As my previous post was about thrillers I figured it would be great to follow it up with some tidbits on mysteries. I was reading the latest Mystery Scene on the weekend and there was an article about author Carolyn White (must read her books) and she said this regarding mysteries:
“The wonderful thing about mysteries is that people who read them want the world to be a good place. They would never pick up a mystery if they didn’t care about justice.”
I love that. That is definitely one of the reasons I read mysteries. I guess the other for me would be that as I tend to read a lot of series basically it’s a way for me to revisit with characters I like. I enjoy seeing characters develop, relationships get more complex, and so on.
So anyway, you know I added some books to my wishlist after reading the magazine. Here are some new to me mysteries. If you’ve read some let me know.
- The Magician’s Accomplice by Michael Genelin. This is one of a series set in Slovakia. Now that would definitely be a new crime destination for me so I really want to check it out.
- Never Wave Goodbye by Doug Magee. This is more of a thriller but it has a great set up.
- The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds. Spy thrillers are not really my faves but this one has a rare book expert as the main character and if there are books and libraries involved then I’m willing to give it a whirl.
- The Bohemian Girl by Kenneth Cameron. Set at the turn of the 20th Century in London. I think that’s enough for me to pay attention.
- The Young Widow by Cassandra Chan. The series is a contemporary homage to Dorothy L. Sayers Wimsey series. Sounds interesting doesn’t it?
And that’s not all, here are two links to get more mystery news: Criminal Element and Rendezvous Crime.
Are you reading a good mystery right now? I’m still working through The Last Child by John Hart. I am about half way and feel as if I should know what the end will be but can’t put it all together yet.
I haven’t read any of these that you listed, but I’ll be sure to jump onto these links that you posted — any I think that’s such a fabulous and genuine quote about why people pick up mysteries! I do like the “get ’em” aspect at the end when the killer is caught, or the mystery is solved!
Looking at the descriptions on Amazon, I noted that A Bohemian Girl is actually a sequel to 2009’s The Frightened Man. As I love to read a series, or even just books in sequence, I thought it was worth pointing that out.
I will definitely have to look for The Bohemian Girl–sounds good!
No good mysteries at this time. I’m in the middle of Russian Winter.
You always have the best list of mysteries, and I have never heard of them. I need to get out more! I am reading the latest Sara Paretsky called “Body Work”…love V.I. Warshawski. And the kids and I just started the latest Carlos Ruiz Zafon audio book (YA this time) called The Prince of Mist. I am freaking over the moon, I loved his other books so much.
I agree with you about reading mysteries because I come to care about the characters. Sometimes I care about the characters a lot more than I do about the mystery!
Natalie – I love that quote really. I think mysteries just let you know things will turn out ok in the end.
Curzon Tussaud – Thank you! I didn’t even realize that but I also prefer to read a series in order so I’ll have to remember that!
Stephanie – It does right? I just love the setting!
Wisteria Leigh – I wouldn’t mind being in the middle of a Russian winter right now it’s so freaking hot here! haha.. Hope you are enjoying your book!
Sandy – Oh, can you believe I’ve only read one Sara Paretsky book? I’ve missed out on so many mysteries because I read mysteries as a child but didn’t start reading them again as an adult until probably about 10 years ago. So all those mysteries from the 80s and 90s sort of escaped me! How cool that your kids are into that book. They need to do a book review for us 🙂
Dorothy W. – I so understand that! There are definitely some mysteries I go to for the setting and characters. The mystery is a nice added on bit but not what draws me in in the first place.
Such a true quote! I had jotted down those same titles and added them to my wish list after reading Mystery Scene. 🙂 So many tempting mysteries out there!
Like you, I really enjoy reading series books, getting to know the characters over time and revisiting them again and again. There’s something comforting in that.
That sounds like an interesting article–I will have to scope it out when I am in the bookstore next. I love revisiting the same mystery authors, too, for the reasons you mention! And all those books are new to me–The Bohemian Girl sounds especially good.