Donna’s Comments (group member since Mar 10, 2010)

Donna’s comments from the Ecclesiastical Thrillers group.

Today I quote from this discussion group on my guest blog "What in the World is an Ecclesiastical Thriller?" http://ning.it/96cOqB Thank you for your imput.

Nor have I, but i plan to do so soon. Watch this space.

I found a great essay on Clerical mysteries. Amazing what a Google search can do! I recommend http://www.michaellister.com/Clerical...

Have any of you read Michael Lister? He wounds like a great author for this group.

Hitch on Dorothy L said, "I think trying to cast TSNOTD as an ecclesiastical mystery is a quantum
stretch. It's a fun romp, but the only ecclesiastical
mystery is the disappearance of the godawful (groan--just can't resist lowly
punning) Bishop's bird stump, so my vote is NO. ;-)"

But I tend to agree with you, Sheila. I learned so much about Coventry Cathedral and loved the musing about the importance of cathedrals to society.

We can all agree with Hitch, though, that it's a fun romp.

My daughter-in-law said Doomsday Book is even better.

Ah, just finished Connie Willis' TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. It will definitely make my 10 best of '10 list. And what a delight reading about Coventry Cathedral--then and now--and maybe in the future? A book that defies genre lists, but what do you think? Can we sneak it into Ecclesiastical Thriller status as well?

Just read a great definition of the dividing line between mysteries and thrillers today on the Poe's Deadly Daughters blog. Quoting one of my favorite authors, Julia Spencer-Fleming: Protagonist's goal in a mystery is to solve a murder; in a thriller, to foil a villain. By that definition some Sherlock Holmes, I'm thinking of "The Speckled Band," would be a thriller. Hmmm, interesting.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for joining in. "A lot of catching up to do" Don't we all!! And it just gets worse with things like GoodReads where I learn about MORE I want to read! I suggest you put Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series high on your list of Ecclesiastical Thrillers, however.

If there's a way to send a message to our group other than through one of the discussion topics, I don't know how to do it. But, fortunately, this fits right here under Ecclesiastical Historical Mysteries anyway. I just read a rave review of Melvin Starr's UNQUIET BONES on the DorothyL listserve and have added it to our bookshelf. I haven't read it yet myself, but plan to do so soon. Have any of you read it?

Susanna Gregory is on my TBR list. A Cambridge PhD and a former Yorkshire police officer, Gregory must know her stuff. I've noticed that her reviews all give her top marks for historical accuracy.

Yes, Sister Fidelma was the nun I was trying to think of. I haven't read Tremayne, but a friend of mine recommends him highly.

I hope some of our other discussers can recommend some specific titles. This is a favorite sub-genre of mine, but oh--there's never enough time!

I started to post this under our "Thriller/Mystery/Cozy" discussion, but decided it fits best here. The discussion lines are blurry, aren't they?

I'm currently reading PRIEST by Ken Bruen. Hard-bitten noir set in Ireland. From the title one would think it might fit the Ecclesiatical Thriller subgenre, but I'm thinking a hard-hitting discussion of paedophile priests does not a Ecclesiastical make.

An English vicar who is a former MI-5 agent. Ah, doesn't that sound great! A bit like Clare Ferguson with her army background, perhaps--which works so very well.

Sheila these articles sound great. Is Mystery Scene something online you could post a link to?

Jan mentioned her interest in historicals. Of course, that brings to mind Brother Cadfael. And there is a series about a medieval nun, I believe, but I can't think of her name. What are some of your favorite historicals, especially with the clerical element? Do you have a favorite time period?

Sheila, you have hit on my two absolutely favorite Father Brown quotes! Thank you. I remember that Brother Cadfael sometimes came up with lines almost as good as well, but I can't call any of them up at the moment.

At the end of the day characteriztion is the thing in any genre or sub-genre, isn't it? And not just the characters, but the relationships between them. In the ecclesiastical thriller area, I would put Phil Rickman at the top of the list in the relationship arena. And then there's the relationship between Cally Anson and her brother and the black priest whose name I can't remember, and all the others in Kate Charles--just to mention a few. I'm getting Julia Spencer-Fleming's early chapters of I Shall Not Want from my Dear Reader book club. I'm anxious to see what's new between Clare and Van.

Ah, "preventing something bad from happening." Very good, Sheila. I had the feling my A Very Private Grave was a thriller because they move around a lot, chasing and being chased by killers (danger element) But I think you're right, the element of trying to keep the treasure from falling into the wrong hands is an important part of the definition.

So then, cozies and procedurals are both mysteries, just getting more characterization in cozies and more process in procedurals??

Interesting, Ron. Well, Father Brown certainly used his understandings of human nature gained from being a priest to solve his murders.

Kate Charles is perhaps the best example of using church polity in her stories. I tend to side-step controversial issues. She hits them head-on through her characters' lives, which i find very interesting.

John said Susan Howatch's Healing Centre series isn't a thriller from an action standpoint, but they are certainly psychological cliffhangers. A very intersting point because I agree, and yet I had thought of the definition of thriller as a story with a lot of action and danger. Generally one where the characters move around a lot. So perhaps psychological thriller should be it's own sub-subgenre? I look forward to your comments.

How do you define the difference? Which do you prefer?

Oh, John, what a great hook. A perfect addition to our book shelf. I look forward to reading it.

"Nuns on the Run and Priests on the Prowl" Great title for a book list of Ecclesiastical Thrillers! http://nevinsbooklists.wordpress.com/...

Certainly lots of names here that were new to me. And some of my favorites deleted. You'll note that they called Ellis Peters Elizabeth Peters--who is, of course, an entirely different author. But a big thumbs up for Brother Cadfael! Thank you for sending this, Carole.