December 2022 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Keep It Quiet by Richard Hull (1935)  4/5 stars
In this Golden Age crime story, a club member is found dead in the library, possibly accidently poisoned by the cook.  The club secretary is appalled by what such an occurrence will do to the club's reputation, so persuades the dead man's physician (also a member) to make heart failure the cause on the death certificate.  This simple cover-up creates a dangerous situation almost worse than a scandal.

Hull writes well, and this book is laugh-out-loud funny at times. However, as was the case with his debut novel (The Murder of My Aunt; my review here), he can't maintain an equal level of cleverness and sparkle, and there are parts that drag a bit.  Despite that, it's blackly humorous plot makes for a fun read.

A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Stories, edited by Martin Edwards  (2020)  5/5 stars
This is a collection of short stories by a dozen crime writers of the Golden Age.  They are all well-written, though some are more compelling than others.  The variety of personalities and styles that are represented is worth five stars, even if not all the stories are of that quality by themselves.

Audio Books Completed:

Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie (1934)  4/5 stars

This is an entertaining set of short stories about Mr. Parker Pyne, who advertises his services as a consultant for creating happiness.  He helps with love, loneliness boredom, and more -- and he even thwarts and solves crimes.  The first stories take place in London, the Mr. Pyne goes on vacation and he finds himself working while on holiday.  While most are not mysteries as such, they showcase Christie's talent for writing realistic people, motives, and emotions.  Despite the outdated relationship advice, I enjoyed them immensely.

An English Murder by Cyril Hare (1951)  4/5 stars

This is a country house Christmas mystery, where the suspects are snowed in with phone lines down and bodies piling up.  It's also great fun, well written, and intelligent.  I will note that the extremely British solution may be puzzling to those not familiar with a particular bit of how the country works (I can't explain more without spoiling it), but I still think it will be enjoyable for those fans of Golden Age mysteries. 

The Life of Crime: Unravelling the mysteries of fiction’s favourite genre by Martin Edwards (2022)  4/5 stars

In this nonfiction study of crime novels and their authors, Edwards explores and explains major subgenres, gives brief biographies of some of the writers (well-known as well as lesser-known), and includes some from non-English speaking countries.  It is quite interesting, but lacks the sparkle and enthusiasm of Edwards' work that focuses only on Golden Age British and American authors (The Golden Age of Murder; my review here).  Regardless of that, I would recommend it wholeheartedly to fans of crime and mystery novels.

Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie (2020)  4/5 stars

This is a collection of previously published short stories with one novella occurring during winter.  Miss Marple, Poirot, Tommy and Tuppence, Mr. Quinn, and Parker Pyne are all included, giving a well-rounded example of Christie's talent and varying styles, and displays her excellent insight into character.  With the possible exception of "Christmas Adventure", there will be nothing new for long-time Christie fans, but it's still an enjoyable seasonal read.

Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee
co-authors of the Ellery Queen novels

The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen (1929)  3/5 stars

This is the first of the Ellery Queen series, and despite a highly complicated and unbelievable crime, is still a fun, engaging, and generally well-written book.

The French Powder Mystery by Ellery Queen (1930)  4/5 stars

The plot gets a bit convoluted, but it is still an engrossing story with a satisfying solution.

Harm's Way by Catherine Aird (1984)  4/5 stars

This is an enjoyable mystery written with Aird's usual intelligence and sly humor.  The plot is nicely devised, with a unique way to dispose of a body, and the solution is satisfying. 

Top Five Wednesday: 12/28/22

This week's Top Five Wednesday topic is "Favorite Books of the Year".  Though I reread some old favorites, I'm only listing books that were new to me in 2022.  

1.  I have to include an entire series as my number-one-top-favorite for 2022:  the Palliser novels by Anthony Trollope.  To me, all six volumes (written between 1865 and 1880) were five star reads.  Each book was huge (from more than 500 to over 800 pages), and I lived immersed in this world for three months.  I was so sad when I finished the last one and had to say good bye to those characters.  For any one who enjoys Victorian literature, I cannot recommend this engrossing, entertaining, and well-written series highly enough.

Anthony Trollope

2. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (1917)  5/5 stars  (my review here)
This is a book for booklovers, and I absolutely loved it, from beginning to end.  Don't be put off by it's brevity, which belies it's strength -- this charming gem is well worth reading!

 

3. The Great Impersonation by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1920)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Though I couldn't rate it as such, I got five-stars-worth of enjoyment out of this adventure-espionage-drama.  It's well-plotted, engrossing, and twisty, with some excellent surprises.  It's definitely one of Oppenheim's best.

 

4. The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards (2015)  5/5 stars  (my review here)

This is a nonfiction love-letter to Golden Age mysteries and their authors.  I absolutely loved it, and recommend it as a must-read for fellow enthusiasts. 

Martin Edwards

5.  Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim (1898) 4/5 stars (my review here)

This one is another short but charming novel for my list.  It's humorous, engaging, and such fun. Though it's not a five star book, it gave me as much enjoyment as if it were.

Elizabeth von Arnim

Top Five Wednesday: 12/21/22

This week's Top Five Wednesday topic is "Books to Have When Snowed In".  

1. If I could only have five books when snowed in, I'd want at least one big book, so I'd definitely want this huge collection. I have the Big Book of Female Detectives, and it's great fun, so I'm certain that the Big Book of Christmas Mysteries would be perfect for a snowstorm!

2. Being snowed in would be a perfect time to reread Jane Austen.  (Of course, when isn't the perfect time to reread Jane Austen?)  I'd pick Emma for this occasion, as an important scene features a Christmas party with a snowstorm.

3.  Another book that screams winter is Dracula (it actually screams a lot of things, but icy cold weather is one of them).  Being snowed in is a great time for a thriller, and this five star read (my review here) would fit the bill.

4. Thinking of snow and five star reads brings the Nine Tailors to mind.  For me, this is Sayers' best.  It's rich, layered, intelligent, engrossing, well-written and memorable.

5. Being snowed in calls for something warm and cheerful as well, and I suggest the Little House on the Prairie series.  Every time I read Wilder's stories, I'm amazed with what good humor the Ingalls family faced such grave challenges (many of them winter-weather related) and with how they found joy in the little things.  It would be hard to pick one, as they would all fit the bill, but if you've not read them, they should be read in order, so I suggest getting snowed in with Little House in the Big Woods.

November 2022 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

The Face on the Cutting Room Floor by (Ernest Borneman writing as) Cameron McCabe  (1937)  2/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Portrait of Jennie by Robert Nathan (1940)  3/5 stars
This is a modern fantasy of sorts, in which a painter meets a child who slips through time to visit him, aging quickly across the months of their friendship, trying, as she says, to catch up with him.  The plot premise of this popular book is intriguing and appealing, but the delivery was underwhelming. The prose is often dull, the story barebones, and the characters not well-fleshed.  It's only 125 pages, and it might have packed more punch had it been pared to the length of a short story instead.  

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden (2019)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Catherine Aird

The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards (2015)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Slight Mourning by Catherine Aird  (1975) 3/5 stars
Though somewhat predictable, Aird's sly sense of humor and solid writing make this an enjoyable mystery. 

The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton (1911)  4/5 stars

This is the first set of short stories to feature Father Brown, and I found them generally enjoyable.  Father Brown's personality is developed very little, unfortunately, but Chesterton creates clever and sometimes baffling problems, and writes well overall.  His Christian faith comes out clearly in his moral judgements, which is only fitting for the Catholic priest and his outlook.

Some Die Eloquent by Catherine Aird   (1979)  4/5 stars

Interesting plot with a satisfying solution, combined Aird's particular humor and strong writing, made this an enjoyable read.

Did Not Finish:

The Gentleman and the Thief  by Sarah M. Eden (my discussion here)

The Face on the Cutting Room Floor

The Face on the Cutting Room Floor 
by (Ernest Borneman writing as) Cameron McCabe 
1937 
2/5 stars

Going into this novel, it's best to know as little as possible about the plot, so as to preserve the surprises. The premise is that the book's author, Cameron McCabe, is narrating his experiences in the investigation of the murdered of an actress.  After McCabe's manuscript ends, an epilogue follows, written by another character in the drama.

This book starts off at a frantic pace, pushed on by a stream-of-consciousness-narrative that doesn't always make sense and rarely stops for breath during McCabe's portion. Borneman does an admirable job of giving the epilogue author a distinctive voice, and that portion feels entirely different, though it felt entirely too long.  There are many twists and turn in this bizarre and original mystery, but it was impossible for me to enjoy the story due to McCabe's prose.* The brief wrap up of the plot was too abrupt and, anyway, by then I was just so relieved to be nearly finished that the ending fizzled instead of shocked.  

*Note: I say this as a fan of earlier stream-of-consciousness authors such as Woolf.  It's not the style Borneman chose that is the problem -- it's his execution of it.

The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards

The Golden Age of Murder 

Martin Edwards

2015

5/5 stars

This multiple award winning book studies the early history of the Detection Club, a social organization for mystery and crime authors, from it's inception in 1930 through the start of World War II.  Martin discusses the life and interests of these Golden Age writers, such as their fascination with real life crime, their relationships with each other, and the various secrets in their own lives.  He focuses more in depth on Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Anthony Berkeley than the most, but still includes a good deal of anecdotes and  information on many other members.

The Golden Age of Murder is an ode to the mystery novels and authors of  the Golden Age (the years between the two World Wars), and it's obvious that Edwards loves these devotedly.  Using the resources available to him as current President of the Club, he gives reams of stories about these authors that are enlightening as well as entertaining.  He discusses the real life murders that so interested this group, as well, and shows how those crimes influenced some of the Golden Age novels.

Edwards debunks popular myths about the genre and it's creators, as well as showing how current events shaped many of the plots, and further, how these books impacted future crime writers.

He discusses many of the most famous Golden Age stories, as well as mentioning lesser known authors and their works.  He is careful not to spoil the solutions of any of the novels, while giving tantalizing glimpses of the plots.  I now have a list of new-to-me authors and books to explore.

Edwards also uses his own deductive powers to answer questions about the secrets of Christie, Sayers, and Berkeley.  These are, of course, his own opinion and are meant to be taken as such, but he gives sound reasoning for his solutions.

I've seen complaints saying that if the reader does not have a basic understanding of this very specific period of fiction or a fascination with it, this book will be unreadable -- but why would such a one pick it up in the first place?  The Golden Age of Murder is, I believe, intended to be a gift from Edwards to his fellow fanatics and I found it to be just that.

Two of the Dread Penny Society Series by Sarah M. Eden

This is a series by Sarah M. Eden, each featuring a different member of the Dread Penny Society: a secret men's club made up of penny dreadful authors with a strong social conscience, who rescue children and women from the streets.  Eden alternates between the point of view of the two protagonists, and includes her own short stories as penny dreadfuls written by series characters.

The Lady and the Highwayman 
2019 
3/5 stars

Headmistress Elizabeth Black is the clandestine author of penny dreadful serials written as Mr, King. Top-selling author and Dread Penny Society member, Fletcher Walker, has his income threatened by Mr. King's success, so he sets out to uncover King's identity.  When Fletcher and Elizabeth meet by chance, they find an unlikely mutual spark that becomes something stronger the more they are together -- but Elizabeth must protect her hidden identity even from him, for the sake of her school.

First off, this is not my typical genre, as I don't generally enjoy romance novels. In addition, I'm coming to it with a background of extensive reading of Victorian sensational novels, and of having an above-the-average knowledge of Victorian England.  Due to that, I seem to be a harsher critic than most of the reviewers on Goodreads and Audible.

The Lady and the Highwayman is a sweet and clean light romance with a bit of adventure, and faux penny dreadful novels thrown in the mix.  The historical atmosphere was not convincing, and the combination of two greatly overused tropes (Victorian-lady-with-modern-views and Victorian-people-with-a-21st-century-amount-of-social-conscience) was trying. Eden's penny dreadful stories lacked a lot of the typical characteristics, so didn't feel authentic.  I waded through situations highly improbable in Victorian society, complicatedly contrived occasions for meeting, decisions that made no sense, and plot lines that eventually led nowhere (all with an audio book narrator I don't care for), because the DPS appealed to me on many levels, and I was curious where the story would go.  I wasn't fully satisfied by the ending, nor did I feel, given the social circumstances, that the romance would be possible for Elizabeth, yet. . . I did -- inexplicably -- rather enjoy this book.  Enough that I will give the second volume of the series a chance. 

The Gentleman and the Thief 
2020
Did Not Finish

I had the exact same problems as I did with The Lady and the Highwayman but, unfortunately, this one was so bland that I couldn't finish it.  As I said above, it's not to my regular taste anyway, so it's shouldn't be much of a surprise that it didn't grab me. 

October 2022 Wrap-Up

Still no physical books this month.

On a side note -- I somehow managed to read only female mystery authors writing about female sleuths! 

Audio Books Completed:

Silhouette in Scarlet by Elizabeth Peters (1983)  3/5 stars

In this adventure, art historian Vicky Bliss visits Sweden, following clues to a potential cache of hidden ancient treasure.  While not as good as the first two of the series, it's still a fun, if improbable, story, fast moving and generally well written, with a few twists and a good ending.

Trojan Gold by Elizabeth Peters (1987)  4/5 stars

In this mystery-adventure, American art historian Vicky Bliss follows an anonymously sent clue to Bavaria to search for a missing treasure.  This novel is full of good dialogue, humorous situations, and likable characters.  The fast-moving, sometimes suspenseful plot is, while implausible, certainly entertaining and engrossing, and a great deal of fun. 

Elizabeth Peters

Night Train to Memphis by Elizabeth Peters (1994)  4/5 stars

In this adventure, American art historian Vicky Bliss is persuaded to take an Egyptian cruise in order to uncover a known thief.  This is the longest and most complex of Vicky's adventures, and is more suspenseful than the generally lighthearted previous ones.  The engrossing plot is quite good, with lots of twists, and the characters are as likable as always.  It does lack the humor prevalent earlier in the series, and I couldn't call it "fun" as I have those others, but it was still an engaging, absorbing novel.

The Jackal's Head by Elizabeth Peters (1968)  3/5 stars

American tourist Althea returns to Egypt after ten years, reawakening memories that could unlock clues to valuable secrets.  This was a fun adventure, for the most part, but the casual violence by one of the main characters toward Althea was appalling, as was the attitude toward rape.  Otherwise, it was entertaining, though light and thin.

The Experiences of Loveday Brooke by C.L. Pirkis (1894)  3/5 stars (my review here)

The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange by Anna Katharine Green (1915) 3/5 stars (my review here)

The Dead Sea Cipher by Elizabeth Peters  (1970)  3/5 stars

While in a Lebanese hotel, American tourist Dinah overhears a cry for help from the next room.  Her response unwittingly involves her in a murder investigation.  When she leaves Beirut for a tour of Israel, she becomes further enmeshed, this time with spies, archeological treasures, and romance.  This is a typical Peters' adventure, with an intelligent heroine, historical interests, and improbable but fun action.  Peters was talented at making interesting plots and likable characters and, while this novel is not as good as others by her, I was entertained throughout.  

Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters (1972)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters (1974)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1908)  5/5 stars

New York society spinster Rachel Innes rents a summer home for herself and her adult niece and nephew.  While there, they experience mystery, deception, murder, and more.  This is a well-written, wonderfully convoluted, completely engrossing, and thoroughly entertaining story. It has some laugh out loud moments, likable characters, and many twists.  While not perfect, it's close enough to earn five stars from me.

Did Not Finish:

The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters

This is the sixth and final Vicky Bliss novel, and it was a terrible disappointment. It was written fourteen years after the fifth of the series (Night Train to Memphis) and in that time Peters seems to have lost her talent for sparkling prose, likable characters, and interesting plots. 

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

This was my second time trying this extremely popular series, but I heartily dislike Agatha.  I'll not try again.

Death in a Family Way by Gwendolyn Southin

I tried, I really did -- I made it an hour into the audio book but, whew, this one was a real cliché-filled stinkeroo!  

Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak

Just put it down as "not my sense of humor".  

Die for Love by Elizabeth Peters

This is the third in the Jacqueline Kirby series, written in 1984, and takes place at a NYC romance-writer's conference.  Peters' style doesn't work as well when she tries to draw upon the culture and character of the 80s, so it didn't have the personality of the previous books.  As there were no exotic locations or interesting history discussed (as is typical with Peters and a great draw for me), I didn't force myself to finish a book that didn't grab me at the beginning.

Naked Once More by Elizabeth Peters

This is the fourth and final book of the Jacqueline Kirby series, taking place in a small Southern US town with Jacqueline as a romance novelist hired to finish a popular series. My complaint is exactly the same as above. 

Two Featuring Jacqueline Kirby

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters (1972)  4/5 stars
This is the first book featuring Jacqueline Kirby, a forty-something American librarian. She is visiting Rome, and while there she makes friends with a clique of seven international students.  The book focuses on Jean, one of the group, who discovers a fellow scholar -- disliked by all -- dying from a slit throat, and finds her life in danger as a result.    

While Jaqueline isn't as fully likable as other Peters' heroines, she's an interesting  and well-written character.  The Seventh Sinner is typical of Peters' entertaining style, with an intelligent, twisty, and attention-holding plot.

The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters (1974)  4/5 stars

In the second of the Jacqueline Kirby series, she and her friend Thomas attend a house party with Richard III apologists.  The story follows Thomas' point of view as various tricks are played, resembling the supposed murders committed by Richard III.  Jacqueline becomes convinced that more serious plans are in the works, but as she doesn't share all of her deductions with Thomas, he and the reader are left to discover the culprit without her aid.

This novel may not appeal to those who are not historians (professional or armchair), as there is much rehashing of the theories surround that King.  I doubt that such dedicated Ricardians would continue to go over the same ground again and again at a meeting, but despite that, I still found the plot, mystery, and characters well-written, attention-holding, and entertaining.

Two Early Female Detectives

Loveday Brooke, illustrated by Bernard Higden

The Experiences of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective

C. L. (Catherine Louisa) Pirkis

1894

3/5 stars

This is a set of short stories, originally a magazine serial, featuring Miss Loveday Brooke, who works for a detective agency in London.  Her services are much in demand, as her employer recognizes in Loveday's intelligence and gentility the traits of a valuable agent, and she is quick to repay his regard with success after success.

Pirkis (1841-1910) is a contemporary of Arthur Conan Doyle, publishing her stories and novels during some of the same decades, and her plot formula is quite similar.  Loveday, like Holmes, assesses and solves the situation quickly, reaching the right conclusion based on information rarely given to the reader.  She then points out the malefactor, is shown to be right, and, finally, explains to an admiring audience how she solved the case.  

The seven stories in this collection are generally interesting, some quite so, but they would have been  much better if the clues had been provided for the reader.  There is another reason, however, that Loveday -- unlike Holmes -- has been mostly forgotten: Loveday has no life, no personality, and the stories are equally emotionally flat.

The Loveday tales are important in their own way, though, as they are among the earliest written by a woman about a female detective.  Given that, they would be worth reading to those interested in the history of crime fiction.  Otherwise, I don't particularly recommend Loveday's experiences, even to fans of Victorian melodrama and mystery.

Illustration from "the Grotto Specter"

The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange

Anna Katharine Green

1915

3/5 stars

(note: audiobook produced by Tantor Audio as Mystery Stories of Violet Strange)

Violet Strange is a popular, pretty, sparkling society belle of America's Gilded Age.  Secretly, however, she is an agent for a private investigator, willing to use her intelligence and powers of observation to do work she finds unpleasant for a salary that she doesn't appear to need.  Her secret is revealed slowly in a larger story arc that surrounds the nine stories of her cases.

Green (1846-1935), justly popular at the time and one of my favorite American authors, was among the first authors of the modern "detective story". Violet is often credited as the first "girl detective".  

Tantor Audio does a disservice to the stories by referring to them as "mystery stories"; they are in fact, her adventures or experiences or, in some cases, just stories that Violet appears in as a more minor character.  Expecting them to be mysteries will cause unfulfilled expectations in the reader, making the book less enjoyable.

As mentioned above, these stories are not really detective stories; they are, as Green's original title states, "problems".  In some, Violet sets up a trap so that whoever the malefactor is, they will give themselves away.  In others, her intelligence and powers of observation serve her to find a missing object or see an obscure element of the case.  In one instance, she doesn't come to the right conclusion at all.  They are still good tales, though, as Green was good at interesting plots and surprising solutions.  The main flaw in this collection is that Violet is shoehorned into them all even though it's a stretch to do so, and there are times when she doesn't fit in at all.  If Green had written them without Violet and with no connection to each other, this would have been a four star -- if not five -- collection of intriguing puzzles.  

I still recommend them, for those who enjoy mysteries from this time period, as long as the reader takes the above into consideration.

September 2022 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
No physical books were read this month, as I only played and cross stitched in my spare time.

Audio Books Completed:

The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope (1880)  5/5 stars

This is the final book of Trollope's Palliser series and, in my opinion, the best. Despite it's length (21 hours/525 pages), I was engrossed throughout.  It is well-written, insightful, often humorous, and completely entertaining.  I was sorry to see it -- and the series -- end.

The Warden by Anthony Trollope (1855)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Elizabeth von Arnim

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (1912)  4/5 stars

This novel is made up of the chatty letters of Jerusha ("Judy") Abbott, an orphan who is sent to college by an anonymous donor.  It's charming and humorous and, while light and short, is quite entertaining.  

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim

(1898)  4/5 stars

This charming semi-autobiographical novel follows the titular Elizabeth over the course of a year as she journals about her garden, her family, her friends, and her daily life.  It's often funny, with a slyly tongue-in-cheek humor, which caused me to laugh out loud several times.  Though short, it's  engagingly written, memorable, and enjoyable.

Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (1917)  4/5 stars

Spinster housewife Helen McGill buys a traveling bookstore -- wagon, horse, and dog included -- from the owner, Roger Mifflin, who is planning to retire to author a memoir.  Told in the first person by Helen, this short tale of her adventure is a charming, feel-good ode to books and readers. Despite the brevity and lightness, it's filled with vibrant characters and an engaging plot.  I absolutely loved  this little gem, from beginning to end. 

False Dawn by Edith Wharton (1924)   3/5 stars

This is the first novella in Wharton's "Old New York" series.  It's a rather dull story with flat characters and, while well-penned in other ways, is forgettable.

The Old Maid by Edith Wharton (1922)  3/5 stars

Though written first, this is the second novella in the "Old New York" series, and the best known/most popular. Wharton does portray the emotions and thoughts well, but the characters were cardboard and the plot predictable.  I found it underwhelming and disappointing, especially considering how highly lauded it is. (There are two more in the series, but I dreaded the thought of continuing.)

Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters (1976)  3/5 stars

This escapade is illogical and unbelievable, but still a good deal of fun.  As is typical of Peters' adventure novels, it features a strong female protagonist with lots of history discussed; this one focused on Scottish history, and was quite interesting.  Overall, while it's just an average read, if one isn't expecting anything other than light enjoyment, it doesn't disappoint.

Elizabeth Peters

The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters (1969)  3/5 stars

Jessica makes her first visit to England to meet her estranged grandfather, but finds herself involved in a dangerous mystery. This story is light, implausible, and not as well-written as Peters' later novels, yet it's easy to ignore the absurd and just enjoy the adventure.

Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters (1973)  4/5 stars

This is the first of a series featuring American art historian Vicky Bliss, and finds her following medieval clues to a potential lost masterpiece.  It's a fun and sometimes suspenseful adventure, with snappy dialogue, likable characters, and an entertaining, if improbable, plot.

Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters (1978)  4/5 stars

This is the second Vicky Bliss adventure, and she follows an excellent forgery to Rome in hopes of finding the culprit.  Again, it's a fun,  humorous and witty mystery-suspense, with likable characters and a fully entertaining, though not fully believable, plot.

Did Not Finish:
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1887)

I loved Trollope's Palliser series -- every one was a five-star book to my mind -- and yet the Barsetshire series has not grabbed me.  This is the second in the series (see above for book one) and I listened to several hours, but was simply not interested in story of the characters.  Maybe it is too soon after the Palliser books; maybe if I try again in a few years, I be struck by the Barsetshire novels.  For right now, though, I am extremely disappointed.

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

I absolutely loved Parnassus on Wheels (review above) and was excited to read this, the sequel.  Unfortunately, in the time lapsed between novels, Morley seems to have forgotten how he described his characters, for they lack many of their previous qualities and all of their dynamic personality.  I listened to a few hours, but could not care for anyone in the story, nor about the plot.  Such a disappointment.

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

The Warden 
Anthony Trollope
1855 
3/5 stars

Septimius Harding is an upright clergyman who is the devoted warden of a local charity.  John Bold, his young friend (and his daughter's suitor), becomes convinced that the charity is not being managed according the original intents, and involves Mr. Harding in the agony of a public debate.  

This, the first of the Chronicles of Barsetshire,  deals with a hot contemporary topic, and Trollope handles the subject well.  However, had this been the first novel I had read by him, it would probably have been my last.  Happily, I read the Palliser novels first (all six of which were five star reads for me), so I know what gems Trollope can write.  As it is, The Warden lacks the sparkle, humor, and charm of the Palliser books, and while still well-written, is not compelling.  Despite this, I will continue the series, in anticipation of great things to come.

Read as part of the Classics Club.  My explanation is here.

August 2022 Wrap Up

Florence L. Barclay

Thanks to more extremely long audio books, I don't have much to show for August.

Books Read:

The Rosary by Florence L. Barclay (1909)  4/5 stars

This Edwardian romance was a best seller in it's day and is an excellent example of the genre.  It will seem silly by today's standards, but I have read it several times and enjoyed the writing, the story, and melodrama.  

Audio Books Completed:

Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope (1874)  5/5 stars 

(24 hours/658 pages)

and

The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope (1876)  5/5 stars 

(26 hours/700 pages)

These are books four and five of Trolllope's Palliser series.  As with the previous three, they are excellent: well-written, engrossing, and completely entertaining.  

 

July 2022 Wrap Up

Lizzie Eustace 
illustration by J. Steeple Davis

I did not read any physical books in July.  My thoughts were only on Trollope's Palliser series and when I had reading time, I listened to those incredibly lengthy books instead of picking up anything else.

Audio Books Completed:

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope (1865)  5/5 stars (my review here)

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope (1869)  5/5 stars (my review here)

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope (1873)  5/5 stars 

This, the third in Trollope's Palliser series, is another fantastic read.  It's the humorous, wry, insightful, and completely engrossing tale of Lizzie Eustace and the diamonds she swears were given to her by her late husband.  Trollope writes so well, creating believable flawed characters -- Lizzie, so unpleasant and yet so likable, is clearly the work of genius -- and highlighting the the hot topics of his time cleverly, in subtle but devastating light.  Despite being nearly 800 pages, The Eustace Diamonds is never slow or dull, and is my favorite of the series thus far.

Two by Anthony Trollope

Trollope

Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) was a prolific, successful, and as far as I'm concerned, excellent Victorian author.  I have intended to read him since I first began reading Victorian novels, but never did until this month.  I regret waiting so long!

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope (1865)  5/5 stars
It's hard to explain this lengthy (847 pages) Victorian novel, as it follows many characters and several plot lines.  Politics, various aspects of marriage,  mistakes both innocent and guilty, and the examination of contemporary morals and mores link together to form a deliciously meaty, completely entertaining, excellently penned experience.  I was smitten from the beginning, laughed out loud often, and enjoyed every minute of the 28 hour audio book.  It's not for everyone, of course, but those loving Victorian novels as I do should find it delightful.  

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope (1869)  5/5 stars

Irishman Phineas Finn, a twenty-five year old law student in London, finds himself as a Member of Parliament, nearly by accident.  This novel follows him for five years as he rises in his new profession, falls in and out of love, and finds his moral mettle tested and proven true.  

Trollope is an excellent writer, creating believable characters and engrossing plots, while subtly examining burning issues of his times such as marriage, the role of women, and the working of politics.   While not as humorous as Can You Forgive Her? (the first in this series), and full to bursting with politics that I didn't always understand, Phineas Finn is a fantastic novel.  I thought about the book often when not reading it, and was completely involved all the way through the entire 23 hour audio book. 

(On a side note: Timothy West is an amazing audio book narrator, and gives such life to the characters in these two books.)

June 2022 Wrap Up

Books Read:

Before the Fact by Francis Iles (1932)
5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Honorable Algernon Knox, Detective by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1913/1920)  3/5 stars (my review here) 

The Zeppelin's Passenger or Mr. Lessingham Goes Home by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1918)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Amiable Charlatan by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1915)  4/5 stars (my review here)

The Great Impersonation by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1920)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Ambrose Lavendale, Diplomat by E. Phillips Oppenheim (1920)  3/5 stars 
My review for this will be published later, paired with the Oppenheim thriller that I'm currently reading.

Audio Books Completed:

Armadale by Wilkie Collins (1866)  5/5 stars  (my review here) 

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green (1878)  3/5 stars (my review here)

Did Not Finish:
The Golden Bowl by Henry James

I have thoroughly enjoyed James in the past, and was enjoying this one as well.  However, it's a rather dense and meaty book and I felt like I was missing a lot, and that it didn't work well on audio.  I own it, so I'm sure I'll read it at some point.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

I've read this several times, and listened to a few hours, but I just wasn't in the mood for tragedy.

The Inevitable Millionaires by E. Phillips Oppenheim

I've been on an Oppenheim binge of late, but this lighthearted story wasn't what I wanted it.  I dropped it and went on to a more serious novel of suspense and espionage.

The Leavenworth Case

The Leavenworth Case

Anna Katharine Green
1878
3/5 stars

Wealthy Horace Leavenworth is found murdered in his locked library. Naturally, his household is suspected, and evidence points to one of his nieces, Eleanor.

The narrator is a young lawyer, Mr. Raymond, who has no experience is mysteries or murders. The police detective, Mr. Gryce, enlists Raymond's help because he is a gentleman, and as such will be welcome in places that Gryce would not be. While Raymond hates the thoughts of playing spy, he has become extremely interested in protecting Eleanor's reputation, so agrees. 

The Leavenworth Case, Green's first published novel, is a well-penned mystery with appealing characters and a twisty plot, and did keep me guessing until the denouement. The deduction of the culprit, though, seems to rely more on guesswork than on clues shown to the reader.  Despite only deserving an average rating, it's an enjoyable read, not only for the story but for the picture of life among certain classes in the U.S. during the late nineteenth century.

Armadale by Wilkie Collins

frontispiece illustration by G.H. Thomas

Armadale

Wilkie Collins

1866

5/5 stars

The plot of this complicated novel is to difficult to convey in a few lines, yet makes perfect sense by being slowly revealed while reading.  The main premise is that the lives and fate of Miss Lydia Gwilt and two young men, both named Alan Armadale, are bound together by a single act of revenge and the evils engendered by that act.  There are many side issues that come about as a result, and other characters that feature largely, but all is central to this trio and the web of deceit, manipulation, and regret that surround them.

This Victorian melodrama is simply one of the best of the many that I've read.  Collins, who always writes well, excels in this novel at distinctive personalities, descriptive passages, and gripping situations.  I was captured from the beginning, and completely wrapped-up in the plot for the entire 30 hours of the audio book.  Collins creates sympathetic and complex characters, with believable motives, strengths and flaws.  The plot, while far-fetched, is so twisty, compelling, and enjoyable that incredulity is a nonissue.  While the book intrigues by  discussions of religion, subtle commentary on society, unpopular views of Victorian womanhood, and a question of superstition versus rationality, it ultimately satisfies with a moving ending worthy of the build-up.  I highly recommend it for fans of the genre.

Two More by Oppenheim

the Parkers and Walmsely
illustrated by Will Grefé

I introduce E. Phillips Oppenheim in this previous post. 

An Amiable Charlatan (U.S. title)
(Original UK title: The Game of Liberty)

1915

4/5 stars

An English gentleman, Paul Walmsley, becomes infatuated with a young American woman that he sees regularly at a restaurant.  One evening, her father -- Joseph H. Parker, the amiable charlatan of the title -- abruptly enters the restaurant, suddenly sits at Walmsley's table, begins eating his food, and asks Walmsley to play along.  After this unusual introduction, Walmsley meets Miss Eve Parker, and falls deeply in love with her, despite learning that she and her father are "adventurers".  When these adventures seem to be only cons, Walmsley's desire to marry Eve allows him to turn a blind eye.  When theft becomes an issue, though, Walmsley finds it hard to balance his morals with the apparent amorality of the Parkers.  

This is a funny and charming set of stories with likable characters, a good twist, and solid prose.  The various plots are amusing, with Walmsley watching (and sometimes helping) his prospective father-in-law get in and out of scrapes with Scotland Yard, professional criminals, and even designing young women.  My only complaint is that Eve doesn't figure enough as the book progresses, and is a less dynamic character than the two men.  In general, though, An Amiable Charlatan  is a truly entertaining experience and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the light and innocent style of popular Edwardian novels.

Dominey and von Ragenstein,
illustrated  by Nana French Bickford 

The Great Impersonation

1920

4/5 stars

Sir Everard Dominey left England in disgrace eleven years ago, went to Africa, and continued his profligate lifestyle there.  Now, in 1913, he runs across an old acquaintance from his school days, the German nobleman Leopold von Ragenstein .  Their similarity in looks had always been commented on, but now, Dominey's dissipation has left him just a shadow of what von Ragenstein has become.

Von Ragenstein, a thorough patriot, was undertaking work for the government as a Commandant in German East Africa, but has now been instructed to find a way to insinuate himself in English high society.  The opportunity is too good to be missed, and he takes on the identity of his doppelganger and goes to London, certain that Dominey's decade-long absence will make his task easy.

This serious adventure-espionage-drama is a darn fine yarn.  I enjoyed it completely, from compelling start to thrilling finish.  Oppenheim writes well enough that I cared for the characters, was surprised several times, and thought about the plot when I wasn't reading.  I can't rate it a full five stars, but I undoubtedly got five stars-worth of enjoyment from it.

Two by E. Phillips Oppenheim

E. Phillips Oppenheim
1866-1946

E. Phillips Oppenheim was a prolific English author of best-selling adventures, thrillers, and mysteries written between 1887 and 1943.  While his novels are certainly not fine literature, they are generally well-written, and can be quite entertaining for those who appreciate this combination of time-period and genre.

The Honorable Algernon Knox, Detective

1913/1920

3/5 stars

This quick read is a set of loosely connected short stories featuring a society gentleman, Algernon Knox.  Most of these were published in Hearst's Magazine in 1913, with the complete collection published in book form in 1920.  

Knox is not a detective exactly, but a man who falls into situations of mystery, danger ,and adventure.  After accidently foiling a plot to steal state secrets from his uncle, a Cabinet Minister, Knox begins to appreciate that he has unexpected brains and abilities, and to relish the chance to use them for the good of others and for the protection of Britain.

The abrupt change in Knox from a vapid young fool to a useful tool of His Majesty's Government is unconvincing, but his character is appealing and sympathetic.  The tales are light (though not light-hearted), dated, and often unbelievable, but generally a good deal of fun as Knox outwits opponents much more skilled in diplomacy and espionage.

The Zeppelin's Passenger or Mr. Lessingham Goes Home

1918

4/5 stars

Published toward the end of World War I, this romantic-espionage-drama features Phillipa, a ferociously patriotic woman living in an English coastal town.  Her husband, Sir Henry, at sixteen years her elder, is apparently too old to be accepted for military duty, and she is both ashamed and angry at  his apparent indifference to his life of civilian inactivity.

Into this situation falls (literally, out of a zeppelin) a German spy, calling himself Lessingham.  He brings letters from Phillipa's twin, an inmate of a German prison, and tries to convince her, for the sake of her brother's well-being, to assist him in his mission.  Knowing that her quiet seafront locale can hold no secrets worth more than her brother's life, she abandons her firmly held convictions and agrees -- but at what cost?

This is a melodramatic but entertaining tale, with all three main characters, though under-developed, being likable and sympathetic, with believably human motives.  Oppenheimer, while obviously burning with patriotism, still admits that the German forces have men just as gentlemanly as the British, and has Phillipa express a wish for peace for all.  The romance is very Edwardian, almost cold to a 21st Century view, but is still effective as an important factor.  Overall, while certainly not a literary treasure, it's an enjoyable read, as well as an enlightening insight into the popular culture of the time. 

Before the Fact by Francis Iles

Before the Fact
Francis Iles
1932
5/5 stars

Lina McLaidlaw is swept off her feet by the charming, handsome, and slightly disreputable Johnnie Aysgarth.  As she is 28, an intellectual, and not considered a beauty, her parents are convinced that Johnnie is after her for money only.  Nonetheless, Johnnie's apparent sincerity wins her confidence and they are married.  As time goes on, however, Lina begins to notice a streak of amorality in her husband, which worsens until she begins to suspect him of a serious crime.

This novel of psychological suspense is gripping from the first two lines: 

"Some women give birth to murderers, some go to bed with them, and some marry them.  Lina Aysgarth had lived with her husband for nearly eight years before she realized that she was married to a murderer."

As the plot advances, the reader follows Lina's discoveries, fears, compromises, and gradual mental strain, and watches as Johnnie tugs unhappily at the leash she holds.  A sense of dread permeates the story, leaving the reader tense and anxious, awaiting the next event.  Iles (pseudonym of Anthony Berkeley Cox, who wrote cozier Golden Age mysteries under the name of Anthony Berkeley) is an excellent writer, creating prose that is intelligent, convincing, and engrossing.  Before the Fact is memorable and well-worth reading for those that appreciate an atypical crime drama.

May 2022 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
The Dark Island by Vita Sackville-West (1934)  4/5 stars
This serious character study shows the life of Shirin in four episodes: one each at the ages of 16, 26, 36, and 46.  The writing is wonderful, intelligent, and gripping, but the bleak and grim themes keep it from being a book one "enjoys".  It is not a novel I would recommend universally, but it was still a thought-provoking and memorable read.

Audio Books Completed:

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1927)  3/5 stars

These are less intriguing than earlier short stories, vary in quality overall, and some in particular have not aged well.  They do contain some iconic moments, though, and are worth reading for the devoted Holmes fan, if only for completeness.

Baroness Orczy

Lady Molly of Scotland Yard by Emmuska Orczy (1910)  4/5 stars

These fun Edwardian short stories of mystery and adventure feature Lady Molly, one of the female agents of Scotland Yard. In the tales, Lady Molly often depends more on a knowledge of human nature than on physical clues, but her deductions are sensible and logical, and, for the most part, don't strain credibility.  Her devoted friend, Mary, narrates the account, and while Mary's over-abundant praise is sometimes annoying, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard is still well-written, nicely plotted, and entertaining. 

The Wintringham Mystery by Anthony Berkeley (1927)  4/5 stars

Though sometimes convoluted, this Golden Age mystery is generally well-written, completely entertaining, and quite intriguing.   

The Two Destinies by Wilkie Collins (1876)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

That Affair Next Door by Anna Katharine Green (1897)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Lost Man's Lane by Anna Katharine Green (1898)  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Circular Study by Anna Katharine Green  (1900)  4/5 stars (my review here)

Did Not Finish:
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)
My discussion is here.

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (1857)

This is a fantastic book -- if translated by Lydia Davis -- and I was looking forward to listening to it on audio.  I found, though, that I couldn't appreciate Flaubert's painstaking, detailed writing and his stunning ability to turn a phrase by listening.  I wrote a long discussion (here) when I read it 2011, and would encourage anyone that hasn't read this classic to read that post before picking up the book.

Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals by Joyce E. Salisbury from the Great Courses series
This is a group of 36 lectures subtitled "36 Great Women Before 1400" that, having majored in history, I was very much looking forward to hearing.  The blurb explains that these lectures will allow the listener to experience a "another side of history" by spotlighting 36 extraordinary women and how they influenced history. Unfortunately, Professor Salisbury does not do this. Instead, a woman is introduced (sometimes from sketchy sources), a bit of general background history given, then that particular historical woman is shoehorned into the discussion, often as a periphery figure.  I felt that Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals did not live up to it's promise, nor to the quality I have come to expect from the Great Courses.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

the Brontë sisters
painted by Branwell Brontë

Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë
(1847)
Did Not Finish

When I read this novel previously, I only found it to be the dark and distasteful story of relationships that are abusive, unhealthy, or both, and certainly not the great romance many find it.  When recently discussing it with a friend, she pointed out that it should be viewed as a Gothic novel, and appreciated as that genre.  After pondering on this, I decided I could see that Wuthering Heights certainly includes some of the characteristics of a Gothic novel:

• gloomy setting
• elements of the supernatural
• excessive emotion
• violence, specifically against women
• insanity
• a hero-villain
• secrets
• revenge
• an overarching sense of dread

With this in mind, I decided to give this classic another try.

To begin with, I enjoyed the Gothic atmosphere and the tragic story.

Then, at about the half-way point, I was so repulsed by the cruel, sadistic Heathcliff that I had to stop.  I really can't understand why he is considered to be a romantic hero, or why his and Cathy's love is called a great love story.  I had no sympathy for either, and since his actions made my stomach clench, I dreaded returning to the book.

Bottom line is that this classic and I are truly unsuited, and I still feel it be the dark and distasteful story of relationships that are abusive, unhealthy, or both.

(On a side note: I have truly enjoyed the novels of the other two Brontë sisters, and consider both Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to be among my favorites.)

Read as part of the Classics Club.  My explanation is here.

Three by Anna Katharine Green

Anna Katherine Green

Anna Katharine Green (1846-1935)  is one of the few American mystery authors that I enjoy.  She was among the first authors of the modern "detective story", and had a reputation for writing legally accurate fiction.  Her works were justly popular, and will be excellent reading for those who appreciate novels with the particular mores of the late 19th Century.

The three Amelia Butterworth stories are collected together in one Audible title.  The narration is below average, but the quality of the books made it worth the price.

That Affair Next Door (1897)  4/5 stars 

In this, the first of the Amelia Butterworth mysteries, she notices an odd occurrence at the most respectable house next door.  Investigation reveals that a young woman has been murdered in a mysterious manner.  Miss Butterworth, certain that the Police Detective (Green's often-returning Mr. Gryce) has arrested the wrong man, sets out to solve the problem herself.  As a high-society spinster, she has advantages that the police do not, and makes some surprising discoveries. 

Miss Butterworth is quite an enjoyable narrator, and is written with a delightful sly humor. The writing is good, the mystery intelligent, and the crime well-plotted.  Overall, it's an enormously fun and engaging read.

Lost Man's Lane (1898)  4/5 stars 

When multiple disappearances occur in a town with personal connections for Miss Butterworth, Mr. Gryce, a New York City Police Detective and friend, requests her assistance.  She makes a visit there to secretly investigate the lane in question, and in doing so discovers more mystery than she solves.

This is another completely enjoyable tale featuring these two characters.  Green's writing is genuinely witty and amusing, the story extremely interesting, and mystery quite twisty.  While the means and motive were not fully credible, it was still a most entertaining story.

The Circular Study (1900)  4/5 stars

When a man is found murdered in his study, New York City Police Detective Ebenezer Gryce works to solve the crime.  Miss Amelia Butterworth, society spinster and sometime amateur sleuth offers unexpected and valuable clues in what turns out to be a tragic story of revenge.

This mystery/melodrama is much darker and more serious than the two previous novels in which Miss Butterworth appears.  She only features peripherally and does not narrate this story; as such, it lacks the charm and humor of those prior books.  It more than makes up for it, however, with a well-written twisty plot, and a dose of sensationalism worth of Wilkie Collins himself.  Again, it won't appeal universally, as one must be able to appreciate Victorian-style literature to enjoy it.  I, myself, found it both gripping and satisfying.

The Two Destinies by Wilkie Collins

The Two Destinies
Wilkie Collins
1876 
4/5 stars

Collins is a master of the Victorian sensational novel, and this one is a fine example.  The outcome is told at the beginning, but the journey is fraught with enough drama and tragedy to prevent it from becoming too predictable.  A supernatural bond connects the two protagonists, and to the modern reader not accustomed to these melodramas it may seem ridiculous.  Read in the spirit of the times, however, the plot is thoroughly engrossing and even moving at times.  As is typical of Collins, The Two Destinies is well-written, intelligent, and, for fans of this genre, completely entertaining.