English Mysteries Club discussion

Love the double book idea for January. What about some Anne Perry? I'll throw out the idea of reading the first books in her series featuring Thomas Pitt and the series featuring William Monk. The Cater Street Hangman and The Face of a Stranger

I would like to hear from group members (if there are any of you out there!) who really want to start 2013 with a "new school" English mystery (James, Rendell, McDermid, Robinson, Dexter, Hill, etc.). Or two new-school English mysteries by the same author, if we adopt the double-book suggestion. I enjoyed re-reading "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" for December, but I am more convinced than ever that the genre has advanced since Agatha Christie's time.

I'd be happy to read a "new school" mystery, Joan. I'll suggest Black Dog by Stephen Booth, which has been on my TBR list for a while and which is now available on Kindle.

I am quite happy with either. We have had a run on 'old style' so it might be quite good to do new this time. Got nothing to suggest just now, but will think about it. Black Dog sounds good Kim, and I like all the authors you have suggested Joan. But then I like Anne Perry too! lol.

Can I throw a new book into the hat?
Steve Robinson who wrote In the Bloodand To the Grave has a new book due out today - the third book in his Jefferson Tayte genealogical mysteries.The Last Queen of England

Anne Perry is a current author but of course writes very much in Victorian style. I can see where we might benefit from reading "new school." I'm not familiar with all the suggestions but that could be good. Something new for the new year could be just the ticket.

Since I'm not such a big fan of the "new school" authors who've been mentioned here, I was wondering about maybe a double-book month with one new school and one old school.

Leslie wrote: "Since I'm not such a big fan of the "new school" authors who've been mentioned here, I was wondering about maybe a double-book month with one new school and one old school."

@Leslie, are there "new school" authors whom you do like? I think we can consider the entire new-school range, given that we've read only old-school BOTM books so far. (Because, like Anne Perry, Caroline Graham writes old school.)

One of each sounds good to me too. For new age mysteries, I recommend either From Doon With Death (the first Inspector Wexford Novel) or An Unsuitable Job For A Woman.

My favorite new-school BOTM to start with would be "The Distant Echo" by Val McDermid. (But at this point, I'd settle for anything truly new school!)

Joan wrote: "@Leslie, are there "new school" authors whom you do like? I think we can consider the entire new-school range, given that we've read only old-school BOTM books so far. (Because, like Anne Perry, Caroline Graham writes old school.)"

I have asked before in some other thread what constitutes "new school", as I really don't know, so I have a hard time answering your question. I like PD James but absolutely hate Rendell and Barbara Vine... I recently read Peter James' "Dead Simple" which I liked - is that "new school"?

Jay-me (Janet) ~plum chutney is best~ wrote: "Can I throw a new book into the hat?
Steve Robinson who wrote In the Bloodand To the Grave has a new book due out today - the third book in his Jefferson Tayte genealogical mysteries.The Last Que..."

Oooh I didn't know about this but I've been a bought a copy. Thanks!

I had the impression that 'new school' was detective/mystery written by today's authors and set in 20/21st Century, but maybe I need clarification too because I consider Caroline Graham to be writing in this age and not so much Victorian.

The only Ruth Rendell books I enjoyed were her Inspector Wexford mysteries. Her other books, including those written as Barbara Vine, tend to be more psychological type themes.

I agree with one of each type for the two book months being a good idea ... everyone is catered to then.

How about one of the works of Peter Dickinson? He's mostly known as a YA author, but I love his mysteries.

@Jean-Luke: So on to concrete suggestions of pairs of related books:

I like the suggestion that someone (you, I think) made (in another thread) of "An Suitable Job for a Woman" and "The Skull Beneath the Skin." (PD James)

I've already suggested McDermid's "The Distant Echo" for January. Could it be paired with the newest McDermid one-off, entitled "The Vanishing Point" and now available on Kindle? (It's the only one I've not yet read ... but I'm willing to re-read any McDermid that doesn't feature Carol Jordan and Tony Hill.)

Mike says he's interested in the Alan Banks novels. I think that the best one is "Close to Home" (published originally as "The Summer that Never Was" in the UK). Next best is "Strange Affair." But they're all pretty good!

Perhaps we want to read a book (or two) by an author who's less well known than PD James, Val McDermid, and Peter Robinson -- someone who'll be new to more of us than those three would be.

Say It with Poison and A Season for Murder by Ann Granger

or

The Hangman's Row Enquiry and The Measby Murder Enquiry by Ann Purser

For a less-well-known author, how about Deborah Crombie? Her series featuring police detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James is really wonderful. I think the series will appeal to fans of old school and new school alike, but it's set in present-day England.* Crombie's writing style reminds me of a pencil drawing, with delicate shading and a spare elegance.

All that said, I would recommend starting with the second book in the series, All Shall Be Well rather than the first. The second book is where the feel and structure of the series really take shape, while A Share in Death, the first book, feels a bit tentative, as though Crombie were still trying to figure out what she wanted to do with it.

Here's the blurb for All Shall Be Well:
Perhaps it is a blessing when Jasmine Dent dies in her sleep. At long last an end has come to the suffering of a body horribly ravaged by disease. It may well have been suicide; she had certainly expressed her willingness to speed the inevitable. But small inconsistencies lead her neighbor, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid of Scotland Yard, to a startling conclusion: Jasmine Dent was murdered. But if not for mercy, why would someone destroy a life already so fragile and doomed? As Kincaid and his capable and appealing assistant Sergeant Gemma James sift through the dead woman's strange history, a troubling puzzle begins to take shape -- a bizarre amalgam of good and evil, of charity and crime . . . and of the blinding passions that can drive the human animal to perform cruel and inhuman acts.

And you can read a better description on Crombie's website. Scroll down until you see the title; the novels are listed in reverse order, so it's toward the bottom of the page.


*To clarify - since Crombie began writing the series in 1993, technically the early books aren't quite present-day, but close enough.

@Joan -- could you please give me your definition of "new school"?

Jean-Luke wrote: "I haven't read them but The Vault by Ruth Rendell is a non-Wexford novel that is a sequel to A Sight For Sore Eyes, a Wexford novel.

I will pick some stand-alone and some double book nominations f..."

A Sight for Sore Eyes was a stand alone psychological thriller she wrote in 1998. In an interview Ruth Rendell described The Vault as a "sort of sequel" but written in the cosier, classic detective style of, and involving, the now retired Wexford.
She wrote The Vault to bring back Wexford after emphatically stating she would not be writing any further Wexford novels when she retired him in The Monster in the Box in 2009.
We had a large number of library patrons wringing their hands in anguish when we posted that news! Now I am wondering what has caused her to backtrack - did she miss him as much as those library patrons?

@Leslie: I'm trying to use the terms "old school" and "new school" as they are used on the home page of this goodreads.com "English Mysteries Club." Really, I just mean an anglophone mystery novel written in contemporary style, not cozy style. As one of our club members put it: Tension and fear, not cardigans and furniture polish.

@Jean-Luke: As Ella's Gran points out, The Vault is a Wexford novel. I loved it (and have loved all of the Wexford novels).

Jean-Luke wrote: "I must have mixed the two up."

I think you can be excused a little slip. After all, you only have to find a book for January that is reasonably priced, available as an ebook in every format in every library in every country, be first in a series, maybe new but not too new, make everyone happy and be British. No problem, right?

I think you do a great job. Thank You.

How about Val McDermid's The Grave Tattoo? It's my very favorite. I also like the suggestion of Anne Perry's first Monk and Pitt book.
Or maybe a McDermid and an Atkinson and compare Scottish authors.

I very much agree with Shera above. Thanks to Jean-Luke for taking on the task of moderating.

Susan wrote: "How about Val McDermid's The Grave Tattoo? It's my very favorite. I also like the suggestion of Anne Perry's first Monk and Pitt book.
Or maybe a McDermid and an Atkinson and compare Scottish authors."

I like the idea of a McDermid and Atkinson and comparing. Have never read McDermid but really like Atkinson.

Jean-Luke, my most humble and abject apologies for offer being so remiss as to offer correction on information you shared regarding The Vault by Ruth Rendell. It would appear that it has been seen as criticism of you and your abilities as moderator of this group.

There was no intention to criticise, nor do I see any implication of criticism in what was written, but be assured I shall not offer any further comment or information.

Sharla wrote: "Susan wrote: "How about Val McDermid's The Grave Tattoo? It's my very favorite. I also like the suggestion of Anne Perry's first Monk and Pitt book.
Or maybe a McDermid and an Atkinson and compare ..."
I like McDermid except her series starring Carole Jordan and Tony Hill. I think Joan will back me up here. It's the opposite of Ruth Rendell as I like her Inspector Wexford novels the best.

Ella's Gran wrote: "Jean-Luke, my most humble and abject apologies for offer being so remiss as to offer correction on information you shared regarding The Vault by Ruth Rendell. It would appear that it has been seen ..."

We want you to speak up when we get novels confused. I do it all the time. There are just so many and it's so easy to mix them up. Please don't be offended. We are always looking for ways to thank our wonderful, Jean-Luc, for re-establishing the group and doing a great job moderating it. It's a thankless job. I'm sure no one meant it as a criticism. We are all friends bound by the most wonderful ties- a love of a good mystery.

@Susan: Yes, I agree (about both McDermid and Rendell).

@Sharla: I, too, liked "The Grave Tattoo." From an earlier BOTM discussion, however, I recall that one of our fellow club members doesn't. (Sorry that I cannot remember who.)

Ella's Gran wrote: "Jean-Luke, my most humble and abject apologies for offer being so remiss as to offer correction on information you shared regarding The Vault by Ruth Rendell. It would appear that it has been seen ..."

Please don't think any criticism of you was implied. In a group discussion we should make corrections when needed. I just wanted to take the opportunity to say thanks to Jean-Luke for moderating. I very much hope you will not stop contributing!

Susan wrote: "How about Val McDermid's The Grave Tattoo? It's my very favorite. I also like the suggestion of Anne Perry's first Monk and Pitt book.
Or maybe a McDermid and an Atkinson and compare Scottish authors."

I like the idea of comparing two authors. I have not read "The Grave Tattoo" but do love Atkinson's books. I would also second Anne Perry's first Monk and Pitts' books.

I'll give a thumbs up to reading two by Deborah Crombie. Now that I'm up-to-date on Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series, I want to get started re-reading & catching up with Crombie.

Well being true to my roots howabout 2 solid mystery writers both writing in different areas of England?

Martin Edwards this is the first in his Lake district series.
Stephen Booth the first in his Derbyshire Peak District series?