Tag: Book Discussion
Grande Dames of Mystery
Some of the best, most enduring mysteries have been written by women. Such authors as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham have been dubbed as “Queens of Crime,” rising to prominence during the period known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction (in the 1920s and 1930s). Sample some of these… Read More ›
Murder by Decade
Read along with The Poisoned Martini … Mysteries are timeless, but these tales of murder are a reflection of their times. From the 1920s to the 1950s, the mystery novel experienced what could be called its “Golden Age.” As before with previous discussion series, “A Taste of Murder” in 2011, “Unusual Sleuths” and “Unearthing Murder”… Read More ›
An Unrealistic Genre
Unearthed from my archives of things kept, I present a college midterm paper of interest to kick of Blog Week V. For those who wonder what shapes a writer’s ideas and craft, the answers lie in our experiences past and present. Those books, movies, and plays we’ve seen or read and the environment in which we… Read More ›
Purr-fect Murders
Read along with The Poisoned Martini … Mysteries and cats are a purr-fect pairing. In these tales, cats are watching. Are they witnesses to murder, sleuths on the case, or clues to the crime? Find out in these feline felonies. As before with previous discussion series, “A Taste of Murder” in 2011, “Unusual Sleuths” and “Unearthing Murder”… Read More ›
A Little French Murder
Read along with The Poisoned Martini … C’est un bon temps pour un petit mord français, n’est pas? You don’t have to know French to enjoy these mysteries. One of the pleasures of reading is being able to visit places we’ve been or long to travel to. So spend an evening, sit back and relax—perhaps… Read More ›
Unearthing Murder
Read along with The Poisoned Martini this Spring… Mysteries are all about uncovering hidden truths. Archaeology is all about unearthing secrets of the past. Together they are a natural fit for an exciting story that presents a murder to solve and details about another time and place. Such stories have long been part of the… Read More ›
Unusual Sleuths
Early mystery genre detectives certainly had their foibles and idiosyncrasies. Dupin had his aversion to sunlight, Holmes’s habits—good and bad—included the violin, mood swings, and opium, Lecoq communed with a portrait of his wife, and Poirot was fastidious to the extreme. These character traits have served to create unique and memorable characters that have become… Read More ›
A Taste of Murder
Enjoying a good book is always a treat. Having a treat along with your reading is even better. This Autumn, I’m hosting a mystery book discussion series, “A Taste of Murder,” at my Library. It’s an opportunity to read culinary murder mysteries and sample delectable treats! After all, isn’t the image of reading a book… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 