Mysteries

With two significant road trips in the past two weeks, Geoff and I have either read, listened to, or watched more mysteries than I should like to admit (especially to those of you who read far more exalted material). However, it's cold, wet, dark, the miles were long ... the Episcopal Church is sadly in a mess, the parish restless, job opportunities for my leadership scholars dismal. No better time to visit with Miss Pym, Agatha Raisin, Hamish Macbeth, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Albert Campion, Wimsey and Harriet Vane. They all happily, but hazily, merge one into another. Outside of prayer, mysteries are a sweet salve.

But seriously, I am intrigued with these authors (all women) - all but Beaton part of the golden age of British, female crime writers. Josephine Tey is new to me (thanks to my sister, the English teacher). Now here is a woman who fascinates me  ... an intelligent recluse. I look forward to reading all she  has written - though her work is not extensive, having begun writing later in life and then, very unfortunately, dying quite young. Agatha Christie is an old friend - for me and most everyone else in the world. Dorothy Sayers - with apologies to those who hate to hear people gush, my absolute favorite. Margery Allingham writes the brilliant Campion series. MC Beaton may not be quite in the same class of authors, but her books have been fun, quick reads. Perhaps anything "Scotland plus mystery" is appealing to me. So, it becomes more and more clear that female writers between 1880 and 1955 are of growing interest to me ... I am so delighted to find more and more remarkable authors in this period. I only wish I had begun my collection of this genre years ago.

What else did we listen to back and forth to Lookout Mountain, Georgia (home to my parents and sister - photos forthcoming)? A fabulous collection of CS Lewis fiction brought us home through the West Virginia highlands to the steel towns of western PA - actually an enormously beautiful trip. Sorry to be away from the blog so long.

Comments

[Elaine]

Gush away!
May I recommend Ngaio Marsh? She is a New Zealander and wrote wonderful stylised 1930s detective stories with the most gorgeous detective Roderick Alleyn. He is def on a par with peter wimsey

[Kathy]

This sounds like a wonderful run of reading. I have read most of those at one time or another...I think I will need to go back and fill in the gaps! Josephine Tey is wonderful, isn't she? Not too many have heard of her books. Thanks to your commenters for some other suggestions too!

I love visiting your blog, by the way, for the lovely photos and the book and movie suggestions!

[patry]

Another Dorothy S. fan here. How lovely to think of traveling on the road and hearing her words wash over you.

[Sonia]

Thanks for your commenting on my blog!

Great list, Becca! I've read many mysteries books, but my preferred is the detective Sherlock Holmes!

[Passementerie]

I *adore* Dorothy Sayers and am fresh from a re-reading of the wonderful Gaudy Night. I positively *quiver* during the scene where she realises - and so does he - that she is love with him:

"He looked up, and she was instantly scarlet, as though she had been dipped in boiling water. Through the confusion of her darkened eyes and drumming ears, some enormous bulk seemed to stoop over her. Then the mist cleared. His eyes were riveted upon the manuscript again but he breathed as though he had been running.

*quiver*

[Bellezza]

There's nothing like a good mystery for great pleasure! I'm curious, what C.S. Lewis collection of fiction did you read/listen too? He's one of my all time favorites, and I'm so pleased that if Disney must make films of Narnia, at least they're doing it with some dignity. Prince Caspian is due May 16, and it's so wonderful to read to my third graders. By the way, welcome home!

[Rebecca]

Looking at your list, I realise I haven't read any Dorothy Sayers and I am pretty sure I would enjoy her books. I shall take steps to rectify this oversight!

I have read several of the Agatha Raisin novels, they are light indeed and not works of art but fun to read, I discovered them via Radio 4, they aired a couple of Agatha Raisin drama series and they made brilliant radio thanks to the rather wonderful cast.

[carolyn]

I know they are not exactly "literary" type reads but I adore mysteries. I can also wholeheartedly second Celia's recommedation of Susanna Gregory we all love the Matthew Bartholomew books. C J Sansom's Shardlake books are also brilliant, start with Dissolution.

[Pat]

I apologize for the misspellings in my earlier comments below. It's an example of my poor typing skills and thatvI did not use using spell check in my hasty answer.

[Pat]

Thanks so much for commenting on my blog, Beccxa! I've been reading, and enjoying, yours for a long time.
I like listening to books on tape also. They great for long car rides or long walks when I don't have company.
I've read most of Agatha Christie, but the other authors are all new to me, and I will have to check them out from the library.
Your pictures are always so beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing Lookout Mountain again as I visited that area about 21 years ago when my son was in a little league baseball tournamnet in Fayetteville, GA.

[cathy]

Is there any other way to travel? Chronicles of Narnia took us from Nashville to Atlanta once when my kids were young.
:-)

[Zoe]

Mysteries - you can't beat them.

[Danielle]

I love mysteries and should really read more from this period. I've read and enjoyed Josephine Tey, Agatha Christie and one Dorothy Sayers. I need to check out the other authors on this list--I've heard of them but not gotten around to reading them. There's something nice and satisying and very comfortable about a really good mystery!

[nikkipolani]

What a great way to spend time on your road trip! I, too, have my beloved collection of D.Sayers on tape/CD. My favorites, though they're abridged, are the ones read by Edward Petherbridge. Thanks for sharing your other listens - maybe I will check them out. And welcome back!

[Nan]

I'm with you on Dorothy S. I love her. I really, really need to read Allingham. I went through a phase of reading every Hamish Macbeth book. Not great lit, but I had fun.

Is your husband looking for a new parish? Is that why you were traveling?

So glad to 'see' you today.

[Simon Thomas]

There was a period when I read little but Agatha Christie - somehow my thirst for the detective novel has sunk. Haven't read one for ages, and am feeling something of a lack, BUT a Dorothy L Sayers is in the post to me as we speak... several e-friends were shocked and appalled to discover that I hadn't read Gaudy Night. So it's on its way...

[Linda]

I read all of the mysteries by Sayers years ago. Maybe it is time for a revisit.

[BabyTease]

I will probably use this for reference because there are a couple of authors in your post that I haven't read yet, but I LOVE THIS TYPE OF READING. I started with Miss Marple years ago, in chronological order. I am now reading through Poirot and Sue Grafton. I've watched Hamish MacBeth on BBC America and want to read Agatha Raisin next. I also cannot wait to see your new photos. I love to see your countryside any chance I get. Kim.

[Terri]

I've read all those authors and love them dearly!!!
You have good taste!

[Magic Cochin]

Dorothy L Sayers novels are lovely escapism. I grew up not far from Bluntisham - the setting for The Nine Tailors, so she was a local hero.
And 'The Daughter of Time' by Josephine Tey was my favourite novel when I was at school, I reread it so many times!
Now I'm gradually reading my way through Susanna Gregory's Matthew Bartholomew series http://www.matthewbartholomew.co.uk/camb.htm
They are set in medieval Cambridge, so when I go shopping I can imagine the scenes from the stories as many of the buildings still exist.

Celia

[Alice C]

You and my daughter could be the best of friends. She is passionate about Crime fiction and reads all of the authors that you have mentioned. Margery Allingham is her favourite at the moment. She has recently discovered the Father Brown series by G.K. Chesterton which is slightly outside your parameters but you might care to cast an eye over it!

[Cornflower]

Glad you're back!

[mary]

You were missed!

And I can't wait to see your photos. The romance of the name "Lookout Mountain Georgia"!

[tut-tut]

Lookout Mtn? well, I'm right close by, on another Mountain! What a small world.