Lament for a Maker (1938) would seem--from ratings on Goodreads and in the opinion of such fellow mystery writers as Nicholas Blake and Michael Gilbert--to be considered one of Michael Innes' best books. While I will agree that the mystery itself is quite nicely twisty and surprising, the journey he takes the reader on to get to that brilliant, twisty ending is a rather arduous one. The tale is told through the narratives of various characters--five in all, including his detective John Appleby--and wading through the Scots dialect of the opening narrative nearly put me off entirely. There is also a bit too much extraneous detail about matters that don't really move the story along to suit me.
At the heart of the book is the death of the eccentric recluse Ranald Guthrie the laird of Erchany who falls from the ramparts of his castle on a wild winter night. Suspicion initially rests on the young man who wished to marry Guthrie's niece, but the stories told by each of our narrators prove that there is more to the events of Christmas Eve than meets the eye. Did Guthrie commit suicide in the hopes of ruining the young man? Who was the shadowy figure seen by Miss Guthrie, the American cousin? Why was Guthrie's man Hardcastle looking for the Doctor when Miss Guthrie and Noel Gylby (stranded travelers in a snowstorm) approached Erchany? It will take the narratives of five people involved in the mystery to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Each time Appleby thinks the picture has been completed, another handful of puzzle pieces are brought to the table.
Worth reading for the mystery itself, but not, to my mind, one of Innes' absolute best. I've rated Death at the President's Lodgings, The Weight of the Evidence, and The Long Farewell each higher. I did enjoy being fooled by the final twist and I found the narrative threads by Noel Gylby and Appleby to be the most entertaining. Overall: ★★★
This fulfills the "Pseudonymous Author" square on the Golden Vintage Bingo Square and gives me an eighth Bingo. Michael Innes is the pen name of J. I. M. (John Innes MacKintosh) Stewart a Lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930-35 and, later, a Professor at Oxford.
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| @Peggy Ann's Post |
So when Peggy from Peggy Ann's Post decided to try her hand at sponsoring a reading challenge and offered up the Read Scotland 2014 Challenge over on her blog and on Goodreads, I, of course, had to join right in. I didn't know how many Scotland-related books I might have kicking around on my TBR pile, so I signed up for the lowest level. I may be adding to the list and climbing to another level (or so) before it's all over...but for now...my challenge is complete. Thanks for hosting, Peggy!
Just A Keek (a little look): 1-4 books read
I'll list the books read below:
1. The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1/2/14)
2. Dandy Gilver & the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains by Catriona McPherson (2/12/14)
3. The Day They Kidnapped Queen Victoria by H. K. Fleming [Hijacking of Queen Victoria's private train in Scotland] (7/2/14)
4. Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson (9/27/14)
Challenge Goal Complete!
Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson is the third novel in her historical mystery series featuring Josephine Tey (aka Eilizabeth Mackintosh). In order to fully understand the relationships between various recurring characters, I would definitely suggest that anyone interested in reading the novels begin at the beginning (An Expert in Murder). Upson anchors her third book with the true criminal case of Amelia Sach and Annie Walters--better know at the turn of the twentieth century as the Finchley baby farmers. Josephine Tey is researching the case thirty-some years later for a book she intends to write based upon the story of the only double-hanging of women in modern times. Tied to the case is Celia Bannerman, former wardress of Holloway prison--present for the infamous hanging--and current secretary to the Cowdray Club, key figure in nursing administration and welfare work. Josephine is a member of the club and Miss Bannerman is one of the first people she interviews.
But the historical case isn't the only one that involves the club. Inspector Penrose, Josephine's friend, is called in to investigate a series of blackmail letters sent to members and petty thefts. It's easy for the ladies of the club to want to blame the ex-convicts that Celia Bannerman has given jobs in an effort at rehabilitation, but Penrose isn't so sure. And when another rehabilitated young woman who works for his cousins, the Motley sisters, in their sewing establishment is brutally killed while in the midst of working overtime to help prepare for a gala ball at the club, he is more convinced than ever that there is more going on than simple blackmail and thievery. The deeper he digs, the more ties he finds to the crimes of the past and soon his investigation and Josephine's research point to a very surprising suspect.
This is an engaging mystery and Upson works the historical crime into her story of Josephine Tey with great skill. While, it's true that the "modern" (for Tey's time) crimes are fictional, they are a logical outcome of the fictional rendering of the Finchley baby murders. She has also become quite skillful at transporting us back to the years between the World Wars. Not quite as absorbing as the first two, but an enjoyable read none-the-less and the reveal of the culprit came as quite a surprise. I thought I knew who did it--based not on the motive first given but on the identity of the blackmail letter-writer. I was wrong. Most disappointing, however, is the fact that the bulk of the blackmail letters are not explained at all--that little mystery gets lost in the capture of the murderer.
The one other item that stands out to me this time is the use of Elizabeth Macintosh's pen-name throughout. It finally hit (why it took till book three, I'm not sure) that it seems a bit odd that all of her friends refer to her as Josephine and not as Elizabeth. Was that really how she was known to her intimate circle?
But, again, a good solid read and I will definitely continue with the series. ★★★
Fenian revolutionaries take control of Queen Victoria's private train as she sets off to make the journey from Balmoral Castle to Ayrshire where another statue of her beloved Albert is due to be unveiled. The Prince of Wales is also at risk because the Queen has insisted that he attend and to ensure his faithful attention she had arranged for his train to be attached to hers. The fanatics who have taken her and her royal entourage captive (including the Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson and the Queen's favorite John Brown), have stashed a quarter of a ton of gunpowder just next to the Queen's compartment and they are not afraid to blow her (and themselves) to kingdom come if anyone interferes with their plans. Tennyson, at the Queen's behest, attempts a daring plan to allow their safe escape--but a traitor among the Queen's retinue prevents the plan from being carried out and Tennyson is tossed from the train. It will be up to Prime Minister Disraeli, Sir John Cowley, Lord Hartington, Lord Stanley, the Prince's special lady friend Skittles Walters, and an eccentric clergyman by the name of Charles Anderson to devise a plan that will save the Queen.
This book has a great deal of promise. It is all the rage these days to have historical figures detecting or directly involved in crimes--everyone from Jane Austen to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Oscar Wilde to Teddy Roosevelt are getting in on the act. The Day They Kidnapped Queen Victoria (first published 1969) is an earlier attempt at this genre. H. K. Fleming brings in a large cast of 19th Century historical figures and does a decent job at writing the historical novel without anachronisms. There are high-speed train chases and Tennyson's daring escape attempt. The final rescue solution is ingenious and plausible--as is the hijacking itself. And yet...the story lacks a certain oomph, a certain amount of excitement and suspense that one would expect when the reigning monarch has been kidnapped and is virtually sitting atop a quarter ton of explosives with jumpy revolutionaries holding lit matches at the ready. It's a decently told tale, but not nearly as gripping as expected. There was no urgency on my part to get to the end and see how they saved her, and, despite being told that Disraeli and company were urgently trying to devise a rescue plan, I did not get a real sense of that urgency in the story. ★★ and a half.
This fulfills the "Crime Other Than Murder" square on the Silver Vintage Bingo card.
Our story takes place in the 1920s. Dandy Gilver is a sharp-witted aristocrat with nursing experience from the Great War. She has found herself in mysterious circumstances and played the amateur sleuth in four other outings. This particular adventure opens with a letter from Lollie Balfour. Lollie is convinced that her once loving husband is plotting to kill her and she begs Dandy to come to her as a lady's maid and see if she can get to the bottom of Pip Balfour's strange behavior. Once Dandy is installed, she soon finds that every member of the household from the butler to the chauffeur, from the cook to the scullery maid has reason to fear and loathe the head of the house. And that's just during Dandy's first day on the job. The next morning, Pip Balfour is found murdered in his bed with a nice, big carving knife sticking out of his neck. Everyone has a motive, but it seems that few had an opportunity. How did the killer get in? Why did no one hear him (or her)? Why did Pip leave such a strange will? And will Dandy be able to maintain her cover long enough to answer all the questions?
I decided to read Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains for two reasons--first, I needed to read a 2012 Award-Winning Book for the Monthly Motif Challenge (Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award--2012 Macavity Awards) and Catriona McPherson is originally from Scotland (and the book is set in Edinburgh) so it totally counts for the Read Scotland Challenge. And...it sounded like a good read, the blurb on the front announced "Agatha Christie lives!" and the blub on the back told me "Readers who can’t get
enough of Dorothy L. Sayers, Barbara Pym, and Dorothy Parker will
definitely find a new favorite in Catriona McPherson’s smart and
original mystery." I'm afraid I have mixed feelings on this one.
Be forewarned...there will are spoilers ahead. There is no way to
explain some of my misgivings without them. Here on the blog, I will
disguise them with faint text color as best I can....
Let's begin with the problem areas. First off--Dorothy L. Sayers, McPherson is not. She does not display the literary knowledge, fluent writing, and intelligent banter among the characters necessary to wear that mantle. I wish critics and reviewers would stop comparing new authors to Sayers and Christie (and other Golden Age writers). It is extraordinarily rare to have one measure up--and when they don't, it usually detracts from what the author does well.
Second, Dandy's impersonation of a lady's maid shouldn't fool anybody. It's bad enough that she admits that her "vowels keep slipping"--but even with that, she says she could explain it away by telling the other servants that she's gently born, but come down in the world. Except she doesn't. She says she will tell them, but there is never an indication in the text that she did. We don't need the conversation. A simple sentence referring to the revelation when they're all sitting round the table for dinner would do it. But, no, we just have the servants snickering at her lofty ways. Then, whenever she's questioning anybody, it seems one minute they're suspicious of her questions or just wondering why this person who has only been in the house one day is so forward in her opinions and then the next minute they're all confiding in her.
Third (here be spoilers, skip now if you don't want to be spoiled--highlighting the apparent empty space will reveal all)--McPherson uses two of the oldest tropes in the mystery business. The butler did it and....not only did the butler do it, he is really a long-lost black sheep cousin come to do evil to everyone he meets. Seriously? AND he accomplishes his evil plots by hypnotizing every single member of the household. Every. Single. One. Suspension of disbelief is one thing--but the reader is really, truly supposed to believe that not one of the servants was impervious to the power of suggestion?! What are the odds that all of them...including our intrepid amateur detective....is susceptible?
Now...for the good points. This is a fun story. Zany has been used by other reviewers--and it fits, in a good way. The characters are fun and likeable and I enjoyed watching the story unfold and wondering what Dandy was going to do next. McPherson represents the 1920s well. If the award given had been for historical fiction alone and not for historical mystery, I would be 100 percent in favor. She also manages to provide lots of red herrings and false trails...it is unfortunate that the method employed by the villain of the piece to produce those red herrings wasn't believable. It would have been more effective if those red herrings would have had plausible explanations. Overall--good historical setting, interesting initial premise, likeable characters all add up to a decent three-star read.
The Poison Belt (1913) is the second adventure by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which features Professor George Challenger...or as the subtitle says Being An Account of Another Amazing Adventure of Professor Challenger. After returning from the dangers of Lost World, Professor Challenger becomes aware of changes in the spectrum that signal an even greater danger approaching Earth from the realm of space. He is convinced that the Earth will be shrouded in a poisonous cloud belt floating in the ether between the planets. There have already been reports of madness and death in the coastal and low-lying areas of the world. The cities are taken over by riots and society crumbles just before all life on earth ceases. All life that is except for Professor Challenger, his wife, and the three friends who accompanied him to the Lost World.
Professor Summerlee, Lord John Roxton, and the young reporter Edward Malone all receive urgent telegrams from Challenger requesting their presence at his country home and insisting that they bring along tubes of oxygen. Challenger has arranged for them to watch the end of the world from the confines of a sealed room--with only their meager supply of oxygen to forestall their own death. They are amazed and dismayed to find that the oxygen not only forestalls death, but allows them to survive until the poisonous ether has passed on from Earth's atmosphere. They venture out to survey the terrible results....only to find one more surprise in store.
My take: Sure. We all know now that there is no such thing as ether between the planets. It's all a vacuum. But Doyle was working with what he had and what the science of the day firmly believed. All it takes is a suspension of belief and a step back in time and the story becomes most plausible, indeed. While there are elements of science fiction and speculative fiction to Doyle's story, it is even more evidently a morality play. It teaches us to consider what it really important in our lives and to take more notice of the small, everyday pleasures that we often miss in our hurry to get ahead and get things done. What would we miss most if all of our fellow man and living creatures were suddenly silent? Three stars--as a strict science/speculative fiction it provides an interesting premise, but not a whole lot of action, but as a morality play it is a solid story indeed.
Challenges met: Outdo Yourself, Mount TBR Challenge, Bookish TBR, Read Scotland, Century of Books, Million Pages, How Many Books, 100 Plus Challenge, Vintage SF Month, Science Fiction Experience, Book Bingo, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, A-Z Reading Challenge, 2014 Literary Exploration, European Challenge, Out of This World [poisonous space affecting Earth]
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| @Peggy Ann's Post |
So Peggy from Peggy Ann's Post has decided to try her hand at sponsoring a reading challenge and is offering up the Read Scotland 2014 Challenge over on her blog and on Goodreads. And I saw it. And didn't even think twice--and signed right up. If you'd like to join me, click on the challenge link (or Goodreads) and dive in!
There are four challenge levels. Since I have no idea how many Scotland-related books I might have lurking on the TBR pile, I've decided to start small and join at the lowest level:
Just A Keek (a little look): 1-4 books read
I'll list the books read below:
1. The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1/2/14)
2. Dandy Gilver & the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains by Catriona McPherson (2/12/14)
3. The Day They Kidnapped Queen Victoria by H. K. Fleming [Hijacking of Queen Victoria's private train in Scotland] (7/2/14)
4. Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson (9/27/14)
Challenge Goal Complete!
5. Lament for a Maker by Michael Innes [Scottish author; set in Scotland] (10/8/14)
6. From London Far by Michael Innes
7. The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
