Dr. Henry glared at Blake and snatched the champagne glass from her hand. “I can pour my wife’s drink well enough, Blake.” He sloshed a dollop of l
Dr. Henry glared at Blake and snatched the champagne glass from her hand. “I can pour my wife’s drink well enough, Blake.” He sloshed a dollop of liquid into her glass, refilling what he had just caused to splash out. He smiled obnoxiously at Mrs. Henry as she accepted the glass from him and took a drink. With a cold smile to her husband, she said, “Thank you, darling.” Then Mrs. Henry crumpled to the floor and lay quite still.
Saffron Everleigh is Dr Maxwell’s research assistant in London’s University College biology department, the only woman employed there and thus the subject of whispers. Science was making great strides in the post-war world, but 1923 was maybe not the best time to be a young woman trying to build a career in a heretofore male field. It helps that her father was a renowned biologist, but she must face serial sexism and some truly odious individuals in her quest to advance her studies and career. She finds herself facing a very different challenge, though.
…when I taught fifth grade American history, the story of how America developed felt like a story instead of a bunch of names and dates in a book. Writing about the ‘20’s feels the same- so many things were happening as a result of World War One that influenced everyday life. Technology and science were exploding with new discoveries, women were finding their new place in the world, millions were adjusting to horrible new realities of destroyed countries, bodies, and minds, and politics were ever-changing and charged with fear and hope. It’s a fascinating time to write about. - from The Book Delight interview
When we meet Saffron, she is enduring a department party at the grand home of a major donor, and meeting-cute the studly, witty, but mysterious Alexander Ashton, who will become her partner in this. Are those sparks igniting between the two of them or maybe just some spores floating in the air? Ashton is a biologist AND a microbiologist, a weird coincidence, as Khavali’s husband just happens to be a biologist AND a microbiologist too.
[image] Kate Khavari - image from her site
At the party we are introduced via observations and overheard conversations to a series of characters and potential conflicts. We are let on, for many, to just what we should think of them.
Harry Snyder, Dr. Henry’s assistant, was seated on her other side. With small brown eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, and thin lips that emphasized his large, impeccable teeth, he looked rather like a rodent. His demeanor, skittish and reticent, matched his mousy appearance.
Probably not setting Snyder up for a heroic role. The excitement of the party turns out to be the sudden collapse, noted in the introductory quote at the top, of Mrs Henry, wife to Lawrence Henry, the man slated to lead an upcoming expedition to the Amazon. Was it an allergic reaction? Young George Bailey might have a good idea just what caused Mrs Henry’s sudden shift from the vertical.
Saffron becomes concerned that the doltish police are settling on her boss as a possible suspect, deciding that since the authorities can be relied on to get everything wrong, it is up to her to find out what really happened at the party. Thankfully, she has considerable knowledge of things biological so the game is afoot, focusing on a particularly poisonous (and fictional) South American plant that her boss had discovered decades ago.
Everleigh keeps pushing to learn more, gaining help from Ashton in her pursuit. There seems to be a connection between the two, but the sexual tension between them seems to blossom, then wilt, blossom then wilt. We are kept in the dark, and thus guessing, about his role in all this. A prospect or a suspect? Is he a reliable partner, or is he using his appeal like that of a carnivorous cobra plant, not as transparent as he appears? This romantic element crops up from time to time in fawning descriptions of the guy.
The tale is of the cozy mystery sort, not much blood and violence on screen, although there is some very definite peril. The investigation is done by rank amateurs. Usually, there is someone with police expertise to advise, but not so much here. The fun feature of this particular book and, I expect, the planned series, is the introduction of botany as the root of all Saffron’s investigations. The possibilities are vast. We are led to suspect first this one and then that one, while maintaining a short list of likely subjects.
Khavari has some fun with names, (I love this stuff) seeding her cast with a veritable garden of botanical references, some obvious, like Saffron, Inspector Green, and Doctor Aster. Alexander Ashton must certainly reference the tree. I am sure there are more. She also has some fun of a different sort with other character names. Does Doctor Berking’s character reflect the etymology of his name? How about Eris Ermine, a femme fatale sort?
She also brings into the tale a consideration much in the world of this era. The long-lasting, personal impact on those involved in the front lines of World War I.
Much has been written about soldiers experiencing shell-shock, so I wanted to explore a lesser known avenue of symptoms and recovery. Alexander’s recovery from the Great War is complex and isn’t straightforward—few cases are—nor it is over. I will just say that many hours of research and consideration went into developing his symptoms and coping strategies… - from The Book Delight interview
Saffron has to deal with MeToo miseries from the more aggressive, and personal and institutional chauvinism all around, even among some thought more advanced. The toxic nature of academia politics is noted. No antidote is prescribed.
This book is hardly a yuck-fest, but there is still considerable humor and the occasional LOL.
Khavari, who grew up in Wichita, Kansas, keeps her characters on the move, and thus holds our interest. Saffron is a decent sort, working hard in multiple ways to produce good results. She is mostly honest, although suffering a bit from a moral disorder that afflicts so many investigators, a willingness to engage in criminal behavior on the grounds of the-ends-justify-the-means.
Ultimately, though, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons (which was called Saffron Everleigh and the Lightning Vine earlier in its life. I have no inside intel on why this title was not used, but suspect it was a bit too close for comfort to the Harry Potter book titles format.) is a delightful sapling in the The Saffron Everleigh Mysteries series. Who knows? Maybe you will learn a few tricks for preparing that special drink for that special someone. The second volume, A Botanists’s Guide to Flowers and Fatality is expected to sprout in June 2023. It is something to look forward to. Once you begin spending time with Saffron Everleigh, you will not want to leave.
Her eyes fell on the name of a plant from south-central Mexico, brought back decades ago by Dr. Maxwell. The vine was a sickly yellow color and zigzagged around trees as it grew, clinging tightly to its host. Maxwell had named it the xolotl vine, after the Aztec god of death and lightning, since the growth pattern resembled a fork of lightning and the toxin in its leaves struck as quickly. Saffron had the feeling that Maxwell enjoyed the notorious reputation of his plant, occasionally still telling secondhand stories of people dropping to the ground immediately upon consumption.
Review posted – June 10, 2022
Publication dates ----------Hardcover - June 7, 2022 ----------Trade paperback - April 4, 2023
I received an ARE of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons from Crooked Lane Books in return for a fair review, and the secret to my special tea. Thanks, folks. And thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
The truth is, I often have trouble with social situations; it’s as though everyone is playing an elaborate game with complex rules they all know, b
The truth is, I often have trouble with social situations; it’s as though everyone is playing an elaborate game with complex rules they all know, but I’m always playing for the first time.
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Today at work, I found a guest very dead in his bed. Mr. Black. The Mr. Black. Other than that, my work day was as normal as ever.
A totally charming lead, Molly the Maid, Molly Gray, is as dedicated a guest-services employee as any hotel could wish for. She is an obsessive cleaner, determined to live up to the hotel’s stated desire to return every room to perfection every day, and particularly after guests have checked out…well…in the usual meaning of the term. Molly has the misfortune of entering a room where a notorious guest, Mr. Black, a hotel regular, and wealthy wife-beater who has been giving his second, trophy wife, Giselle, a miserable time, has checked out in the other meaning of the phrase. Cleanup in Room 401!
[image] Nita Prose - image from her site
It is upsetting, of course, but so is the fact that his shoes are misaligned on the floor, and the room is in need of much more cleaning than usual. She calls down to the front desk, where she can be counted on to be ignored, then sees something so alarming that she faints straight away. Returned to consciousness, Molly phones down to the lobby again, this time demanding that the hotel manager, Mr. Snow, be notified. People soon arrive.
She has some challenges to overcome, both financial and social. When the police get involved in the hotel killing, her problems only multiply. Thankfully there are some who appreciate her, and are willing to help.
Over the course of the book we learn more and more about both the dodgy folks in and about the Royal Grand Hotel, and about Molly herself. It is clear to readers that Molly is on the spectrum, but has found work that she finds satisfying and well-attuned to her proclivities (neat-freak). It has the added element of honoring her beloved, recently-deceased grandmother, who had raised her, following in Gran’s career footsteps. Molly’s penchant for cleanliness stands out in stark contrast to the rather dirty goings on at the hotel. Her social cluelessness makes it tough for her to understand that there is something decidedly rotten about some people she believes to be good eggs. But, while not entirely morally pristine herself, Molly is a decidedly good egg, who values friendship, honesty, and loyalty. Her total recall makes it possible for some of the events of that terrible day to be played back, in detail. This makes it possible to unscramble the mess, at least some, but will anyone listen?
Nita Prose (pen name for Canadian editor Nita Pronovost) has a lot of fun with The Maid. In addition to an appealing, first-person narrator to lead us through the action, she decorates the scenery with nicely chosen colors, patterns, and motifs. Starting with colors, Molly is, of course, Gray. The hotel manager is Mister Snow. Molly’s unpleasant landlord is Mr Rosso (red). Her corrupt supervisor is Cheryl Green (notorious for poaching tips intended for other maids). An unspeakable ex is Wilbur Brown. One of her co-workers is called Sunshine. Coloring applies to people, themselves. The deader sports red and purple pinpricks around his eyes. Giselle has green eyes. Molly has alabaster skin.
The palette extends to the surroundings, a black and white background against which some colors can glow. As I place a hand on the shining brass railing and walk up the scarlet steps that lead to the hotel’s majestic portico, I’m Dorothy entering Oz. (The Oz notion is picked up later, beyond the visuals, when Molly thinks of Giselle as bridging two worlds.) The hotel features an obsidian countertop on the front desk, marble floors that glow white, and emerald loveseats in the lobby. Molly’s uniform consists of black trousers and a white blouse. The receptionists, in black and white, look like penguins. A white bathrobe is found on the floor of room 401. Giselle stands out for having a yellow (yolk-colored?) purse. One character wears a wine-colored dress with a black fringe. Molly is sensitive to the colors of her world, and they stand out for her like a blood-red rose against a colorless background.
Prose also offers up invisibility as a theme throughout. Molly is invisible to most of the world due to her difficulty with social interactions, and welcomes this invisibility in her job. My uniform is my freedom. It is the ultimate invisibility cloak.; It’s easier than you’d ever think—existing in plain sight while remaining largely invisible; [Mr Black] often did this—bowled me over or treated me like I was invisible; Discretion is my motto. Invisible customer service is my goal. Molly is always intensely grateful whenever someone makes her feel seen or appreciated. Some find Molly’s invisibility enviable. And she is not the only person at the Regency Grand to be afflicted with translucence.
Eggs offer a bit of focus, as Molly thinks of people as good or bad ones. And there is a very different sort of egg that impacts Molly’s life. Someone preparing eggs for someone else is a very clear symbol of affection.
As an editor, Pronovost is always thinking about how a manuscript fits into a specific genre or how a story might bend reader expectations in that genre. For her own novel, she imagined mixing a misfit-character trope – inspired by the titular protagonist of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine – with a contemporary locked-room mystery inspired by the work of U.K. thriller writer Ruth Ware. Add in a touch of the film Knives Out and the board game Clue, and there is The Maid. - from the Quill & Quire interview
But these are not her only influences. Prose provides some hints to the sort of story we are reading, informing us that Molly enjoys reading Agatha Christie novels. Gran has so many of them, all of which I’ve read more than once. But she adds to that Molly and Gran’s fondness for another mystery entertainment. …we’d eat our meals side by side on the sofa as we watched reruns of Columbo. Expect amateurs to do some sleuthing. No hard-boiled detectives in this one. And you may or may not know who they should be investigating very early in the story.
Universal Pictures picked up the film rights to the book. Academy-Award-nominee Florence Pugh is slated to star as Molly. We all know that options are sold all the time, and most are never actually made. So believe it when you see it.
[image] Florence Pugh - image from Daily Actor
While reading, I was totally reminded of a TV series, Astrid et Raphaëlle, as it is known in France, and Astrid in its release on Prime in the USA. Sara Mortensen plays an autistic woman drawn into helping the police solve crimes with her unique talents. I kept picturing Mortensen’s Astrid while reading this book. The show is delightful.
[image] Sara Mortensen as Astrid - image from Amazon
Hopefully, you will not wait until all your rooms are in a pristine state to give The Maid a look. It is a charming, engaging, cozy mystery, with a wonderful lead, a colorful cast of supporting players, and an effervescent sense of style. Ideal for kicking back and just enjoying while you recover from the holidays. But be sure to put a coaster under that drink. Someone is going to have to clean that up.
Is now a good time for me to return your suite to a state of perfection?
Review posted – 11/26/2021
Publication date – 1/4/2022
I received an eARE of The Maid from Ballantine Books in return for making a few beds and doing a little vacuuming. Thanks also to NetGalley for calling this book to my attention in their newsletter, and facilitating the download.
Prose (Pronovost) is a vice president and editorial director with Simon & Schuster’s Canada division.
Items of Interest -----A wonderful review of a personal-favorite TV show featuring an unusual crime-solving duo -Astrid - I pictured the Astrid of the title as Molly -----Wiki on Columbo...more
Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret. -----Ralph Waldo Emerson - from the epigraph
Cassandra Mitchell is beside herself. She is in dire fina
Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret. -----Ralph Waldo Emerson - from the epigraph
Cassandra Mitchell is beside herself. She is in dire financial straits after her less than wonderful husband managed to drain most of her trust fund on failed business ventures. The marriage reduced to cinders, the divorce is nearly done, but she is in danger of losing the family manse if she cannot come up with some more money. She works as a tour boat guide part time to bring in something, but her primary gig is painting. Could be worse, I guess, she could be an actor. She has been working on a plan, get a barn on the property fixed up as a B&B, and take advantage of the spectacular views her family has enjoyed for generations. She had some help getting that moving, taking in a mysterious young couple she’d found wandering on the property, exchanging room and board for labor on the renovation. For several months, the company and budding friendships were a welcome extra. But who are they, really, and what the hell happened to them?
[image] Loretta Marion - image from Underground Book Reviews
The core mystery of the novel is the disappearance of Vince and Ashley. The chapters of the book are mostly arranged around that. Headings like “three months before the disappearance,” “Two months after the disappearance,” with others noting chronological leaps. The other major mystery is historical. Just what was it that had caused the conflagration at Battersea Bluffs eighty years ago, and is there really a curse on the Mitchell family? I guess that makes two other mysteries. No, wait, what about the strange aromas that keep emanating at the house? Is the place really haunted? You might get a snicker or two out of the ghostly presences seeming to change Cass’s ringtone to something alarming, and her screen saver to something other what she wants. Ok, yeah, the place is haunted, so we are back to two.
While there are elements from beyond the genre, a bit of paranormal, a bit more romantic flame being fanned than usual, a missing persons investigation instead of a murder, at least as far as we know, even a bit of humor, House of Ashes is primarily a cozy mystery. I have gone through the elements that make up books of that genre elsewhere, so will not repeat that here. Suffice it to say that most of the defining characteristics are present.
Which leads us to the (or rather a) cozy reader checklist. Is the lead engaging, smart, and determined? While Cass may have some questionable taste in men, yep. Is the story engaging? It held my interest. Does it provide sufficient clues that you are checking them out on your own, either looking things up, or pondering possibilities? Yep. Is it possible for readers to actually figure out some of the clues, along with the characters? Absolutely. I will go into one particular issue I had with some of the fact-checking a bit further on. A really fun clue was a set of knots in a rope that absolutely has to be some sort of code. Do the final explanations make sense? Sure.
Cass is nicely drawn, with singed edges along with a sharp mind, and an ability to sense the presence of her ancestors, a nice variation on the usually anodyne cozy lead. This makes it easier for us root for her to succeed in her mission, whether that is getting her B&B going, selling a lot of paintings, or finding the lost couple.
The historical burning of the house informs the story, not only in eighty-year flashbacks, but in the environment that persists, the art direction for the novel. Smoke, fire, and ashes permeate the contemporary story, keeping us aware of the long-term connections. A German shepherd that is afraid of fire alarms is part of this.
I have only been to Cape Cod as a visitor, never a local, so cannot speak with any authority on how well the sense of a small-town community is drawn here. But it seemed believable. The ghosts are a low end and mostly a benign presence, filling the air with the smell of burnt sugar. But there are people who smell things other than what Cass detects, very unpleasant things. So, maybe they are not entirely friendly.
I had a few issues with the book. There are some annoying teases, things Cass almost remembers at chapter ends, but just cannot quite get a handle on. The speed with which an art show is arranged seemed highly condensed. But the big one entails a serious spoiler issue, so I am hiding it. Do not read this unless you have already read the book, or do not plan to.(view spoiler)[Ok, there is an FBI agent on the case with whom Cass begins to develop a relationship. We wonder if he is on the up and up. In a conversation Cass has with him in chapter 17, he claims that he is coming up against mandatory retirement age. He is 44 years old. This seemed readily checkable, so off we headed to the Google machine. The following from FedWeek.com
Law enforcement officers and firefighters will be subject to mandatory separation based on age at age 57 if they have completed the necessary 20 years of service under the special provisions. If they have not completed the 20 years, they will be separated at the end of the month in which they complete 20 years of law enforcement or firefighter service.
Agent Daniel may be eligible to retire, given his 20 years of service, but not until age 50, and will not be forced to retire until 57. So, this looked to me like a straight up lie. And if the FBI special agent was lying to Cass, this made him an immediate suspect. Is he really an FBI agent? Why would he lie to her about something so easily checkable? This altered my take on the rest of the book, sparking a concern that Daniel was a baddie. Now, Daniel may or may not be a good guy, (not giving that up) but that determination will have to be made on issues other than his misinformation about retirement age. From what I can tell, this is purely a mistake on the part of the author, unless there is something I am totally wrong about here. (always a possibility) (hide spoiler)]
So, bottom line is that I enjoyed House of Ashes. I looked forward to reading it every night before bed. The story kept me engaged. The mystery was interesting. Following the step-by-step was fun. The light humor brought a smile, the romantic element was tolerable. It might enhance the experience to read this in a room with a real fireplace, or at least a candle burning. House of Ashes may not be a four-alarm read, but it will certainly do quite nicely to help keep you warmly distracted for several hours on a chilly autumn or winter day.
Review first posted – November 23, 2018
Publication date – November 13, 2018
I received a free copy of House of Ashes from Crooked Lane in return for a fair review. Once I posted, those strange new noises and odd aromas emanating from the attic stopped.
…she did owe him. He had helped her stop being young and start being interesting.
I first experienced Paris in 1971, a short trip, five, six days,
…she did owe him. He had helped her stop being young and start being interesting.
I first experienced Paris in 1971, a short trip, five, six days, organized through a school I was no longer attending. It was my first time outside the USA, Christmas season, a group of late teens and early twenty-somethings. It was magical, freezing, but magical. Played my guitar a bit in an empty train terminal until we were chased out by the cops, sorry, gendarmes. Our group totaled the coke supply in a Vietnamese restaurant, had a friendly snowball fight with a pack of locals. Bought crepes from a sidewalk vendor. Had the best onion soup of my life in a jardin-variety neighborhood place. Took in some of the usual sights, Notre-Dame, The Louvre, the The Eiffel Tower and whatever our eyes could take in. December was not a great time to visit The Tuileries, but we popped by for at least a minimal look-see, walked along the Seine, did what groups of young tourists do. I have been back, briefly, a time or two since. It remains the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Occasionally I get to stop by via film, a TV series like Spiral, or the pages of a lovely book.
It was the chance to stroll through again that drew me to Death in Paris. But, once my reader’s passport had been stamped, there was plenty to keep me flipping pages. This is a cozy mystery, a sub-genre with a considerable list of characteristics. Definitions are not entirely in agreement. There are some links in EXTRA STUFF should you care to delve deeper. For many of you, this may all be familiar turf, particularly readers of this genre. But, although I have read thousands of books in my life, including some of this sort, I cannot say that cozies have been a significant portion. So, I wanted to get a better handle on just what the genre is. I have extracted some of these defining characteristics to a list. I hope that readers who are very familiar will bear with me, or maybe just skip past this section.
[image] Emilia Bernhard - image from her Instagram account
Cozy Mystery checklist -----Sex is downplayed – Ok, very little going on between the sheets here
-----Violence is downplayed - Well, not entirely. We begin with a relatively bloodless passing, but things do get a bit bloody, so, somewhat
-----Detectives are amateurs – Yep, Rachel and Magda are total newbies at this
-----Usually women – Yep. In fact, there is only one male authority figure in the book, the detective.
-----They are typically well educated – check
-----They are intuitive – intuition is definitely on display, but the progress in their detecting is based on a logical approach to known facts
-----They hold jobs that bring them into contact with other community residents – Rachel had been a caterer, so met people through that, including the primary vic
-----Typically have a contact on the police force – well, not so much, although it does look like a detective they meet in this book may come in handy in later volumes. But they do use a couple of personal contacts to look into places where they have no access.
-----They are dismissed by the authorities as nosy busybodies – Oui
-----Murderers are neither psychopaths nor serial killers – not telling
-----Murderers are members of the community in which the murder takes place – yep
-----Motives, greed-jealousy-revenge, are rooted in events years or even generations old – I could tell you but then I would have to kill you
-----Murderers are typically rational and articulate – It makes it so much easier when they explain why they did what they did
-----Supporting characters are often very broadly drawn, often quirky – Character development is not the thing here. Secondary characters serve more as props. We are mostly interested in the primaries, and solving the mystery. More on this below.
-----Cozies employ little, mild or no profanity – true, merde
-----Murders take place off-stage, frequently involving poisoning and falls – off stage for sure. Reading in the paper about someone drowning in his soup certainly qualifies.
-----Wounds are never dwelt on and seldom used as clues – pretty much, one exception here
-----Amateur detective is gregarious, well-liked, which allows people to open up to her – Rachel and Magda are very engaging and likeable
-----There is usually at least one very knowledgeable, nosy, yet reliable character in the book who is intimately familiar with the personal history and interrelationships of everyone in the town, and whose ability to fill in the blanks of the puzzle enables the amateur detective to solve the case. – Yeah, there is one of those here, who offers useful intel
-----Cozy mystery series frequently have a prominent thematic element introduced by the detective's job, pet or hobby – the continuing element here is Paris, duh-uh, more specifically, when Rachel and Magda get together every other chapter (more or less) to compare notes they offer a tour of Paris eateries. You could do worse than put together a list of these places for the next time you are planning to stop by at la Ville Lumière.
D’accord, now that I have at least some handle on what the rules are for cozies, we can get down to the nitty gritty. What do we want to see in a cozy mystery? We want a lead who is engaging, smart, and determined. Check, check, and check. We want a story that engages us, one that offers us enough clues that we have a chance to figure things out along with the heroine of the tale. And we want explanations that make sense. Again, check, check, and check.
On to the story. Rachel Levis is a forty-something Yank living in Paris with her husband, another ex-pat. Alan is a banker, which allows her to pursue her passion as a poet. The hours are blissfully flexible. Her bff is Magda Stevens, a pal of over two decades, from back when they were both foreign waitresses in the city they love. The death of the title is one Edgar Bowen. A news item reports that he had passed away in a most unusual manner, drowning in his vichyssoise. (a dish served cold?) At the funeral parlor Rachel overhears mention of there having been a bottle of rosé on the table when he was found. We might overlook such a small detail, but Rachel smells a rat. Edgar hates the stuff. Would never have rosé on the table for himself. So who was there with him at the end and why did they vanish? It seems that Edgar was Rachel’s first grown-up love many years back. They had parted on friendly terms. She retains some familiarity with him, if little more. (Hubs is a jealous sort, so has no knowledge of this)
I wanted to make the joke! That he’d died in his sleep, when he’d actually died in his soup. The real difficulty was figuring out how someone could actually die in their soup, so the joke kind of forced all the rest of it…As a writer, there’s just some things that you want to write. And the soup thing just made me laugh every time I read it. - from the Stop and Smell the Pages interview
The rosé is the first thread Rachel pulls. It proceeds from there. Bernhard offers up a list of suspects, plenty of clues, and some lightly-grounded suspicions. Rachel and Magda bring in some outside assistance. An erstwhile friend with a broad knowledge of the social set in question is helpful. Alan’s bank connections come in handy. And even the detective who dismisses them provides a morsel or two.
The structure consists, for the most part of Rachel, or Rachel and Magda together doing some digging, then a chapter in which they analyze what they had found. I found this a very welcome approach, helping the reader to think along with the investigators.
Bernhard has fun with Rachel and Magda in a meta way, as they wonder aloud what this or that character, or author might do in this or that situation. These references always made me smile. You will know most. Here are a few, Nick and Nora Charles, Agatha Christie, Adrian Monk, Nero Wolfe, Remington Steele, Poirot, even Clouseau! Bernhard even pretty much talks to the reader about the process of creating a cozy. Here, Rachel considers one of the limitations of being a newbie.
On television the police were always saying, “I’ll talk to my snitches,” and every literary sleuth seemed to have a network of carefully cultivated connections or village gossips to help them out. The difficulty with being an actual amateur detective was the lack of this inside information. No wonder none of the fictional representatives ever featured a detective who was just starting out: without contacts you were nowhere.
One of the criteria for a cozy is a cast of quirky characters. There are a few that fit the bill. But one of my few gripes about the book is that the odd ducks here hardly seemed odd enough. We expect the leads to be well put together, engaging without being too interesting. We count on the supporting cast to brighten things up. This element could have used some burnishing. The sense of Paris was most poignant when Bernhard writes about the challenge of getting a decent amount of space in which to live. The tour of eateries was fun. I am hoping that in future volumes (at least two are anticipated) there can be a bit more on the local architecture, the look of the place, which does so much to generate the feel, setting being a prime ingredient in mysteries of most sorts. Bernhard, who lives in England, has had a long-time affection for Paris.
I have a hypothesis that everybody has another country that’s not the country they were born in and not the country that they live in, and when I went to Paris, I was just very comfortable there. I used to spend a lot of time there; in the summers, when I would come to England for research, I would stop over in Paris for a couple of days. So I knew enough when I started writing the novel to set the novel there, but I did have to go back and spend more time there. - from the Stop and Smell the Pages interview
Bottom line is whether this book is engaging. Très certainement! Although it only took me a few days to inhale this one, I found that I was always eager to get back to it, and it kept making me smile as I read. Not every novel has to be deep, thought provoking, or lyrical. Some can be just good fun. Death in Paris is a scrumptious crepe suzette of a book, serving quite nicely to fill a particular human need.
The absolute memory of a place may will certainly fade as decades drift past, but, while even Rick and Ilsa’s imprints of their time there may have eroded over the years, one thing is for certain. We’ll always have books set in Paris to help refresh those golden times. Your transit papers are ready, climb aboard.
Music -----An American in Paris - The Detroit Symphony Orchestra – about 19 minutes worth, anyway. I was unable to find a free link to the film
Other cozies Miss Marple rules this roost. Beyond this, they are legion. There is not nearly enough room in this space to do a proper list, so you are mostly on your own. Although GR hosts a Listopian page of the Best Cozy Mystery Series