Jean

[Steph]

I suspect it will be hard to find her books. She wrote quite a long time ago.. Her adult detectives were very funny.. hard boiled or so they thought.. Not great thinkers either.. So it was fun.

[rosemarykaye]

None in my library either 

Rosemary

[Frybabe]

Two of her works are listed on ManyBooks. http://manybooks.net/authors/ricec.html

[mabel1015j]

Oh, thanks for the tip Frybabe, i will read those.

Jean

[JoanK]

I ordered the one about the children detectives from Amazon for $1.oo plus shipping. it was part of a series "Great Mystery Stories of All Time."

[Steph]

Lots of taking down the high things yesterday and am giving my sons and wives picks of a good many of my paintings we have collected over the years. The smaller house is not going to have wall space for this.
We also collected masks from all over the world and they can pick from them as well. That is what the grandchildren wanted. They each picked two masks. My younger son and wife picked two larger pictures.. Seems they had loved them for years. Always interesting what people love and don't love.

[maryz]

Steph, I know it's hard, making these decisions.  But it is fun to see what's important to the kids and grands and to tie that to what they remember.  It's not always what we remember and think is important. 

[nlhome]

Steph, how nice that you can share these special things with your family and see their enjoyment and appreciation.

[Scottieluvr]

Lots of taking down the high things yesterday and am giving my sons and wives picks of a good many of my paintings we have collected over the years. The smaller house is not going to have wall space for this.
We also collected masks from all over the world and they can pick from them as well. That is what the grandchildren wanted. They each picked two masks. My younger son and wife picked two larger pictures.. Seems they had loved them for years. Always interesting what people love and don't love.

It’s a representation of you and your dear-husband, most likely why your family quietly coveted those things. What an honor that they share your tastes in wall adornments.  My children are more art-deco, fashinista-finicky.    I have a pleasing floral painting done by my mother-in-law. It adds elegance to my simple country décor. Then the family heirloom antiques, keroscene lamp, clock, and cut glass a pieces cause noses to crunch up, in distaste. Oh well, they're loss when the time comes.  Its their only inheritance...

[Scottieluvr]

Boohoo, my library has none of her books. – Jean

None in my library either    - Rosemary

I’m fear that will be my problem when looking for her books. If it’s the case, I’ll look into an online library lending, Amazon dot com, or a used bookstore up the road from me. Purchasing her books “gently” used for a nominal cost would be worth the effort. 

Two of her works are listed on ManyBooks. http://manybooks.net/authors/ricec.html

I ordered the one about the children detectives from Amazon for $1.oo plus shipping. it was part of a series "Great Mystery Stories of All Time."

Frybaby and Joan: thanks for the leads. I’ve already downloaded the books. And today will check out Amazon for some others.

[Steph]

Finally.. it said reply, but had no box to do it.. My grandson is funny. He has been prowling the house and found a small painting of a leopard.. The size of most of the masks.. He came up beaming and said Nana.. look, can I have it and I told him, he could.. It gave me a pang.. Once when my husband was away on a business trip. He came home with it in his suitcases.There was an art show in the mall and he decided I would love it..Which I did, but it is nice, it will give Connor joy as well.

[maryz]

Great moment, Steph!

[JoanK]

Read "November Hunt" ,

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/jess-lourey/

[MaryPage]

Try Thrift Books for Mrs. Pollifax.

http://www.thriftbooks.com/searchresult.aspx?searchtext=dorothy%20gilman&searchby=author&intsortby=1&intsortorder=0

But if you have always loved mysteries, chances are you read her.  Long, long ago.  And she was, oh, what was her name?  That famous Hollywood star who was so funny and she adored Mrs. Pollifax, and she, too, wanted to be her.  So she paid to have a screen play written and she produced and starred in a flop film.  Flop because she just WAS NOT Mrs. Pollifax, nor could she ever have been.  Now someone like Helen Hayes would have made a splendid Mrs. Pollifax.

I adored Mrs. Pollifax, but never wanted to actually be her.  Remember, she got in some rreally scary situations and even carried a gun.  No thank you!  Not my precious body!

But oh, how I laughed and laughed and laughed.  That was what was so great;  she was so funny.

Oh, it was Rosalind Russell who did Mrs. Pollifax.  Not a bad film, if you want to try to find it;  but she just was not right for the part.

And I was right:  Thrift Books has all of Gilman's books.

[Steph]

I loved the first several Pollifax books, but after a while, it seemed to be a formula and so stopped..

[Scottieluvr]

Read "November Hunt" , http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/jess-lourey/

Was it a good read?

Try Thrift Books for Mrs. Pollifax. http://www.thriftbooks.com/searchresult.aspx?searchtext=dorothy%20gilman&searchby=author&intsortby=1&intsortorder=0

But if you have always loved mysteries, chances are you read her.  Long, long ago.  And she was, oh, what was her name?  That famous Hollywood star who was so funny and she adored Mrs. Pollifax, and she, too, wanted to be her.  So she paid to have a screen play written and she produced and starred in a flop film.  Flop because she just WAS NOT Mrs. Pollifax, nor could she ever have been.  Now someone like Helen Hayes would have made a splendid Mrs. Pollifax. […] Oh, it was Rosalind Russell who did Mrs. Pollifax.  Not a bad film, if you want to try to find it;  but she just was not right for the part. And I was right:  Thrift Books has all of Gilman's books.

Yes!  Helen Hayes would have made an excellent sleuth. This reminds me of Murder She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.  Saw every episode, and even the reruns, but never read the books.

WOW!  They sure do… I’ve bookmarked this site.  Thank you for the link share.

I loved the first several Pollifax books, but after a while, it seemed to be a formula and so stopped..

A sad truth even today, the “formula” barely alters from one book to another. I think why many readers despise serial novels.

[JoanK]

Helen Hayes played Miss Marple in two movies (if I remember correctly). She was wonderful!

Sorry, I was interrupted while posting, and had to leave. "November Hunt" is an OK (not outstanding) mystery about a woman who finds herself in a small Minnesota town. There is one for each month. The best thing about it is that she used the Novemberness (if that's a word) as part of the plot. I will read more.

[JoanK]

Thanks to Pamela for reminding me of Craig Rice and "Home Sweet Homicide." Read it last night. It does date (nothing more dated than 1940s slang) but I enjoyed it and it does remind me of my childhood. She based it on her own family, herself a single mother with three children, who run the house while she is writing books. The children are working to solve the murder and marry their mother off to the police detective.
 
Sadly, the afterward says this is how she wishes her family was, but not how it actually was. She struggled with mental and substance abuse problems, and died young

[marjifay]

Just read SNOWBOUND by Bill Pronzini.  Great mystery.  Pronzini is married to Marcia Muller, the mystery writer.  He's best known for his Nameless Detective series.

Snowbound keeps you on the edge of your seat.  A small town of some 79 people are isolated by an avalanch which has cut off their only road out.  Snowbound with them are three gunman who have gone to the village to hide out after an attempted heist in Sacramento.  The townspeople, busy getting ready for Christmas, are not aware of what these killers have in mind for them.  I'll read more of Pronzini.

Marj

[Steph]

I remember Home Sweet Homicide.. and I like Pronzini.. but have not read anything of his in quite a while.. Too many books... too little time just now.

[mabel1015j]

Finished Laura Lippman's Sugar House last night. It started a little slowly, but became a good mystery. Since i'm a little familiar with Baltimore geographically and have friends who are Baltimore natives, it's fun for me to read her, especially when she throws in the "Balamor" accent.

[Scottieluvr]

Just read SNOWBOUND by Bill Pronzini.  Great mystery.  Pronzini is married to Marcia Muller, the mystery writer.  He's best known for his Nameless Detective series.

Snowbound keeps you on the edge of your seat.  A small town of some 79 people are isolated by an avalanch which has cut off their only road out.  Snowbound with them are three gunman who have gone to the village to hide out after an attempted heist in Sacramento.  The townspeople, busy getting ready for Christmas, are not aware of what these killers have in mind for them.  I'll read more of Pronzini.

Marj

Hello Marj,

Thanks for the recommendation. This book sounds intriguing and do love small-town mysteries. 

[Scottieluvr]

Finished Laura Lippman's Sugar House last night. It started a little slowly, but became a good mystery. Since i'm a little familiar with Baltimore geographically and have friends who are Baltimore natives, it's fun for me to read her, especially when she throws in the "Balamor" accent.

OH!  I'm not a Baltimore native, per say, but am a "Laurel, Marylander" who visited Baltimore every weekend (family).  Actually I visited the Dundalk area, my mother's siblings lived there. Use to fish off the docks which are now tourist attractions... sweet memories. When I'm tired or upset I have what's referred to as the Marylander accent; part New Jersey, part Virginian is the only example I can muster.