Series V - (Not Really) Guilty Pleasures

One of my series had a recent new addition!

Richard Castle's new Niki Heat book,

Raging Heat

was released last month, and yes, I have ordered it.

I'll let you know how it is.

I enjoy the TV series and I think the novels, written by the title character, are a fun tie in.

I collect cookbooks written by characters from murder mysteries, so I guess I was already predisposed to like it. I have cookbooks 'written by' Kaye Scarpetta, Nero Wolfe, and Sneaky Pie Brown, From the kitchens of The Cat Who ... , and of course,  the world of Harry Potter (and always on the lookout for more).

I am in the middle of the Sister Mary Helen Series, Sister Carol Anne O'Marie, a nun who wrote murder mysteries about a nun who enjoys reading murder mysteries and ends up solving murders. It's been fun so far.

I am also a fan of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Series, from way back. As well as John Sandford's, The Prey Series and The Dismas Hardy Series , by John Lescroart.

I like the continuity of reading a series, old friends, familiar places . . . I'm sure that says something about the state of my psyche.

. . . And if I were really truthful, I don't really feel guilty about any of them.

Series: IV - Cats

 

 
I'll confess right up front.

I like cats.
I like murder mysteries.

And you would be surprised at how many murder mystery series involve cats these days.

I suppose that once they took over the internet, 

it was all but inevitable.

The first name many people think of when linking murder mysteries and cats is Lilian Jackson Braun.

Her Cat Who books were the first cat mysteries I ever read.  Although rather simple and formulaic, they were always enjoyable.

The plots are not difficult, and as for the characters, I've always suspected that Jim Qwilleran was, forgive me, in denial about his sexuality, and Polly Duncan, his off again on again paramour, was not actually traveling to visit relatives or attend conferences, but cutting loose on wild adventures of her own.

Diehard Cat Who fans are probably calling for my head on a platter after that supposition, but with all the heavy, dark murder mysteries I've been reading lately, I've come to mistrust the light.

Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy Series has also been a long time favorite. Although Sneaky Pie seems to have gotten a bit preachy as of late. Mary Minor "Harry" Hairsteen was once the spunky individualist and outsider loved by all but the bad guys, and while most main characters in a series evolve, I'm not completely loving the evolution of these characters. (not that I'll stop reading)

I also enjoy The Joe Grey Cat Mysteries by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. The cats have an interesting back story and are quite adept at solving crimes, and likeable.

There are a number of other cat sleuths I turn to from time to time, light and entertaining even if they fall short of being literary classics.

While the prior three grace my shelves, I read the rest of these on my nook.

* The Mattie Winston Series - Annelise Ryan * The Magical Cats Mysteries - Sofie Kelly *

* Cats and Curios Mysteries - Rebecca M. Hale * Cats in Trouble Mysteries - Leann Sweeney *

* Dixie Hemingway - Blaize Clement * The Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries - Ali Brandon (Diane A.S. Suckheart) *

Some people like vampire stories, others prefer zombies or werewolves. Whatever your inclination there is literature to be found. 

Now you know my guilty pleasure. 

What is yours?

Series: III - Some of My Favorites

As I've said before, (over and over again) murder mysteries are my drug of choice.

Such is my addiction, that when faced with a dearth of new offerings from my favorite authors, I will find and read whatever is available in the genre to fill the gap.

I have honestly read some of the worst dreck imaginable. Of course, I always feel bad when I encounter a bad one. With the time, effort, and sacrifice involved in writing a novel, each author should be rewarded with success.

When it comes to reviews, I remember the sting of unkind words. So I try to avoid them as much as possible. That is why my "reviews" are simply my impressions, and usually vague ones at that, meant more to titillate and entertain than elucidate.

In other words, they're useless.

I find, though, that I'm not quite as sympathetic toward established authors as as I am toward the newbies. The veterans should know better. No?

{Small Aside} I enjoy many book blogs, none of which focus on murder mysteries, and all of which provide excellent reviews. Many new books have somehow found their way on to my TBR pile because of them. There is an actual {Book Blogger Directory} where you can search under your favorite genre. (They are listed alphabetically) Some of my favorite blogs, whom I visit regularly, are also listed on my sidebar under 'Fellow Travelers.'

But the original topic was series, and here are a few of my favorites; I promise I'll try to give an honest assessment of each, as useful as possible:

* Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman - This is probably my all time favorite series. It's intelligent, and well thought out. I just wish the author would stick to his responsibilities and quit wasting time between novels. He doesn't really need a family or creative fulfillment with other projects. He just needs to concentrate on satisfying my reading addiction. What? No, there is no need for a restraining order.

* The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell - At the beginning Kay Scarpetta ran a very close second to Alex Delaware in my estimation, but over the course of the series that changed drastically. Smart, captivating characters and intriguing plots devolved into whining, self centered brats tripping over each other in plots that had no room for anyone but themselves. In her defense, Ms Cornwell seems to have heeded the cries of disappointed fans and set about undoing some of the damage. There is still a ways to go, but she is headed in the right direction. And yes, I did keep reading even though I hated what had become of the series. Why, you ask? I had to. It was a series. I started it so I had to finish it. Quit laughing. It isn't funny.

* The Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton - Each new adventure with Kinsey has been enjoyable. One of the strengths of this series is that it does not unfold in anything even approaching real time. The last novel, as of this posting is "W" and the year is 1988. This has to be incredibly challenging for Ms Grafton, but she meets said challenge admirably with likeable characters with solid relationships, and interesting plots.

* Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter - I admit my introduction to this series came through PBS and the British production staring the incredible John Thaw. I hunted down a complete set of the original books (used paperbacks, of course) one at a time online, and read the entire series as written by Colin Dexter. I found that the production stayed incredibly true to the novels, but the reading helped deepen the characters appreciatively appreciably. And yes. In my head the stories played out in the voices of John Thaw and Kevin Whately. So sue me. There really was no improvement on the casting.

* The Mrs Pargeter series by Simon Brett - I found and devoured this little series during one of my drought periods - and I fell in love. Mrs. Pargeter is the woman I want to be as I grow old. Unfortunately, she in her seventies, is younger, more adventurous and full of life than I ever was. These novels were fun and just a tad tongue in cheek. Definitely one of my luckier and more enjoyable finds.

* Sister Mary Helen Mysteries by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie - Did you know that a real life nun wrote a series of novels about a murder mystery reading nun who repeatedly finds herself in a position to help solve murders? Yes. She did. The characters are likeable if exasperating from time to time.

* Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout - This series, too, came to my attention by way of television. Timothy Hutton brought to life the character of Archie MacLeish, and Maury Chaykin held the scenery down impressively as Nero Wolfe, himself. Television aside, these novels represent some of the best of noir, with interesting characters and involved plots. And as with the Inspector Morse novels, I can't help but read the narration in the voice of the actors.

* The Kenzie-Gennaro novels by Dennis Lehane -This is another series I discovered while searching desperately for something to read. It was definitely a surprise, a tad on the dark side. The level of violence in these novels is ... well, lets just say Mr. Lehane has dialed it up to 11. The characters are flawed, but you care about them. And when you find the plot sliding in for a solution less than halfway through the book, you had best buckle your seat-belt. Good find. Definitely not for those with delicate constitutions.

* Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch series by Michael Connelly - This was my mother's favorite series and I think she had a crush on Harry. You don't find yourself liking a lot of people in Harry's world, but you do like Harry, even when you find yourself so mad you want to smack him. His motto is, "Everyone matters, or no one matters." As you might imagine, that gets him a lot of flack from the folks who think that some people ought to matter more than others. Many of those are people who are supposed to be on his side. The plots play out in less than ideal ways, which I think are more like real life than the tied up in neat packages endings we have come to expect.

These are a few of the series I am/have been reading. I tried to be honest about what I think of each one and I hope you find it at least a little helpful.

{PHOTO Source: #1, #2, #3}

Series: II - The game is Afoot

Sherlock Holmes

by

 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 

The subject of only four novels and a smattering of short stories, Sherlock Holmes managed to cement himself in the collective conscience of a large portion of the civilized world. He was often the object of scorn by his frustrated creator, but it didn't seem to faze him in the least.

Some say that he was the greatest detective ever. Others believed that only a thin shroud separated him from the greatest of evils. But all seem to see in him something of themselves.

I ran across another argument about which Sherlock Holmes series happens to be the best. The bulk of the discussion focused on which of them managed to stayed true to the original Conan Doyle 'vision.'

Oh, the irony!

(Have you ever noticed how few people actually understand the meaning of that word?)

You see, if you actually go back and reread the original stories, not one book, movie, or series in existence can really claim to be true to the original. Not one.

Last year I reread the entire cannon, and it reminded me how much I enjoy the real Holmes. Modern writers who take on the Holmes mythos always seem to find something wrong, missing, or lacking in the great detective, and rewrite him and his compatriots accordingly. (Some more successfully than others.)

We spend so much time these days with the stories as interpreted by others, in movies and television, that it is easy to loose track of the originals; and it is well worth taking the time to reacquaint ourselves. Most interpretations tend to focus in on a small selection of details to the exclusion of the larger picture. In this way Sherlock Holmes becomes just what the story teller needs him to be, and it also says a great deal about her/his own psyche.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Novels: A Study in Scarlet * The Sign of Four * The Hound of the Baskervilles * The Valley of Fear *

Short Story Collections: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes * The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes * The Return of Sherlock Holmes * His Last Bow * The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes * The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories *

Some Other Sherlock Holmes Treats

* Auguste Lupa - John Lescroart * Mary Russell - Laurie R. King * The Baker Street Letters - Michael Robertson * Sherlock Homes - Adrian Conan Doyle * Arthur Conan Doyle Series - Mark Frost *

Elementary      *      Sherlock

*  The Sherlock Holmes Page  *

Series: I - The Early Years

While enjoying some of the wonderful book blogs out there, I've noticed that people tend to favor ether series or stand alone novels, seldom both. I'm partial to series, myself. How about you? I think it's the continuity I like: familiar old friends returning for a visit.

Murder mysteries, though not everyone's cup of tea, are my drug of choice, and I'm always on the hunt for a new series.

Some make me laugh out loud; some are cringe inducing. Some I have loved and read over and over again, while some just offered, something to read, and some ... well, you can't expect to love everything you read, now, can you?

One of the earliest series I can remember catching my imagination was that of Ellery Queen. After seeing the short lived TV series starring Jim Hutton when I was about 10, I was smitten. Ellery gave the reader every bit of evidence he himself had, so that we might try and solve the case too. (Unlike Agatha Christie)

I admit to an initial misconception that they were not actually fictional stories, but biographical. After all, they were stories written about Ellery Queen by Ellery Queen, were they not? (Frederic Dannay &  Manfred Lee) I did eventuality straighten that one out, but I never let go of my first mystery love.

Over the years I have read and then reread them all. My ancient, crumbling copies anchor a growing, changing library.


At about that same time, I discovered the Nancy Drew Mystery Series. Various authors wrote the books under the name of Carolyn Keene. Pictured is Millie Benson who wrote 23 of the 30 original books.

While Ellery Queen was not always readily available at my local library, Nancy Drew was. Both our school library and the public library displayed her prominently. Also, since any gift giving occasion in our house was a book giving occasion, it didn't take long to build a collection.

I occasionally regret giving that collection to my little sister. (Who am I kidding, I continually regret it!)

Nancy was smart, strong, independent, happy, and that definitely makes her a wonderful role model. My daughter read Nancy Drew, and my granddaughter will be reading them soon.

Families all over the world have traditions they pass on from one generation to the next. In our family, the most precious seem to involve books.

About the time I started Middle School I also began working my way through the Agatha Christie catalog, both Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.

Although I truly love her writing, I carry with me one giant pet peeve about Ms Christie.

She routinely relies on red herrings and withholding details to further her mysteries.

As a girl weaned on Ellery Queen, I found it all but intolerable.

Why, then, do I keep returning to her work?

Easy. 

Her characters. 

Both Miss Marple And Hercule Poirot are quirky and entertaining enough to offset my irritation, along with their many acquaintances.


Another early love was Ellis Peters' (Edith Pargeter) Brother Cadfael.

Half way through reading the books I stumbled upon the BBC broadcast of the series, staring Derek Jacobi in the title role.

I was thoroughly entranced by the gentle monk with the mysterious past, and captivated by his skills with herbs and early forensics.

This series is also an ongoing love and a periodic reread.

 
Girl Sleuth 
- Brenda Hillman

 

A brenda is missing—where is she?

Summon the seeds & weeds, the desert whooshes. Phone the finch

with the crowded beak;   a little pretenda

                is learning to read

in the afternoon near the cactus caves. Near oleander & pulpy

caves with the click-click of the wren & the shkrrrr of the thrasher,

               a skinny pretenda is learning

to read till the missing brenda

               is found. Drip of syllables like olives near the saguaro.

Nancy Drew will find the secret in raincoats & wednesdays

              & sticks. Nancy whose spine is yellow

              or blue will find the brenda in 1962,


Nancy                   who has no mother,

              who takes suggestions from her father & ignores them.

 

Gleam goes the wren ignoring the thorn. They cannot tell the difference.

Click of the smart dog’s nails on linoleum.

                                 Nancy bends over the clues,

of brenda’s locket & dress. Word by word

               between syllables a clue. Where has the summer gone, the autumn—

are they missing too? Maybe Nancy

                will parse the secret & read the book report on Nancy Drew:

“neat pretty sly cute.” Syllable by syllable

                & still no brenda!   Nancy

puts her hand to her forehead; is the missing

girl in the iron bird? is the clue to the girl in the locket?

 

from: Practical Waters, Copyright 2009.

Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: well, he was also an early and ongoing part of my reading life.

I've read all the Holmes stories over and over, but for reasons that will become apparent at a later date, I will leave him out today.

To Be CONTINUED . . .

LOOKS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF AN INTERESTING SERIES

The Righteous Skeptic's Guide to Reading Poetry

"I introduce this five-part series, a sort of "state of the union" for poetry, in the hope that it will spur a broader discussion among poetry readers and non- readers alike. 

- Adam Roberts - poet, educator, and post-graduate fellow

at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.