--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2F00001 Date: 02/10/98 From: JAN MURPHY Time: 09:08am \/To: JEANE MOORE (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Miz Christie > [suggesting new writers which might appeal to a Christie fan] > > JM> What about Josephine Tey, Ngaio Marsh, or Margery > JM> Allingham, or the contemporary mysteries (i.e. not > the Brother > JM> Cadfaels) from Ellis Peters? > > Why not the Brother Cadfaels? They're by far Ellis Peters's > best. I was suggesting the contemporary series because 1) they are closer in period to Agatha Christie than Brother Cadfael is 2) many people don't even know they exist because the Cadfaels are so much better known. Bro. Cadfael may indeed be the best, but there's a funny thing that happens with really good writers: even their early (and some would say weak) books are often far and away better than other writers' best stuff. Whatever you may think of the Felse novels in general, I think FALLEN INTO THE PIT is a fine book, and deserves a look-see in its own right. For the author's best work, some might argue that the Edith Pargeter historical novels are even better, but that (alas) is outside the scope of this echo area. Anyway, no slight of the Cadfael novels was intended. > An inexperienced mystery reader should certainly try on > Rex Stout's Nero > Wolfe books, and a young man should try Robert B. Parker, > Philip Craig, > and Robert Crais. I would also recommend Randy Wayne White, > Geoffrey > Norman, and Ross Thomas. All fine writers, to be sure. What features of their work might make them attractive to fans of Agatha Christie? (BTW, I wouldn't have used that expression "inexperienced mystery reader" -- we all have areas of unexplored ground here, the point was merely to suggest possible interesting directions for new explorations.) You also said: > > Does anyone here remember her last couple of books and think, > as I do, > that she was losing it and they'd never have been published > if she > hadn't been who she was? I'm not talking about the ones > she left to be > published posthumously, and I don't remember the titles > of the ones I am > talking about, but I think one had "Elephant" in the title. The publishers here are damned if they do, damned if they don't. Any time you have a book which is written but not published, the fans of that writer will be curious about how good the book is. Even knowing that some respected and trusted reader X has seen the thing in manuscript and says that it is a weak book isn't good enough. One wants to read the thing and know for oneself just how weak or strong it was (and to talk about it afterwards). So if the publishers think there is enough interest, they might as well go ahead and publish it. --- Opus-CBCS 1.73a * Origin: Sci-Fido II, World's Oldest SF BBS, Berkeley, CA (1:161/84.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2F00002 Date: 02/10/98 From: STEVEN HORN Time: 10:56pm \/To: ROBERT WHITE (Read 0 times) Subj: A Certain Justice On 03 Feb 98 at 07:14, Robert White (1:134/40) wrote to Steven Horn: RW> She is a great writer with wonderful characters and intense plotting. RW> James RW> was in Calgary last fall on a promotional tour and gave a reading and RW> short RW> talk. It was interesting to hear her read and talk about how she RW> writes. She RW> outlines the story entirely before she starts the actual novel, that RW> is RW> probably why her books don't have illogical jumps in the plot or RW> require RW> complete suspensions of disbelief. But she also said that she RW> surprises RW> herself occasionally with the actual devolution of the plot when she RW> is RW> writing. An interesting lady and great books. One could wish that Whitehorse offered a large enough market for her to appear here but I'm glad you got to see her in Calgary. I had the opportunity to meet John Mortimore of Rumpole fame in Victoria in 1984 and it was a delight. My favourite James remains Devices_and_Desires but I am about to re-read Original_Sin and of course thoroughly enjoyed A_Certain_Justice. The book I didn't much like was Children_of_Men but it was an aberration (sp?). Take care, Steven Horn (shorn@yknet.yk.ca) Moderator, CAN_SYSLAW Co-Moderator, ALASKA_CHAT --- Msged 4.20 beta 2 * Origin: Yukon Mail, Whitehorse, Canada (1:3409/1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2H00000 Date: 02/12/98 From: BERT QUILLIN Time: 11:21am \/To: SUSAN BULLA (Read 0 times) Subj: Poseidon's gold -=> Quoting Susan Bulla to All <=- SB> Just finished this fifth in the series of Marcus Didius Falco SB> mysteries set in Rome in the time of Vespasian's rule. So did I Susan, and they get better each time. This L. Davis simply has to be one of the world's top intellects. Not to speak of an authority on Roman History. She takes you right into the scene of the action and the arms of the lovers. Fascinating. I was awed by the power of Roman History when I studied it in high school. That was in the early 30's before the "system" found that they had been doing everything wrong since schools began in this country. Maybe I missed something, but not a competent teacher on this subject. Mine was excellent, even if he was the football coach as well as an instructor. Lindsey Davis takes off where I stopped all those years ago, fiction not withstanding. Hope she does another before too long. Regards, Bert --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 * Origin: Noah's Kitchen, Portland, Or. 503-977-3934 (1:105/37) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2H00001 Date: 02/12/98 From: BERT QUILLIN Time: 11:21am \/To: SUSAN BULLA (Read 0 times) Subj: Poseidon's gold -=> Quoting Susan Bulla to All <=- SB> Just finished this fifth in the series of Marcus Didius Falco SB> mysteries set in Rome in the time of Vespasian's rule. So did I Susan, and they get better each time. This L. Davis simply has to be one of the world's top intellects. Not to speak of an authority on Roman History. She takes you right into the scene of the action and the arms of the lovers. Fascinating. I was awed by the power of Roman History when I studied it in high school. That was in the early 30's before the "system" found that they had been doing everything wrong since schools began in this country. Maybe I missed something, but not a competent teacher on this subject. Mine was excellent, even if he was the football coach as well as an instructor. Lindsey Davis takes off where I stopped all those years ago, fiction not withstanding. Hope she does another before too long. Regards, Bert --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 * Origin: Noah's Kitchen, Portland, Or. 503-977-3934 (1:105/37) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2H00002 Date: 02/11/98 From: FRED RUNK Time: 11:37pm \/To: STEVEN HORN (Read 0 times) Subj: A Certain Justice -=>While in the White Hart, Steven Horn explained to Fred Runk that<=- SH> You will like it. It has a certain edge to it. I just may go out and get the hc version then...she is one of my favorite writers. Fred ... Honest scales and full measure hurt nobody. Old Chinese Proverb ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- Maximus/2 3.01 * Origin: DPSystem:4285 OS2-WARPED 520-290-8418 USR V.e+ (1:300/105) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2H00003 Date: 02/12/98 From: BERT QUILLIN Time: 11:21am \/To: SUSAN BULLA (Read 0 times) Subj: Poseidon's gold -=> Quoting Susan Bulla to All <=- SB> Just finished this fifth in the series of Marcus Didius Falco SB> mysteries set in Rome in the time of Vespasian's rule. So did I Susan, and they get better each time. This L. Davis simply has to be one of the world's top intellects. Not to speak of an authority on Roman History. She takes you right into the scene of the action and the arms of the lovers. Fascinating. I was awed by the power of Roman History when I studied it in high school. That was in the early 30's before the "system" found that they had been doing everything wrong since schools began in this country. Maybe I missed something, but not a competent teacher on this subject. Mine was excellent, even if he was the football coach as well as an instructor. Lindsey Davis takes off where I stopped all those years ago, fiction not withstanding. Hope she does another before too long. Regards, Bert --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 * Origin: Noah's Kitchen, Portland, Or. 503-977-3934 (1:105/37) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2H00004 Date: 02/12/98 From: SUSAN BULLA Time: 09:38pm \/To: BERT QUILLIN (Read 0 times) Subj: Poseidon's gold BQ> one of the world's top intellects. Not to speak of an authority on oman BQ> History. She takes you right into the scene of the action and the arms of the BQ> lovers. Fascinating. I'm not a fan of history, Bert, so sneaking some in around my trash reading is about the only way I'll learn any! BQ> Lindsey Davis BQ> takes off where I stopped all those years ago, fiction not withstanding. BQ> Hope she does another before too long. That one's out in PB, too: Last Act in Palmyra. I just started it. So, what're you reading now? * JABBER v1.2 * Precinct toilets stolen. Police have nothing to go on. --- InterEcho 1.19 * Origin: The Oasis BBS: (817) 613-9002 (1:130/716) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2K00000 Date: 02/13/98 From: ROBERT WHITE Time: 09:18am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: A good one! All you Tony Hillerman fans (and I'm one) will rejoice to learn of another series set on the 'Big Rez' with a lot of the interplay between the rational world and the Navaho mystic world that is found in the Chee/Leaphorn series. The series is written by Aimee & David Thurlo, and features a female investigator named Ella Clah. I read the second in this series 'Death Walker' because it's the one I found at the UBS, but this book is very much a continuation of the first in the series 'Blackening Song'. 'Death Walker' covers a lot of similar terrritory to Hillerman's books and are at least as rich in the culture and history of the Navaho. A generous helping of Silence of the Lambs' is stirred into the plot as well. The plotting is great, with suspence that builds as the story unfolds, and good, believable characters. I really liked this book and will now search out the 1st book to fill in what I have missed. I have been wondering how the pair of writers did the book. Do they alternate the writing, or does one do the research and sketch out the plot, and the other the actual writing; or how does it work? I've read collaborations efore and almost always I can spot where one left off and another writer picked up the story, but not in this book. I can only hope that this is the start of another long series. Bob 8-{) --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.20 * Origin: TechTalk; Calgary, Alberta. V.34+ (403)209-2104 (1:134/40) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2K00001 Date: 02/12/98 From: MICHAEL LABRECK Time: 01:06am \/To: JEANE MOORE (Read 0 times) Subj: Miz Christie Jeane: I'll look into the books that you've said to look into. BTW -- The book that you're thinking about with "Elephant" in the title is : "Elephants Can Remember".... which I have by the way. -={Michael}=- --- Blue Wave/Max v2.12 [NR] * Origin: A Bit Of Light In Your Night 860/290-8578 10p-8a Only (1:142/578) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 244 MYSTERY Ref: F2K00002 Date: 02/13/98 From: STEVEN HORN Time: 09:33pm \/To: FRED RUNK (Read 0 times) Subj: A Certain Justice On 11 Feb 98 at 23:37, Fred Runk (1:300/105) wrote to Steven Horn: FR> I just may go out and get the hc version then...she is one of my FR> favorite writers. One of our local stores actually had copies at a discount price so I bought one. It was also a BOMC selection. Take care, Steven Horn (shorn@yknet.yk.ca) Moderator, CAN_SYSLAW Co-Moderator, ALASKA_CHAT --- Msged 4.20 beta 2 * Origin: Yukon Mail, Whitehorse, Canada (1:3409/1)