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Mystery stories appeal to the armchair detective in almost everyone. Some types (and there are many, ranging from the procedural to the cozy and from the contemporary thriller to the historical whodunit) attract devoted followers as well as determined critics. Perhaps some of the titles mentioned here will interest you, dear fellow reader.
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Killing the Shadows, by Val McDermid. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2000. Hardcover. ISBN 0-312-26615-4. --serial killer mystery with academic psychologist Fiona Cameron and her partner thriller writer Kit Martin as the protagonists --Fiona is called in to profile a serial case in Toledo, Spain, and meanwhile, back in London, a killer begins targeting thriller writers --some grisly scenes --nicely plotted and featuring believable characters, with a cliff-hanger ending --recommended Whiskey Sour, by J.A. Konrath. Hyperion, New York, 2004. Hardcover. ISBN 1-4013-0087-1. --Detective Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels deals with serial killer, "The Gingerbread Man" --breezy style and interesting characters, even though you have your standard types: FBI drones and insomniac investigators and insane killers --the detective tries a dating service and her 'date' nearly gets killed --clever resolution --some gruesome details --recommended Ties That Bind, by Phillip Margolin. HarperCollins, New York, 2003. Hardcover. ISBN 0-06-008324-7. --criminal defense attorney Amanda Jaffe deals with an apparent slam-dunk homicide case --she must also confront memories and fears from a previous case which nearly got her killed --a lot of lawyers and judges in this mystery thriller, and not all of them are the 'good guys' --and some of the 'bad guys' are not all that bad --good characters and nice plotting --some gruesome details --recommended Little Black Dress, by Loren D. Estleman. Tom Doherty Assoc., New York, 2005. ISBN 0-765-30894-0 --hard-boiled crime novel featuring supposedly retired hitman Peter Macklin --newly married and hoping to make friends with his mother-in-law, Peter discovers that nothing is ever so simple, especially when the mother-in-law's new boyfriend also appears to be a player, that is, connected to organized crime --relatively high body count --nice characterizations --recommended Suffer the Little Children, by Donna Leon. Atlantic Montly Press, New York, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 0-87113-960-x. --Commissario Brunetti, Venetian policeman, family man, and food-and-wine devotee, deals with trespassing Carabineri, illegal adoptions, pharmacy scams, and office politics --fans of this series will appreciate the thoughtful Brunetti's take on social issues like infertility and adoption or legal ones like police brutality and decisions on prosecution --comments on politicians and on strictly Venetian issues add to the 'inner-circle' feel of this fine narrative --a sympathetic figure morphs into a villain as a result of a misunderstanding, although Brunetti's inquiries seem to be the precipitating factor --Brunetti and the redoubtable Signorina Elettra go off to Verona for an unofficial undercover operation --recommended The Lizard's Bite, by David Hewson. Delacorte Press, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-385-33955-0. --Roman investigative trio Falcone, Peroni, and Costa are asked to look into the suspicious death of a glassmaker and his wife --the setting is a private island in the lagoon surrounding Venice --Peroni's and hero Nic Costa's girlfriends, one a forensic doctor and the other a student architect and former FBI agent, also become enmeshed in a tricky investigation which also involves a well-connected and well-financed Englishman with a past history in scandal and murder --engrossing, with an interesting take on Venice --recommended Mortal Remains, by Peter Clement. Ballantine Books, New York, 2003. Hardcover. ISBN 0-345-45778-1. --medical doctors are the heroes and villains in this murder mystery which focuses on a cold case but also encounters fresh violence --small-town and big-city (New York) characters square off, with some much more devious than others --some murky doings, but a tidy resolution after a cliff-hanging set-up in the final act --not for those given to nightmares about hospital stays Witch Hunt, by Ian Rankin. Little, Brown and Co., New York, 1993. Hardcover. ISBN 0-316-00910-5. --assassination attempt thriller involving Special Branch and MI5 and MI6 operatives in Britain --a female assassin has been tracked for years by a recently retired spy master and he comes out of retirement to help in the case --a couple of police neophytes, one British and one French, also help in the hunt, along with a couple of jaded Special Branch detectives --discovering the target and figuring out who this assassin really is are the main goals --some love interest --investigation trails wander in Britain and abroad, especially in France, with a foray into Germany --engrossing and well-plotted --recommended Eleventh Hour, an FBI Thriller, by Catherine Coulter. G.P. Putnam's, New York, 2002. Hardcover. ISBN 0-399-14877-9. --a priest is killed and a homeless woman is a key witness as this mystery starts --involves FBI duo Savich and wife Sherlock, along with plenty of police detectives --plot revolves around TV scripts which appear to provide the plans for a series of murders --procedural with a major subplot related to why the witness is homeless --clever, but defaults to the intrepid-heroine-in-danger scenario near the end The Honey Trap, by Clive Egleton. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2000. Hardcover. ISBN 0-312-26924-2. --spy novel with focus on British secret intelligent agents --convoluted intrigue involving Irish and Turkish terrorists, with an overdose of executive-level infighting and politicking --hero Peter Ashton does save the day after overcoming various obstacles (he's treated as a Cassandra) but not without plenty of fireworks --overload on number of characters, plus some loose ends, but, overall, not a bad yarn --settings in Lond, English countryside, Paris, and Denver Dust, by Martha Grimes. Viking, New York, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 978-0-670-03786-5. --ace police detective Richard Jury investigates a puzzling murder featuring a manic-depressive art patron and Henry James aficionado --in colleague Lu Aguilar the detective meets his match as both work the case and each other --Melrose Plant, aka Lordy Ardry, provides his usual unique and valuable assistance --fans of the Jury series will enjoy this outing but, in general, this one is not up to Grimes' usually superb plotting and character studies --a couple of great dogs, Sparky and Mungo, make special appearances Pearls, Girls and Monty Bodkin, by P.G. Wodehouse. Penguin Books, New York, 1972. Paperback. ISBN 0-14-003835-3. --funny story involving a rich playboy who tries to satisfy the demands of his fiancee's father about working for a year before marriage --the farce also involves jewel thieves, con artists, demanding step-daughters and wives, coincidences galore --a wonderful diversion High Profile, by Robert B. Parker. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 978-0-399-15404-1. --police chief Jesse Stone investigates the murders of a popular TV-radio personality and his pregnant girlfriend --laconic dialogue style dominates this thinly plotted episode in a series on the Paradise, Massachusetts police force --promiscuity and inheritance issues are additional themes animating the plot --an easy read The Glass Devil, by Helene Tursten. Translated by Katarina E. Tucker. Soho Press, New York, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 978-1-56947-452-5. --detective Irene Huss deals with three murders in the same family and travels twice to London to meet with the lone surviving family member --police procedural --red herrings and side stories --colorful characters and excellent plotting --recommended Hedging, a Smith and Wetzon Mystery, by Annette Meyers. Five Star, Watervile ME, 2005. Hardcover. ISBN 1-41-4-0199-5. --New York setting for a temporary amnesia victim pursued by murderers and the FBI --convincing unravelling of a convoluted case involving lover relationships, friendships, financial dealings, lawyers, cops, diamonds, dogs, blind ex-cops, and, let's not forget, mimes --not entirely without loose ends, but loaded with neat characters and New York city lore --recommended Ask the Parrot, by Richard Stark. Mysterious Press, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-892-068-x. --crime novel featuring master thief Parker --Parker, on the run from a failed heist, meets up with a loner who happens to have a heist of his own in mind --totally cool Parker negotiates his way through various problems, including other characters with less than the best intentions, and manages to end up with a sackful of cash --and there is a parrot in the story The Vanished Hands, by Robert Wilson. Harcourt, New York, 2004. Hardcover. ISBN 0-15-100841-8. --suicide and murder mystery set in Seville --hero is Inspector Havier Falcon in this police procedural --a possible murder-suicide sets off the story and also sets off other violent acts --a jailed pedophile may be innocent --former and current lovers, people with dark secrets in their pasts, the Russian mafia, and police-office politics converge here as Falcon moves about his beloved city --has literary feel; familiarity with the previous novel in this series may be helpful --recommended Rounding the Mark, by Andrea Camilleri. Translated by Stephen Sartarelli. Penguin Books, New York, 2006. Paperback. ISBN 0-14-303748-x. --Inspector Montalbano rescues a dead body from the sea at the start of an investigation that also features the death of a young illegal immigrant --the irascible detective is distracted from resigning, fed up with police villainy, by progress on the case --involves an illegal mansion on illegal land in an illegal city and, all the while, all too typically Italian --recommended I Don't Want To Go To Jail, by Jimmy Breslin. Little, Brown & Co., New York, 2002. Paperback. ISBN 0-316-12032-4. --novel about growing up in an Italian mafia family --lots of stories about colorful mob characters, some very funny --but all the bad guys end up in jail, unlike their counterparts on TV and in the movies --the nephew of a mob boss has difficulty finding a straight job because of his name and assumed family connections --fun to read --recommended The Devil's Banker, by Christopher Reich. Delacorte Press, New York, 2003. Hardcover. ISBN 0-385-33727-2. --spy thriller complete with Arab terrorists, financial entanglements, conflicts among international investigation teams, and a bomb threat on the White House --the hero is an accountant, not an 007 type exactly --the bad guy has many guises and even tries to kill his own son --the hero's love interest is a British double agent --fast-paced, well-plotted, and with convincing characters Under Orders, by Dick Francis. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-399-15400-0. --former jockey Sid Halley, now an investigator, doesn't believe the police version of the deaths of a jockey and a horse trainer --his girlfriend is threatened and nearly killed by the people who don't want Sid to discover the truth --Sid's former wife also puts in a sympathetic appearance --includes some horse training and horse racing lore --Sid endures the additional burden of an artificial hand --good mystery Malpractice in Maggody, by Joan Hess. Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2006. Paperback. ISBN 0-7434-4390-x. --local police chief Arly Hanks is called in to investigate a murder at a new rehabilitation clinic which replaces the former old folks home --colorful characters abound, from the clinic's clients (a senator, a former child actor, a football millionaire, a diet book author) to their caregivers (a plastic surgeon with malpractice in his past, a dietician who may not be who she claims to be, a psychiatrist with money woes, a personal trainer who can't keep out of jail), plus the local denizens, Ruby Bee (owner of the local diner and motel as well as being Arly's mother), her sidekick Estelle (the hairdresser), Mrs. Jim Bob (the mayor's wife and local social organizer), Mr. Jim Bob (the mayor, grocery store owner, and inveterate poker player), and all the rest, including Raz and his pedigree pig Marjorie, Brother Verber (of the Voice of the Almighty Lord Assembly Hall), Keven and Dahlia, etc., etc. --funny and a good mystery --a must for fans of this series Involuntary Witness, by Gianrico Carofiglio. Translated from the Italian by Patrick Creagh. Bitter Lemon Press, London, 2005. Paperback. ISBN 1-904738-07-9. --defense attorney Guido Guerrieri handles the case of an illegal immigrant charged with murdering a child --courtroom drama --main drawback: the real killer or any explanation for the death of the child is never pinpointed --atmospheric and character-driven --recommended Dead Wrong, by J.A. Jance. William Morrow, HarperCollins, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-06-054090-7. --Sheriff Joanna Brady, very pregnant, deals with a murder victim who may have been wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and unborn child twenty years previously --police procedural set in southern Arizona --involves family relationships, office politics, dogs and dogfighting, police force camaraderie --nicely paced and plotted, with Joanna's baby making an appearance at the end --recommended Staying Power, by Judith Cutler. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2004. ISBN 0-312-31194-X. --Detective Sergeant Kate Power deals with suicide, fraud, attempted murder all the while juggling working relationships with two different police squads --British police procedural --she uncovers burglars, fake illegal drug scams, and something called a "long firm fraud" --office politics, race relations, aged relatives, and the social scene are also fed into the mix --great heroine --recommended The Second Mouse, a Joe Gunther Mystery, by Archer Mayor. Mysterious Press, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-89296-072-8. --police procedural following up on a suspicious unattended death and assorted characters, based in Bennington VT, who may not be involved in that death but who are certainly no angels --fans of detective Joe Gunther and his sidekicks will like this nicely plotted and paced outing --those of us who actually live in Vermont appreciate the author's comments on countryside, cityscapes, and typical denizens --recommended Thumbprint, by Friedrich Glauser. Translated from the German by Mike Mitchell. Bitter lemon Press, London, 2004. From the book first published in 1936. Paperback. ISBN 1-904738-00-1. --police procedural set in a small town in Switzerland in the 1930's --involves possible suicide or murder, an insurance scam, and abuse of authority --assorted characters include ex-convicts, lovers, elderly women, fat men, and radio listeners --atmospheric investigation by a detective who is meanwhile suffering from pneumonia --justice is served but only Struder knows the whole story --recommended Briarpatch, by Ross Thomas. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2003. From the novel first published in 1984. Introduction by Lawrence Block. Paperback. ISBN 0-312-29031-4. --political consultant Ben Dill deals with the murder of his kid sister, a homicide detective --hard-boiled crime fiction with the added bonus of retired spies and active politicians spreading additional confusion and mayhem --Ben does okay with his choice of lawyer and lover, Anna Maude Singe, also lawyer and friend to the late sister --nice dialogue and keen characterizations --recommended A Season for the Dead, by David Hewson. Delacorte Press, New York, 2004. Hardcover. ISBN 0-385-33722-1. --serial killer case involving Vatican officials, politicians, lowlifes, and policemen --details about Rome and about Carvaggio's paintings --grisly murders and some seamy scenes, along with nostalgic moments and deft descriptions --with a twist at the heart of the case which seems to explain everyone's actions --the young cop Nic Costa survives but doesn't seem too happy about it Fear the Night, by John Lutz. Pinnacle Books, Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, 2005. Paperback. ISBN 0-7860-1634-5. --serial killer thriller involving a sharpshooting sniper --procedural featuring temporarily re-called, reinstated retired cop Vincent Repetto --story line intersperses present time crimes and background on the killer --set in New York --fast-paced and easy-read with multiple subplots converging on the final showdown Killing Frost, a Garth Ryland Mystery, by John R. Riggs. Barricade Books, New York, 1995. Hardcover. ISBN 1-56980-053-7. --set in Wisconsin in late winter/early spring --procedural featuring an investigation by the local newspaper owner (and sometime special deputy), the sheriff (who is concerned about not being up to the job), and the deputy coroner (also the love interest for Garth Ryland, the newspaperman-hero) --the mystery involves a headless corpse, a rash of robberies, and ownership of prime farmland with great development potential Dig, a Morgue Mama Mystery, by C.R. Corwin. Poisoned Pen Press, Scottsdale, AZ, 2005. Hardcover. ISBN 1-59058-203-9. --the local newspaper librarian, known as "Morgue Mama," investigates the murder of a college chum --Jack Kerouac and various antics of the "beat generation" (as lived in small towns) are recalled --an amateur-sleuth type mystery showcasing a quirky character who utilizes newspaperman savvy and old-lady busybody skills to solve the current crime as well as a much older cold-case murder East of the Arch by Robert J. Randisi. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2002. Hardcover. ISBN 0-312-28398-9. --police procedural and serial killer case set in East St. Louis --involves some gruesome murders, quite a bit of political maneuvering, and several red herrings --another, more straight-forward, murder also is investigated by seasoned detective Joe Keough, who eventually figures out who the killer is --big-city politics is indicted and killers are finally brought down --most secondary characters are rather lightly drawn or are somewhat stereotyped --not the most satisfactory of endings Rumpole and the Reign of Terror, by John Mortimer. Viking, New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-670-03804-0. --criminal defense attorney Horace Rumpole takes on a terrorism case as well as regular theft cases involving the Timson clan --meanwhile Hilda, She Who Must Be Obeyed, is writing her memoirs and making friends with judges --a delightful and thoughtful outing with the lovable and self-described Old Bailey hack and his redoubtable and long-suffering wife --and, of course, there is a twist involved in solving the central case --recommended Hollywood Station, by Joseph Wambaugh. Little, Brown & Co., New York, 2006. Hardcover. ISBN 0-316-06614-1. --episodic revue featuring police patrol officers in the Hollywod Division --petty crime, drug crime, and organized or mafia-type crime featuring colorful bad guys --depicts day-to-day encounters and situations experienced by officers who enjoy their work --gritty and fun --recommended The Man Who Smiled, by Henning Mankell. Translated from the Swedish by Laurie Thompson. The New Press, New York, 2005. Hardcover. ISBN 1-56584-993-0. --from the series featuring Inspector Kurt Wallander of the Ystad police force --the death of two lawyers sets off a complicated investigation centering on a mysterious, wealthy entrepreneur who owns a nearby castle --financial finagling and illegal organ trading are touched on --the female detective does well and becomes Wallander's sidekick --police procedural --recommended Enough Rope: Collected Stories, by Lawrence Block. William Morrow, HarperCollins, New York, 2002. Hardcover. ISBN 0-06-018890-1. --short fiction by the master mystery, thriller, and detective novel writer --miscellaneous stories with twist ending and selections devoted to favorite characters, including Keller, Scudder, and Rhodenbarr --the Martin Ehrengraf set may be especially intriguing for readers who appreciate devilish protagonists --recommended A Rich Full Death, by Michael Dibdin. Vintage Books, Random House, New York, 1986. Paperback. ISBN 0-375-70614-3. --serial killer case set in the mid-nineteenth century in Florence, Italy --cast of characters includes the poet Robert Browning --familiarity with Florence and with Dante may be helpful --done in a letter (epistolary) format, and in the wordy, elaborate style typical of the era --very clever --recommended Deep Pockets, by Linda Barnes. St. Martin's Minotaur, New York, 2004. Hardcover. ISBN 0-312-28271-0. --P.I. Carlotta Carlyle investigates a blackmail scheme that soon involves murder --mystery set in Boston and flavored with the Harvard ethos --involves university politics, racial and social relations, impersonation, pharmaceutical research, with interesting side characters --procedural in style End in Tears, by Ruth Rendell. Crown Publishers, New York, 2005. Hardcover. ISBN 0-307-33976-9. --Chief Inspector Wexford investigates murders in Kingsmarkham --police procedural --involves surrogacy, fraud, family relationships, social issues --investigation is initiated because of the deaths of two young women, apparently friends but with nothing obvious in common except for being unwed mothers --thriller-style denouement --recommended The Russian Passenger, by Gunter Ohnemus; translated from the German by John Brownjohn. Bitter Lemon Press, London, 2004. Paperback. ISBN 1-904738-02-8. --a thriller that starts in Munich and ends in San Francisco --involves a couple seeking to escape from Russian mafia hitmen --includes ideas and comments on Russian-German relations and on German-Jewish relations --gripping plot that seems to lose its way at the end --mostly about a man "who was born to love women" Four Plays, by P.G. Wodehouse. With an introduction and chronology by David A. Jasen. Methuen, London, 1983. Paperback. ISBN 0-413-53030-2. --four plays from the late 1920's and early 1930's from the creator of the character Jeeves --the four are "The Play's the Thing" (an adaptation of an original comedy by Ferenc Molnar), "Good Morning, Bill" (an adaptation of an original comedy by Ladislaus Fodor), "Leave it to Psmith" (written with Ian Hay), and "Come On, Jeeves" (written with Guy Bolton) --period drawing-room farces with witty dialogue and happy endings --the last play features Jeeves, temporarily on loan from his usual master Bertie Wooster, Jeeves in his role as impeccable butler and renowned consultant on life's little snares and delusions |
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More coming soon …
Philosophical comments
Okay, so "philosophical" may be a bit "over the top". But here's the thing--reading fiction works. It's relaxing, meditative, anti-depressive, thought-provoking and idea-generating, attitude-adjusting, persepective-resetting, and, last but far from least, fun!
So, you've got big problems. Gather a pile of so-called "good reads" and start on Chapter One. Pretty soon, or maybe in a matter of days or weeks, you'll find you can cope with at least some of the problems. Because (maybe) your brain is working on other people's fictional troubles and even enjoying them or judging them, comparing daydreams and real life. And that's a start.
Best-seller lists and book recommendations set out in library displays are places to start if you find big-box bookstores too intimidating. But those stores and smaller booksellers too are always ready with suggestions.
The great things about mysteries are the clues, the character insights, the subcultures, the reasoning necessary to figure out puzzling cases. But other genres have interesting rewards for their readers too.
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