The first Peter Wimsey novel I read was Strong Poison. I found it on a book-shelf in what we called the library (previous incarnations had had the room being our playroom, and before that the garden-room; it is not a grand room, simply where my father keeps his reference books) when I was about ten.… Continue reading The Late Scholar
Tag: detective fiction
Dying in the Wool
Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody is a '20s-set crime novel which I've resisted reading for a while. Partly, this is because of the first-person narrative. I'm not sure why but first-person annoys me, which in itself is odd given my favourite books. But eventually, feeling a bit like I was being followed around… Continue reading Dying in the Wool
Recently Read: Cats and Poison Pens
Apparently Japanese has a word which means a book or pile of books which has remained unread in the corner of your room for a certain length of time. Back in April, I pulled all my unread books off the shelves and stacked them in a corner of the room. It was supposed to encourage… Continue reading Recently Read: Cats and Poison Pens
Recently Read: From the Cotswolds, to Botswana, to London
My recent reflections on the last year of my blog have led to me looking forwards to the next year, and how I want to continue. Part of this is due to needing to reorganise posts due to increasing the weekly number, but also because otherwise I shall become bored again and have a little… Continue reading Recently Read: From the Cotswolds, to Botswana, to London
British Crime Classics Update
There is something very comforting about detective fiction. Better than the happy-ever-after of romance, it’s the (hopefully) neat tying-up of all loose ends and the “Oh! Of course!” or “Hah! Knew it!” of the answer. It’s the question asked at the start of the novel being answered. I like puzzles – I’ve whiled away several… Continue reading British Crime Classics Update
Book or TV show: Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates
In taking on the British Crime Classics Challenge and rediscovering my love of a good detective novel, I’ve decided to rummage through the shelves for non-Golden Age detectives of a similar nature. I discovered Miss Fisher via the quite wonderful Australian TV adaptation, currently on Netflix, and was hooked from the first note of the… Continue reading Book or TV show: Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates
Death of an Airman
First published in 1934, Death of an Airman by Christopher St John Sprigg impressed no less an authority on crime fiction than the crime reviewer for the Sunday Times: Dorothy L. Sayers, creator of amateur detective Lord Peter Whimsey. When the Bishop of Cootamundra, Australia, goes to the Baston Aero Club, England, he expects to… Continue reading Death of an Airman
Envious Casca
Is there any more wonderful feeling in this world than the discovery of a new-to-you book by a much-loved, possibly even favourite author? Envious Casca, by Georgette Heyer, turned out to be one such book for me. It's been in my collection for years - every time I peered along the spines in search of… Continue reading Envious Casca
