Prime Suspect

Richard Jury (Sleuth)

  

Martha Grimes 22nd Richard Jury Mystery THE BLACK CAT hit bookstores today. Like all previous Richard Jury Mysteries, THE BLACK CAT is the name of an actual pub in the UK.

In THE BLACK CAT, Detective Superintendent Jury of Scotland Yard intrudes on the turf of the Thames Valley police to investigate the death of an escort at the Black Cat pub. Along for the ride is Jury's aristocratic friend Melrose Plant and a menagerie of talking cats and dogs that have overpopulated Martha's books lately.

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. But lately I've been less than thrilled with the novels. They are beginning to feel like they are trapped in an earlier time before modern forensic science and when amateur/civilian friends would help Scotland Yard solve a case. To borrow a British phrase, the books are becoming rather twee.

 

Richard Jury Mysteries

1. The Man with a Load of Mischief (1981)
2. The Old Fox Deceiv'd (1982)
3. The Anodyne Necklace (1983)
4. The Dirty Duck (1984)
5. The Jerusalem Inn (1984)
6. Help the Poor Struggler (1985)
7. Deer Leap (1985)
8. I am the Only Running Footman (1986)
9. The Five Bells and Bladebone (1987)
10. The Old Silent (1989)
11. The Old Contemptibles (1991)
12. The Horse You Came In On (1993)
13. Rainbow's End (1995)
14. The Case Has Altered (1997)
15. The Stargazey (1998)
16. The Lamorna Wink (1999)
17. The Blue Last (2001)
18. The Grave Maurice (2002)
19. The Winds of Change (2004)
20. The Old Wine Shades (2006)
21. Dust (2007)
22. The Black Cat (2010)

Publishers:

• Little, Brown, Boston. (1981-1991)
• Alfred A. Knopf, New York. (1993-1997)
• Viking Penguin, New York. (1998-Present)

Bowen, Rhys (Author)

 

Rhys Bowen is the nom de plume Janet Quin-Harkin uses when writing her mystery series. Her most current mystery, The Last Illusion, was just published this month. It is the 9th novel in the Molly Murphy Mysteries.

The multiple award winning author writes three mystery series: 

The Molly Murphy Mysteries feature an independent, forthright Irish immigrant in turn of the century (20th) New York. She starts her own detective agency, a bold move for a woman at that time. She soon finds herself trying to navigate her way through every level of New York society in search of murderers and other villains. Each novel focuses on on familiar themes of the era: the plight of immigrants, horrible sweatshops, fraudulent spiritualists, and woman's suffrage, to name a few. Molly has an on-again, off-again relationship with a high society police detective named Daniel Sullivan that adds a touch of romance to the mysteries.

1. Murphy's Law (2001)
2. Death of Riley (2002)
3. For the Love of Mike (2003)
4. In Like Flynn (2005)
5. Oh Danny Boy (2006)
6. In Dublin's Fair City (2007)
7. Tell Me Pretty Maiden (2008)
8. In a Gilded Cage (2009)
9. The Last Illusion (2010)

The Constable Evans Mysteries take place in modern day Wales. The village of Llanfair is as picturesque as a village one could hope for in mysteries. Filled with oddballs, family feuds lasting generations, jealousies approaching the boiling point, a kind-hearted constable, Evan Evans, to solve the mysteries and a pretty school teacher, Bronwen Price, to steal Evan's heart. The mysteries are short and funny while at the same time deal with modern societal problems like drug abuse and arranged marriages. After writing 10 books in this series, it is currently in hiatus according to Rhys's website.

1. Evans Above (1997)
2. Evan Help Us (1998)
3. Evanly Choirs (1999)
4. Evan & Elle (2000)
5. Evan Can Wait (2001)
6. Evans to Betsy (2002)
7. Evan Only Knows (2003)
8. Evan's Gate (2004)
9. Evan Blessed (2005)
10. Evanly Bodies (2006)

The Royal Spyness Mysteries is Rhys's newest series. It features Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie Rannoch, a distant cousin to King George V of England. The year is 1932 and Lady Georgie (as she's known to friends and family) finds herself in London, penniless and without servants! But she is no shrinking violet. Lady Georgie comes up with a crazy plan to make money: Clean and prepare London townhomes for the aristocracy when then come to town for the Season. Her escapades are quickly discovered by Her Majesty Queen Mary (of Teck) who asks Lady Georgie to use her proximity to these aristocrats to solve some minor mysteries and squash any scandal. The mysteries poke fun at the mystery conventions while adding derring-do and romance to mix.

1. Her Royal Spyness Solves Her First Case (2007)
2. A Royal Pain (2008)
3. Royal Flush (2009)

You can read more about Rhys Bowen and her series at www.rhysbowen.com .

Publishers:

• Minotaur Books, Macmillan, New York.
• Berkley, Penguin Group, New York.

Anderson, James (Author)

James Anderson (1936 - 2007) was a British author who wrote humorous mysteries in the best Golden Age tradition. He pokes fun at the conventions of the "whodunits" and house party mysteries with glee and true appreciation for the classic mystery novel.

These books that take place at Alderly, the country home of the Earl of Burford during the 1930s.

The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy introduces us to Alderly. Jane Clifton journeys to Alderly for a respite after losing yet another job in London. While at Alderly with a house full of guests, the inevitable happens: some poor sap gets himself murdered. Jane along with a Secret Agent Man named Deveraux help solve the case.

But the best part of this book is the put-upon detective, Wilkins. He is the funniest, silliest, most original detective that I’ve ever encountered. He hates being a detective. All he ever wanted was to rise to uniformed sergeant. But due to his innate abilities and a whole lot of luck, as he would put it, he’s been promoted over and over, much to his consternation. In the end, he solves the case much to everyone’s surprise.

In The Affair of the Mutilated Mink, Wilkins again has to solve a murder at Alderly. This time a foreign film actress is found dead. Wilkins is so excited that Scotland Yard has been called in so he doesn’t have to investigate the murder. But the ‘brilliant’ Scotland Yard detective with all his bravado and charm is so thoroughly wrong about the crime that Wilkins must once step into the breach to solve the case.

The 3rd book in the series is The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks. The Earl is iffy about inviting visitors to Alderly since the murders but the Countess tells him everything will be alright, no need to worry. After all, the visitors are all family coming for a funeral. What could go wrong? Well, when one of the guests says she knows where all the family secrets are buried and is just waiting for the right moment to dig them up, she ends up murdered. The list of suspects is long. So Wilkins with a heavy sigh begins the investigation with all the mad-capped frivolity that filled the previous 2 books.

If you’re thinking, “Oh no, not another country house murder mystery!” I beg you to reconsider and give these three a try. It will rekindle your love for the simplicity of an intricate puzzle that only an exceptional detective can solve.

      
  

Detective Wilkins Mysteries

1. The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy (1975)
2. The Affair of the Mutilated Mink (1981)
3. The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks (2003)

Publishers:

Poisoned Pen Press, Scottsdale.

Crispin, Edmund (Author)

Edmund Crispin was the nom de plume of the composer Robert Bruce Montgomery (10/2/1921-9/15/1978). As an organist and choirmaster at St John’s Oxford, Crispin used the university and the town as the setting for his mystery novels.

Crispin’s first mystery, The Case of the Gilded Fly introduces Oxford Don Gervase Fen. He’s a professor of English Language and Literature who would rather solve crime than write about literature. He’s eccentric, loves obscure references quoted at inappropriate times, and is quite good at the detecting thing.

The mystery revolves around a repertory theatre company. The nastiest and not very talented actress (and also the wealthiest of the bunch) is murdered and the list is long with suspects. It is an interesting, if a little unbelievable, locked room mystery. But the joy of the story with all its wit, its interesting characters and settings make the novel worth reading.

The Moving Toyshop (one of PD James’ Top 5 Fave Mysteries) is considered Crispin’s best. Again taking place in Oxford, it deals with a visiting poet Richard Cadogan stumbling over a dead body. But when Cadogan brings the police to the body, the entire toyshop has disappeared! Of course, it hasn’t really disappeared so Cadogan has to search for the toyshop with the help of his nutty professor friend (Fen, again). After uncovering a cunning scheme to defraud an heiress out of her fortune, Fen and Cadogan discover the murderer.

There are many more Gervase Fen Mysteries. Many of which have been lovingly reissued by Felony & Mayhem Press, New York.

   
 
Gervase Fen Mysteries

1. The Case of the Gilded Fly (1944)
2. Holy Disorders (1945)
3. The Moving Toyshop (1946)
4. Swan Song (1947)
5. Love Lies Bleeding (1948)
6. Buried for Pleasure (1948)
7. Frequent Hearses (1950)
8. The Long Divorce (1952)
9. Beware of the Trains (1953) (short story collection)
10. The Glimpses of the Moon (1977)
11. Fen Country (1979) (short story collection, published posthumously)

Publishers:

• Felony & Mayhem, New York. (Reissues in Trade Paperback)

Christie, Agatha (Author)

 

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller, Lady Mallowan, DBE (15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976), more commonly known as Agatha Christie is the Grand Dame of the Mystery Novel. With over 4 billion (!) copies of her novels sold, Agatha along with Shakespeare are the 2 most recognized English writers in human history.

Agatha is widely credited with creating the mystery novel we know today. She mastered plotting, suspense, and characterization (giving us character psychologies that would credibly explain motivations for murder).

Agatha Christie's Sleuths:

(David Suchet as "Hercule Poirot")

Hercule Poirot. The Belgian private detective that used his little grey cells to solve complex mysteries. Agatha grew to hate Poirot. She said, ‘[Poirot is a] detestable, bombastic, tiresome, ego-centric little creep’. But the public disagreed and she continued to write Poirot novels until the end of her (and his) life.

1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)
2. Murder on the Links (1923)
3. Poirot Investigates (1924, short stories ’ss’)
4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
5. The Big Four (1927)
6. The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
7. Black Coffee (1930 play – novel adapted from play published in 1998)
8. Peril at End House (1932)
9. Thirteen at Dinner (1933) also published as Lord Edgware Dies
10. Murder on the Orient Express (1934) also published as Murder in the Calais Coach
11. Murder in Three Acts (1935) also published as Three Act Tragedy
12. Death in Air (1935) also published as Death in the Clouds
13. The A.B.C. Murders (1936) also published as Alphabet murders
14. Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
15. Cards on the Table (1936)
16. Death on the Nile (1937)
17. Poirot Loses a Client (1937) also published as Dumb Witness
18. Murder in the Mews (1937, ss) also published as Dead Man’s Mirror
19. Appointment with Death (1938)
20. Murder for Christmas (1939) also published as Hercule Poirot’s Christmas and A Holiday for Murder
21. The Regatta Mystery (1939)
22. Sad Cypress (1940)
23. Patriotic Murders (1940) also published as One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and Overdose of Death
24. Evil Under the Sun (1941)
25. Murder in Retrospect (1942) also published as Five Little Pigs
26. Poirot Knows the Murderer (1946, ss)
27. Poirot Lends a Hand (1946, ss)
28. Murder after hours (1946) also published as The Hollow
29. The Labours of Hercules (1947, ss)
30. Taken at the Flood (1948) also published as There Is a Tide
31. Witness for the Prosecution (1948, ss)
32. Three Blind Mice (1950, ss)
33. The Under Dog and Other Stories (1951, ss)
34. Mrs McGinty’s Dead (1952) also published as Blood with tell
35. After the Funeral (1953) also published as Funerals are Fatal
36. Hickory Dickory Dock (1955) also published as Hickory Dickory death
37. Dead Man’s Folly (1956)
38. Cat Among the Pigeons (1959)
39. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (1960, ss)
40. Double Sin and Other Stories (1961, ss)
41. 13 For Luck! (1924, ss)
42. The Clocks (1963)
43. Third Girl (1966)
44. Hallowe’en Party (1969)
45. Elephants Can Remember (1972)
46. Poirot’s Early Cases (1974, ss)
47. Curtain (written about 1940, published 1975)

 
(Joan Hickson as "Miss Jane Marple")

Miss Jane Marple. Miss Marple lives in the picturesque village of St. Mary Mead. It would be a nice place to live, but the murder rate is crazily high. Luckily, Miss Marple is able to put the pieces together to solve the puzzles, and put the killers behind bars.

1. The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
2. The Body in the Library (1942)
3. The Moving Finger (1943)
4. A Murder is Announced (1950)
5. They Do It with Mirrors, or Murder With Mirrors (1952)
6. A Pocket Full of Rye (1953)
7. 4.50 from Paddington, or What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw (1957)
8. The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, or The Mirror Crack’d (1962)
9. A Caribbean Mystery (1964)
10. At Bertram’s Hotel (1965)
11. Nemesis (1971)
12. Sleeping Murder (written around 1940, published 1976)

 
(Francesca Annis & James Warwick as "Tuppence Cowley" & "Tommy Beresford")
 
Tommy & Tuppence. Husband & wife sleuthing team. Unlike Miss Marple and Poirot who never seemed to age, Tommy & Tuppence aged in “real time” over the five novels and short story collections that featured them.

1. The Secret Adversary (1922)
2. Partners in Crime (1929)
3. N or M? (1941)
4. By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968)
5. Postern of Fate (1973)

Other Mysteries & Sleuths

∙ The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) Colonel Johnny Race
∙ The Secret of Chimneys (1925) Battle
∙ The Seven Dials Mystery (1929) Battle
∙ The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
∙ Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? (1934) Bobby Jones and Frances Derwent
∙ Murder Is Easy (1939) Battle
∙ Ten Little Indians or Then There Were None (1939)
∙ Towards Zero (1944) Battle
∙ Death Comes as the End (1945)
∙ Sparkling Cyanide (1945) Johnny Race
∙ Crooked House (1949)
∙ They Came to Baghdad (1951)
∙ Ordeal by Innocence (1958) Arthur Calgary
∙ The Pale Horse (1961) Ariadne Oliver
∙ Passenger to Frankfurt (1970)