THE CRIME AT BLACK DUDLEY (Mys-Albert Campion-England-1929) – 1st in series – Margery Allingham George Abbershaw is set for a social weekend at Black Dudley manor, hosted by Wyatt Petrie and his elderly uncle Colonel Combe, who enjoys the company of Bright Young Things. With Meggie Oliphant in attendance, George looks forward to the chance of getting closer to the girl he's set his heart on. But when murder spoils the party, the group soon find out that not only is there a killer in their midst, but the house is under the control of notorious criminals. Trapped and at their mercy, George must find a way to thwart their diabolical plans while getting himself and Meggie out alive. Luckily for Abbershaw, among the guests is Albert Campion – a garrulous and affable party-crasher with a great knack for solving mysteries and interrogating suspects
Cindy – VG - This is a bit of an odd duck in the series since Campion is introduced as a background character, though further into the story he emerges as a hero. The main story is told from Abbershaw's point of view. Abbershaw is kind of a fusspot and just not that interesting, though he too rises to the challenge (and gets the girl - Meggie) It feels like a Gothic stuck in the spooky old manor mystery. And it works. I overall liked the book but wouldn't read on if the future installments were about Abbershaw. The public and publishers were right that Campion is by far the more compelling character. Helen – VG - This is a pretty old mystery, so I’ll give it a pass on some things that were novel when it was written but not now, as well as some of the things that were fine at the time, but not now. The characters were pretty interesting, although I did get a bit tired of Albert playing the lazy rich idiot. This is the first book in the series, so maybe he gets better with time. I wanted to hear more of Albert’s backstory, but that may be revealed over the series as well. I’ll have to hunt up a few more of the books in the series and see. The murder was pretty interesting, as was how things unfolded after it. The book kind of reminded me of the move Clue, which I like, so this is a good thing. There were a lot of well-timed coincidences, but I think how silly Albert always was made them more believable than otherwise. The lighter tone of the book also helped. It took me a while to figure out who was who, especially because there was the annoying tendency of older writing to call each character not only by the name, but by various descriptions of the character (e.g. Dr. Smith, the red-headed man, the tall man, the man with the pocket watch , the lawyer, and so on). But I had a good handle on who was who about a third of the way through the book. Overall, this was a fun mystery that kept me interested. Katie – Okay - There must be a whole mess of scholarly work on why so many Golden Age mysteries have sons of nobility acting the fool as amateur detectives; this did not stand out as an example of the genre for me. It was hard to keep track of all the characters; they really only had one distinctive feature each, like "the jock" and "the one with a nervous fiancé." I also found the pacing a bit odd. There are two different climaxes to the novel, and both go on and involve too much dialog. The motive for the murder was also silly. It was a nice light read, but I won't run to read others in the series. LJ – Good - I had forgotten how silly and over-plotted this first book is of the Campion series and that Campion appears as a secondary character. And, stereotypical as they seem today, Allingham was wonderful at creating a cast of characters, each with their own voice. The fun of the book is the setting, both in place and time. Trust me, the series does improve with subsequent books. Marilyn – Good – Liked the end of the book better than the beginning once she figured out who the characters were. It was fun.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
ACQUA ALTA (PolProc-Comm. Guido Brunetti-Venice-Contemp) – 5th in series – Donna Leon As Venice braces for a winter tempest, intrepid Italian sleuth Commissario Guido Brunetti finds out that an archaeologist and old friend has been savagely beaten at the palazzo home of opera singer Flavia Petrelli. Then, as the floodwaters rise, the corpse of a museum director is discovered—and Brunetti must wade through the chaotic city to solve his deadliest case yet.
Christine – Ex – Leon is her favorite author. She loves signorina Elettra, the secretary. She has read every single book and loves all the characters. Corona – Ex - You can take it for granted that Donna Leon's stories are excellent! The mystery is interesting but I especially appreciate how effectively she brings me to Venice and the interesting characters she introduces me to. Also how carefully the nuances of 'justice" are explored. I love her books! Jeanne – VG – She's about half-way through. Liked the amount of research Leon did, and the characters' casual attitude toward their work. No 12-hour days for them. Kathy – VG+ - Loves Leon's books, the characters and the balance of life. Leon provides a real sense of another culture. Katie – Good - There were definitely some over-the-top bits to this, but I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, especially those among Guido, Flavia, and Brett. I thought the repetition of "aqua alta" throughout the book was heavy-handed - we get it, the high water is a symbol! - but I did like the descriptions of the characters having to deal with flooding as a fact of life. Marilyn – Ex – One of her favorite series of all time. Likes that Brunetti has a real life, a good relationship with his colleagues and that there is very little violence. Marcy S – VG – Had heard about the series but not read it until now. The book was an absolute pleasure from start to end.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: VG+
THE RESISTANCE MAN (PolProc-comm. Bruno Courreges-France-Contemp) – 6th in series – Martin Walker It's summer in St. Denis for chief of police Bruno Courrèges, and that means a new season of cases. This time there are three weighing on his mind. First, there’s the evidence that a veteran of the French Resistance is connected to a notorious train robbery; then, the burglary of a former British spymaster's estate; and, finally, the murder of an antiques dealer whose lover is conveniently on the lam. As Bruno investigates, it becomes clear that they are connected--however, figuring out how will take every skill he possesses. Add in juggling the complex affections of two powerful women, maneuvering village politics, and managing his irrepressible puppy, Balzac, and Bruno has his hands full once again.
Cindy – DNF - I wanted to like this book especially after the introduction of Bruno and his love of animals and fine food. But it lacked depth and didn't seem like a French or local person wrote it. Sometimes I see these books are constructed by a... Oh if we put gourmet food in it and a cat people will go for that, oh and a backdrop of some less traveled part of France. it felt contrived. She felt the book would have been better as "My Life as an Ex-Pat" than a mystery Corona – VG - I enjoyed going to France too. Bruno also has his ideas of 'justice" and I enjoy his tweaking to fit his community, knowing what laws to enforce and when to speak to power. These stories and easy reading, the plot didn't have a surprise and, handy just now, there were a few good ideas for (mostly) manageable, elegant meals. (I started using duck fat instead of olive oil or butter for some things.) Gabriel – DNF - The idea was interesting--why would someone murder a former member of the Resistance? And what did the stolen fortune have to do with it? The characters were *somewhat* interesting, enough to keep me reading. But for some reason, once the murder was discovered, the book got boring. I don't think I've ever seen that before. Helen – Poor - I did not enjoy this book. The mysteries (3 different crimes: one murder, one burglary, and one other I can’t remember but it was connected to the other two) were not compelling, and it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on once you cut through all of the B story. There was SO MUCH B story! Apparently, Bruno, the chief of police in this particular region in France, is playing Rico Suave with two women, who know about it and don’t care. I didn’t understand what was so compelling about this vanilla pudding cup of a man that would make two women go after him. There is also a lot of information about Balzac, his basset hound puppy. I don’t remember a lot about this story, but I remember the puppy because he is mentioned so often. In addition, there is too much description about food, the surroundings, what people are wearing, and other things that have no bearing whatsoever on the A story (or the B story, for that matter). I wish that the focus had been on the mysteries instead of the minor details of the lives of the numerous characters in this book. I gave up keeping track of people after a while and started skimming. And I still figured out who did it and why before the reveal at the end. Maybe I would have more invested in the characters if I had started reading the series from the beginning, but there was nothing in the book to make me care. The mystery was not original and too straightforward. Maybe the series was better earlier or later on, maybe this is just not a good example of the series, or maybe this is just not to my taste. I did finish, but only because this wasn’t bad enough to make me quit reading (although after about the fifth description of what everyone was having for dinner, I almost did). Jeanne – DNF – Read the first book and started this but felt as though if you've read one book, you've read them all. Kathy – VG – Had forgotten how much she likes walker's writing. She did get frustrated with Isabelle. Was confused about the family structure of the directors of the corporation and, once she'd figured it out, found it a "tell." The descriptions of places, the food and culture are well done. Katie – Okay - A book without sharp edges - the 'tell' was about the political intrigue and murder, but the 'show' was all great meals and cute puppy. The big plot tie-ins seemed a little over-determined; I could have done with either the French Resistance or the nuclear power aspect, but both seemed a bit much. The characters blended together for me - I had trouble keeping them all straight. LJ – G+ - While one can appreciate Bruno realistically having more than one case on which to work as it makes it much more realistic and interesting. However, Bruno having a profusion of women in his life can become confusing for him, and for us. There is an increasing depth to the case, and that it becomes one with a far-reaching impact. The information on the structure of French law and the manner of conducting investigations is interesting, as is the history of the Resistance fighters. There is a very painful scene that might upset animal lovers, yet it is appropriately and humanely done. This is later followed by a scene of a very personal, painful revelation presented Bruno followed by an interesting contemplation of the options. A book of many layers and multiple crimes, with complex, dimensional characters. It’s not so much the crimes, as the people who are the focus and cause this to be a really good read The fun of the book is the setting, both in place and time. Marilyn – G+ - She'd not read any of this series before this, but has now completed four of them. Isabelle annoys her. That relationship makes Bruno seem like a wimp. The doctor has the most substance of the secondary characters.
George Abbershaw is set for a social weekend at Black Dudley manor, hosted by Wyatt Petrie and his elderly uncle Colonel Combe, who enjoys the company of Bright Young Things. With Meggie Oliphant in attendance, George looks forward to the chance of getting closer to the girl he's set his heart on. But when murder spoils the party, the group soon find out that not only is there a killer in their midst, but the house is under the control of notorious criminals. Trapped and at their mercy, George must find a way to thwart their diabolical plans while getting himself and Meggie out alive. Luckily for Abbershaw, among the guests is Albert Campion – a garrulous and affable party-crasher with a great knack for solving mysteries and interrogating suspects
Cindy – VG - This is a bit of an odd duck in the series since Campion is introduced as a background character, though further into the story he emerges as a hero. The main story is told from Abbershaw's point of view. Abbershaw is kind of a fusspot and just not that interesting, though he too rises to the challenge (and gets the girl - Meggie) It feels like a Gothic stuck in the spooky old manor mystery. And it works. I overall liked the book but wouldn't read on if the future installments were about Abbershaw. The public and publishers were right that Campion is by far the more compelling character.
Helen – VG - This is a pretty old mystery, so I’ll give it a pass on some things that were novel when it was written but not now, as well as some of the things that were fine at the time, but not now. The characters were pretty interesting, although I did get a bit tired of Albert playing the lazy rich idiot. This is the first book in the series, so maybe he gets better with time. I wanted to hear more of Albert’s backstory, but that may be revealed over the series as well. I’ll have to hunt up a few more of the books in the series and see. The murder was pretty interesting, as was how things unfolded after it. The book kind of reminded me of the move Clue, which I like, so this is a good thing. There were a lot of well-timed coincidences, but I think how silly Albert always was made them more believable than otherwise. The lighter tone of the book also helped. It took me a while to figure out who was who, especially because there was the annoying tendency of older writing to call each character not only by the name, but by various descriptions of the character (e.g. Dr. Smith, the red-headed man, the tall man, the man with the pocket watch , the lawyer, and so on). But I had a good handle on who was who about a third of the way through the book. Overall, this was a fun mystery that kept me interested.
Katie – Okay - There must be a whole mess of scholarly work on why so many Golden Age mysteries have sons of nobility acting the fool as amateur detectives; this did not stand out as an example of the genre for me. It was hard to keep track of all the characters; they really only had one distinctive feature each, like "the jock" and "the one with a nervous fiancé." I also found the pacing a bit odd. There are two different climaxes to the novel, and both go on and involve too much dialog. The motive for the murder was also silly. It was a nice light read, but I won't run to read others in the series.
LJ – Good - I had forgotten how silly and over-plotted this first book is of the Campion series and that Campion appears as a secondary character. And, stereotypical as they seem today, Allingham was wonderful at creating a cast of characters, each with their own voice. The fun of the book is the setting, both in place and time. Trust me, the series does improve with subsequent books.
Marilyn – Good – Liked the end of the book better than the beginning once she figured out who the characters were. It was fun.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
ACQUA ALTA (PolProc-Comm. Guido Brunetti-Venice-Contemp) – 5th in series – Donna Leon
As Venice braces for a winter tempest, intrepid Italian sleuth Commissario Guido Brunetti finds out that an archaeologist and old friend has been savagely beaten at the palazzo home of opera singer Flavia Petrelli. Then, as the floodwaters rise, the corpse of a museum director is discovered—and Brunetti must wade through the chaotic city to solve his deadliest case yet.
Christine – Ex – Leon is her favorite author. She loves signorina Elettra, the secretary. She has read every single book and loves all the characters.
Corona – Ex - You can take it for granted that Donna Leon's stories are excellent! The mystery is interesting but I especially appreciate how effectively she brings me to Venice and the interesting characters she introduces me to. Also how carefully the nuances of 'justice" are explored.
I love her books!
Jeanne – VG – She's about half-way through. Liked the amount of research Leon did, and the characters' casual attitude toward their work. No 12-hour days for them.
Kathy – VG+ - Loves Leon's books, the characters and the balance of life. Leon provides a real sense of another culture.
Katie – Good - There were definitely some over-the-top bits to this, but I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, especially those among Guido, Flavia, and Brett. I thought the repetition of "aqua alta" throughout the book was heavy-handed - we get it, the high water is a symbol! - but I did like the descriptions of the characters having to deal with flooding as a fact of life.
Marilyn – Ex – One of her favorite series of all time. Likes that Brunetti has a real life, a good relationship with his colleagues and that there is very little violence.
Marcy S – VG – Had heard about the series but not read it until now. The book was an absolute pleasure from start to end.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: VG+
THE RESISTANCE MAN (PolProc-comm. Bruno Courreges-France-Contemp) – 6th in series – Martin Walker
It's summer in St. Denis for chief of police Bruno Courrèges, and that means a new season of cases. This time there are three weighing on his mind. First, there’s the evidence that a veteran of the French Resistance is connected to a notorious train robbery; then, the burglary of a former British spymaster's estate; and, finally, the murder of an antiques dealer whose lover is conveniently on the lam. As Bruno investigates, it becomes clear that they are connected--however, figuring out how will take every skill he possesses. Add in juggling the complex affections of two powerful women, maneuvering village politics, and managing his irrepressible puppy, Balzac, and Bruno has his hands full once again.
Cindy – DNF - I wanted to like this book especially after the introduction of Bruno and his love of animals and fine food. But it lacked depth and didn't seem like a French or local person wrote it. Sometimes I see these books are constructed by a... Oh if we put gourmet food in it and a cat people will go for that, oh and a backdrop of some less traveled part of France. it felt contrived. She felt the book would have been better as "My Life as an Ex-Pat" than a mystery
Corona – VG - I enjoyed going to France too. Bruno also has his ideas of 'justice" and I enjoy his tweaking to fit his community, knowing what laws to enforce and when to speak to power. These stories and easy reading, the plot didn't have a surprise and, handy just now, there were a few good ideas for (mostly) manageable, elegant meals. (I started using duck fat instead of olive oil or butter for some things.)
Gabriel – DNF - The idea was interesting--why would someone murder a former member of the Resistance? And what did the stolen fortune have to do with it? The characters were *somewhat* interesting, enough to keep me reading. But for some reason, once the murder was discovered, the book got boring. I don't think I've ever seen that before.
Helen – Poor - I did not enjoy this book. The mysteries (3 different crimes: one murder, one burglary, and one other I can’t remember but it was connected to the other two) were not compelling, and it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on once you cut through all of the B story. There was SO MUCH B story! Apparently, Bruno, the chief of police in this particular region in France, is playing Rico Suave with two women, who know about it and don’t care. I didn’t understand what was so compelling about this vanilla pudding cup of a man that would make two women go after him. There is also a lot of information about Balzac, his basset hound puppy. I don’t remember a lot about this story, but I remember the puppy because he is mentioned so often. In addition, there is too much description about food, the surroundings, what people are wearing, and other things that have no bearing whatsoever on the A story (or the B story, for that matter). I wish that the focus had been on the mysteries instead of the minor details of the lives of the numerous characters in this book. I gave up keeping track of people after a while and started skimming. And I still figured out who did it and why before the reveal at the end. Maybe I would have more invested in the characters if I had started reading the series from the beginning, but there was nothing in the book to make me care. The mystery was not original and too straightforward. Maybe the series was better earlier or later on, maybe this is just not a good example of the series, or maybe this is just not to my taste. I did finish, but only because this wasn’t bad enough to make me quit reading (although after about the fifth description of what everyone was having for dinner, I almost did).
Jeanne – DNF – Read the first book and started this but felt as though if you've read one book, you've read them all.
Kathy – VG – Had forgotten how much she likes walker's writing. She did get frustrated with Isabelle. Was confused about the family structure of the directors of the corporation and, once she'd figured it out, found it a "tell." The descriptions of places, the food and culture are well done.
Katie – Okay - A book without sharp edges - the 'tell' was about the political intrigue and murder, but the 'show' was all great meals and cute puppy. The big plot tie-ins seemed a little over-determined; I could have done with either the French Resistance or the nuclear power aspect, but both seemed a bit much. The characters blended together for me - I had trouble keeping them all straight.
LJ – G+ - While one can appreciate Bruno realistically having more than one case on which to work as it makes it much more realistic and interesting. However, Bruno having a profusion of women in his life can become confusing for him, and for us. There is an increasing depth to the case, and that it becomes one with a far-reaching impact. The information on the structure of French law and the manner of conducting investigations is interesting, as is the history of the Resistance fighters. There is a very painful scene that might upset animal lovers, yet it is appropriately and humanely done. This is later followed by a scene of a very personal, painful revelation presented Bruno followed by an interesting contemplation of the options. A book of many layers and multiple crimes, with complex, dimensional characters. It’s not so much the crimes, as the people who are the focus and cause this to be a really good read The fun of the book is the setting, both in place and time.
Marilyn – G+ - She'd not read any of this series before this, but has now completed four of them. Isabelle annoys her. That relationship makes Bruno seem like a wimp. The doctor has the most substance of the secondary characters.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: Good