To me crime fiction is perfect, when I need distraction from the outside world. Also, it’s great entertainment for the beach during summertime. And during the dark winters, there is nothing better than a good mystery accompanied by a big mug of coffee and ideally a fireplace. In other words: One rarely goes wrong with crime fiction! Below are some quite different examples from the genre, which I’ve been enjoying lately.
Classic Crime: The Murder at the Vicarage, Agatha Christie [1930]
I quite like Miss Marple, but the first Marple novel, The Murder at the Vicarage, isn’t a favourite. The gallery of characters is not as engaging as I’ve come to expect from a Christie novel and most of them aren’t particularly likeable either. Still, it is a well-written, well-plotted mystery and I’m glad to have added the audiobook to my Christie collection.
Cosy Crime: Death Beside the Seaside by T E Kinsey [2019]
If you like whimsy, light-hearted and sometimes rather silly, T E Kinsey’s Lady Hardcastle series is perfect for you. It’s my guilty pleasure and I love to laugh my way through these farfetched plots held up by a humorous dialogue, wonderful characters and Elizabeth Knowelden’s superb narration. Perfect for holiday reading or distraction from the news.
Supernatural Crime: Bury Them Deep by James Oswald [2020]
James Oswald’s Inspector McLean stories can be gory and dark, but to me they feel like cosy crime. Mostly, it’s because the familiar characters by now feel like old friends. With the 10th books in the series, we have probably reached the point of too much repetition, but in our present situation, there is comfort to be found in the familiar.
Sicilian Crime: The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri [1994]
Camilleri’s first Inspector Montalbano novel has a strong sense of place and I loved the Sicilian setting (and not just because of all the food references). Montalbano is a complex and interesting protagonist, who is accompanied by a colourful gallery of corrupt politicians and other shady characters. This short, no-nonsense story reminded me of, why I enjoy crime fiction so much.
Gory Crime: Flesh House by Stuart MacBride [2008]
Flesh House is the fourth book in Stuart MacBride’s series about DS Logan McRae. It is dark, gory and strangely enough it evolves around cannibalism, which was also a theme in James Oswald’s Bury Them Deep. Which begs the question: Is cannibalism a big thing in Scotland?? I found it a bit too grisly and a bit too long, but mostly enjoyable.
Have you read any crime fiction lately? Any particular books or authors you would like to recommend?
Fab reviews! The Montalbano stories are such fun!
Thanks Nicki! That was actually my first Montalbano story, but I am ready for more! π
Iβm totally with you on the escapism of crime fiction! And this reminds me that Iβm long overdue picking up another Christie novel!
Yes, I find that I need a dose of Christie now and then π
Great choices. Crime fiction is always good comfort reading. I must ask my Scottish friend about cannibalism. Iβm not sure if heβll admit itβs a national pastime.
Thanks, yes it’s strange how murders en masse can be so comforting (in fiction…). Haha, it was a bit of a coincidence that I picked up two Scottish novels in a row about cannibalism! It did made me wonder π
Hahaha! While I’m reasonably confident that we don’t eat each other very much any more, there is indeed a dark history of cannibalism in Scotland’s distant past, most of all the story of Sawney Bean, rumoured to have been the head of an outlaw clan of cannibals who ate hundreds of people over a period of years. It’s such a wonderfully gruesome story I suspect the idea of cannibalism as horror is deeply embedded in the Scottish psyche… π
Who knew?! π²π±
(Now I know what you and Porpy get up to behind closed doors, FF! π)
π Next time I say I’m hungry, you’ll know to give me cake quickly…
Phew, I am glad to hear that you don’t eat each other (anymore…) π . Sawney Bean’s story was actually told in Bury Them Deep. I didn’t know that Bean was such an ingrained part of the Scottish history / folklore (wonder if he really existed?) At least that explains why Scottish writers tend to be inspired to write about cannibalism.
I don’t know if he existed in quite the way his story is told but I suspect there must have been a kernel of truth in it – his wasn’t the only story of cannibalism from around then. People were starving, after all… π
Yes, I suppose there tends to be some truth in myths, but probably (hopefully?) the stories are exaggerated. π
I am recent convert to crime and definitely like mine in the cosy corner please. So no cannibals. But I note, when asking myself what crime fiction I’ve read recently, that Magpie Murders was the first book I felt able to pick up when life was sideswiped by covid. I love a good Marple – or a not so good one for that matter. And Lady Hardcastle sounds a hoot!
I am glad you you got converted to crime fiction, there are so many great stories out there! In a way it’s strange we choose to pick of crime, when we want distraction from the real world. I read a theory, that it’s because we want to see that the horrors in the real world aren’t really that bad (although lately fiction has found it hard to compete with reality). Personally, I think a good page-turner can always distract you. Lady Hardcastle is so much fun, although I am probably loosing whatever little credibility I might have as a reader by admitting that I am into this series π
All serious readers need some downtime in my opinion! π My go-to crime is the Inspector Gamache series from Louise Penny but I also turn to much gentler fare – not exactly chicklit but on the way. Nice cosy family stories, especially if set here in the West Country. There, now my guitly secret is also out! π
Haha, definitely no judging from my side! And I need to get back to Louise Penny! I remember enjoying to read these books whilst traveling, I wonder when that becomes a reality again.
π€· who knows ….
I enjoyed all of these thoughtful mini reviews, Stargazer! Youβve been busy! I enjoy crime fiction and I always wish I read it more often. I can see how itβs a great escape!
In the beginning of the corona crisis, I found it difficult to focus on something more serious, but crime fiction still seemed to go down well! By now, I am back to normal, mixing up different genres, but there is always room for a Christie. π
These mini reviews are great! I love crime fiction and I canβt wait to take a look at some of these titles!! π
Glad, you like them and thanks so much for stopping by π
I really enjoyed this review format!
Good to hear! It’s an easy way to write about books, when I don’t feel up to writing proper reviews! π
So many interesting books picked up! I actually hoped to read that first Miss Marple story next and was hesitating between that or the first Poirot story. I’ll know to keep my expectations low for that one though. Have you ever wanted to try Japanese crime fiction? I usually hear great things about them and I feel like you’d be completely in love with those hahah π
I am not familiar with any Japanese crime fiction, but it sounds like an excellent idea! Most likely, you are right, that would so be my thing! π Do you have any suggestions? As I remember it, I preferred the first Poirot to the first Miss Marple, but I don’t think these books necessarily have to be read in order.
The Devotion of Suspect X is the only one that comes to mind since it’s one of the rare ones that is actually on my TBR for ages hahaha
Great, thanks, I will check it out! π At some point, I might do some further research into the genre (is Japanese crime a genre?) and will definitely let you know if I find something interesting!
I think it is, Japanese crime fiction/mystery. I just know there are some culturally known authors and some, like the one I mentioned here, that are even known internationally. Ha! If you read it before me, maybe you’ll be the extra push I need to finally pick up a copy myself! π Or to stay clear of it! π
Ok, it’s a deal, if I read The Devotion of Suspect X first, I’ll let you know! It looks like it got really good reviews on Goodreads – and apparently it has an amazing twist in the end. I am intrigued! π
I like Cosy Crime, so I will have to check out T.E. Kinsey. I likewise didn’t totally enjoy Murder at the Vicarage, even though I love Agatha Christie. I still got stumped on the whodunit, but Miss Marple just came off as an old busybody who just happened to guess the right things. I dunno, it just didn’t gel for me. And this was on top of me watching two adaptations of the book which were both only partially successful in translating it to the screen.
T. E. Kinsey has a great sense of humour, but admittedly the plots can be a bit silly. Even Christie, of whom I’m a big fan, couldn’t keep up the high standard in all her books. Interesting, that you weren’t that impressed either. I’ve watched the adaptation with Joan Hickson, which I didn’t enjoy that much, especially not compared to some of the other adaptations Hickson did.