Need a mystery series to watch this fall and winter as the current shows go on hiatus?
Midsomer Murders is a British detective series that started in 1997 that I only found out about in the past year through my mystery book club. It is available on Netflix. It is apparently still in production and airs on ITV.
I have watched the first 2 seasons on Netflix. This is my go to show when I want something to watch.
The main character is DCI Tom Barnaby in the village of Causton. His partner in these earlier shows is Gavin Troy. DCI Barnaby is middle aged, very practical, very calm, very experienced and very likeable. He is married to Joyce and they have one daughter, Cully, an aspiring actress. Joyce is active in the community and a very supportive wife and mother.
Sgt. Troy is younger and also very likeable. He seems interested in Cully at this point in the series.
I say likeable because at this point in the series, there is nothing that I see to not like the main characters. You would love to be friends and neighbors with them.
The scenery is great - showing villages in England with the old buildings and wonderful greenery. The stories are great, gradually working through the murder like an Agatha Christie story.
While I watch several of the current day mysteries and detective series, I find this earlier series refreshing. Yes there is usually "a body". But it is not as graphic, gory, violent and fast paced as todays t.v. shows. Each episode is at least 90 minutes, sometimes a bit more. The story unravels gradually and systematically. It isn't slammed in your face like the 45 minute t.v. shows of today.
Each episode usually includes Barnaby's family to some extent, so you see the relationships and his day to day life, which is usually pretty good.
And maybe that is what I like about it; everything gets tied up neatly at the end and everyone goes about their normal life.
In this earlier series, DCI Barnaby is played by John Nettles. Gavin Troy is played by Daniel Casey. Jane Widmark is Joyce and Laura Howard is Cully.
I can understand why this has been running since 1997.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Sanctus trilogy by Simon Toyne
I got the first book in this trilogy last summer off of the Barnes and Noble Nook offer of the day.
Described as a conspiracy thriller and the reviews said it is similar to a Dan Brown novel. It looked like it had a bit of a mystical component to it and I decided to purchase it for my Nook. Well, I purchased the other two novels before I finished the first one.
Book one: Sanctus
The story begins in the ficticious city of Ruin in Turkey (I looked it up to see if it were a real place). An ancient citadel is here inhabited by an order of monks. Within the group, is a secret order called the Sancti that guard a timeless secret. The Sancti are guarded by the other monks but do not interact with each other. No one but the Sancti know what the secret is. If the secret were to be found out or something happen to it, would mean the end to the Church and more.
Samuel, a member of the Sancti, throws himself off the top of the cliffs surrounding the Citadel. It is so shocking it is televised and reported in newspapers around the world. The monks of the Citadel need to get this swept under the carpet before the public gets too curious. They go to retrieve Samuel's body but he is gone.
Liv Admudsen is a reporter in New York. She reads the story and realizes this is her brother who left at some time. She immediately sets off to Ruin to find out what has happened.
Kathryn Mann, her father, Oscar de la Cruz and Kathryn's son, Gabriel live in South America. Oscar has been monitoring (and hiding from the Citadel).
Once word spreads of Samuel's death, Kathryn, Oscar and Gabriel fly to Ruin.
All four of the outsiders are in danger. All four are hunted down to be stopped.
What is the secret of the Citadel that is being so closely guarded?
It is a very fast paced, exciting story. And the ending has quite a cliff hanger.
I am half way through the second book " The Key". It is equally intriguing and hard to put down.
The Tower is the third book.
I recommend this trilogy if you liked The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.
http://www.simontoyne.net/
I got the first book in this trilogy last summer off of the Barnes and Noble Nook offer of the day.
Described as a conspiracy thriller and the reviews said it is similar to a Dan Brown novel. It looked like it had a bit of a mystical component to it and I decided to purchase it for my Nook. Well, I purchased the other two novels before I finished the first one.
Book one: Sanctus
The story begins in the ficticious city of Ruin in Turkey (I looked it up to see if it were a real place). An ancient citadel is here inhabited by an order of monks. Within the group, is a secret order called the Sancti that guard a timeless secret. The Sancti are guarded by the other monks but do not interact with each other. No one but the Sancti know what the secret is. If the secret were to be found out or something happen to it, would mean the end to the Church and more.
Samuel, a member of the Sancti, throws himself off the top of the cliffs surrounding the Citadel. It is so shocking it is televised and reported in newspapers around the world. The monks of the Citadel need to get this swept under the carpet before the public gets too curious. They go to retrieve Samuel's body but he is gone.
Liv Admudsen is a reporter in New York. She reads the story and realizes this is her brother who left at some time. She immediately sets off to Ruin to find out what has happened.
Kathryn Mann, her father, Oscar de la Cruz and Kathryn's son, Gabriel live in South America. Oscar has been monitoring (and hiding from the Citadel).
Once word spreads of Samuel's death, Kathryn, Oscar and Gabriel fly to Ruin.
All four of the outsiders are in danger. All four are hunted down to be stopped.
What is the secret of the Citadel that is being so closely guarded?
It is a very fast paced, exciting story. And the ending has quite a cliff hanger.
I am half way through the second book " The Key". It is equally intriguing and hard to put down.
The Tower is the third book.
I recommend this trilogy if you liked The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.
http://www.simontoyne.net/
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Death Comes to Pemberley Part II
This was the last Masterpiece MYSTERY series for 2014. I didn't get to watch it "live" and just finished the recording of Part II.
This is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice written by P.D. James...I shared the first episode earlier.
Wickham is standing trial for the murder of his best friend. He swears he didn't do it.
Elizabeth stumbles across some information that seems to suggest that perhaps Wickham didn't do this. The story continues as Elizabeth unravels the facts.
This story also shows the social mores of the time and the struggles people go through due to those "rules".
I found it very captivating and the scenery is incredible.
I highly recommend it. It is available to watch on PBS online.
This was the last Masterpiece MYSTERY series for 2014. I didn't get to watch it "live" and just finished the recording of Part II.
This is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice written by P.D. James...I shared the first episode earlier.
Wickham is standing trial for the murder of his best friend. He swears he didn't do it.
Elizabeth stumbles across some information that seems to suggest that perhaps Wickham didn't do this. The story continues as Elizabeth unravels the facts.
This story also shows the social mores of the time and the struggles people go through due to those "rules".
I found it very captivating and the scenery is incredible.
I highly recommend it. It is available to watch on PBS online.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Quick t.v. recommendation: Masterpiece Mystery is showing "Death at Pemberley". 3 part series. I believe part 2 was shown 11/2/14. You can usually watch online at the PBS website.
I watched Part 1 yesterday and highly recommend it. It is a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" BUT (and I had to rewind to find out if I heard correctly) it was written by current day author P.D. James. Many of you are familiar with her books. "Death at Pemberley" was published in 2011.
The story picks up six years after the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. They are preparing for a ball at their estate. The uninvited Wickham and Elizabeth's sister, Lydia, are on their way to crash the ball. Wickham has a friend traveling with them. They stop the carriage at the edge of the forest before they arrive, arguing. And a murder takes place.
Very intriguing, beautiful scenery and costumes.
I hope you can catch it.
I watched Part 1 yesterday and highly recommend it. It is a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" BUT (and I had to rewind to find out if I heard correctly) it was written by current day author P.D. James. Many of you are familiar with her books. "Death at Pemberley" was published in 2011.
The story picks up six years after the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. They are preparing for a ball at their estate. The uninvited Wickham and Elizabeth's sister, Lydia, are on their way to crash the ball. Wickham has a friend traveling with them. They stop the carriage at the edge of the forest before they arrive, arguing. And a murder takes place.
Very intriguing, beautiful scenery and costumes.
I hope you can catch it.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Just finished "Dog On It" by Spencer Quinn.
This is book 1 of the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet and Bernie run the Little Detective Agency in Somewhere, Southwest USA. Chet is Bernie's dog and the narrator of the story.
I would say the two are lovable misfits. Bernie attended Westpoint and was in the army. Bernie's wife, Leda, left him and took their son Charlie with her. Bernie likes the casual look, bourbon and his old Porsche. Chet apparently flunked out of K9 school and loves ribs, steak, beef jerky, dog biscuits...the list goes on. Chet has a dog friend named Iggy. Oh and Chet does not like cats. Chet and Bernie met in K9 school. We are promised we will hear more about that at another time.
Bernie is hired to find a missing teen age girl named Madison by her mother Cynthia Chambliss. Madison turns up the same day only to disappear again the next day. Damon Keefer is Madison's father and divorced from Cynthia. He is a real estate developer. He blows off the whole disappearance as just a teenager needing some space and will turn up. Even the police are not too concerned about the girl after she makes a phone call home.
Suzie Sanchez is a local reporter assigned to do an article on Bernie. She becomes an important character as the story develops. And I think she is going to continue in the other books..
Did you ever wonder what Timmy and Lassie would be like grown up? Well, make Lassie a male dog named Chet and Timmy is Bernie and this is them. Remember how you always yelled at the t.v.; "no Lassie, don't go in that building, hole, truck, cave..."
First, Bernie leaves Chet in the car at the mall while he is asking around about Madison. A man sneaks up to the car and slashes the tires. Chet jumps out of the car after him and gets clobbered by the man. Thankfully he is alright.
Next, Chet takes off one night while Bernie and Charlie are camping in the backyard. Chet in true Lassie story form, gets mixed up with some bad guys. He is dognapped by Boris, one of the bad guys.
The story continues with Chet finding clues about Madison's disappearance and helping Bernie solve the mystery after a few close calls.
Some people may think that a mystery told from a dog's point of view would be too fluffy, or light. Not this book. This is a page turner, full of "oh no's!". It is really quite exciting. It is also a humorous story with a look into what dog's may be thinking on a daily basis. :) I know I put human traits on my cats.
There are 7 books in this series. I intend to read more. Here is a link to this book if you think you may be interested. I would recommend it, especially if you are an animal lover.
One recommendation for Bernie: get the fence fixed!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5600151-dog-on-it
This is book 1 of the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet and Bernie run the Little Detective Agency in Somewhere, Southwest USA. Chet is Bernie's dog and the narrator of the story.
I would say the two are lovable misfits. Bernie attended Westpoint and was in the army. Bernie's wife, Leda, left him and took their son Charlie with her. Bernie likes the casual look, bourbon and his old Porsche. Chet apparently flunked out of K9 school and loves ribs, steak, beef jerky, dog biscuits...the list goes on. Chet has a dog friend named Iggy. Oh and Chet does not like cats. Chet and Bernie met in K9 school. We are promised we will hear more about that at another time.
Bernie is hired to find a missing teen age girl named Madison by her mother Cynthia Chambliss. Madison turns up the same day only to disappear again the next day. Damon Keefer is Madison's father and divorced from Cynthia. He is a real estate developer. He blows off the whole disappearance as just a teenager needing some space and will turn up. Even the police are not too concerned about the girl after she makes a phone call home.
Suzie Sanchez is a local reporter assigned to do an article on Bernie. She becomes an important character as the story develops. And I think she is going to continue in the other books..
Did you ever wonder what Timmy and Lassie would be like grown up? Well, make Lassie a male dog named Chet and Timmy is Bernie and this is them. Remember how you always yelled at the t.v.; "no Lassie, don't go in that building, hole, truck, cave..."
First, Bernie leaves Chet in the car at the mall while he is asking around about Madison. A man sneaks up to the car and slashes the tires. Chet jumps out of the car after him and gets clobbered by the man. Thankfully he is alright.
Next, Chet takes off one night while Bernie and Charlie are camping in the backyard. Chet in true Lassie story form, gets mixed up with some bad guys. He is dognapped by Boris, one of the bad guys.
The story continues with Chet finding clues about Madison's disappearance and helping Bernie solve the mystery after a few close calls.
Some people may think that a mystery told from a dog's point of view would be too fluffy, or light. Not this book. This is a page turner, full of "oh no's!". It is really quite exciting. It is also a humorous story with a look into what dog's may be thinking on a daily basis. :) I know I put human traits on my cats.
There are 7 books in this series. I intend to read more. Here is a link to this book if you think you may be interested. I would recommend it, especially if you are an animal lover.
One recommendation for Bernie: get the fence fixed!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5600151-dog-on-it
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Hi fellow mystery readers. Yep, I have been absent for a couple of weeks. Vacation and then that work thing....
Just finished the latest China Bayles mystery: Death Come Quickly by Susan Wittig Albert.
I have read all of the China Bayles books. This is #22.
http://www.abouthyme.com/China/index.shtml
This story will grab you in the first couple of pages. It is very intriguing and I learned a few things that I did not know.
The story begins with Karen Prior (a friend of China's) meeting someone (we don't know who) in a back parking lot. (probably not a good idea) She is hoping to obtain some information on a 15 year old murder unsolved murder case that her students are making a documentary film on.
Well things do not go well. Of course there is a lot more to the story. Cover ups and art fraud to name a few.
I learned a lot of things I did not know about trials, judges, and attorneys about what goes on behinds the scenes. Very interesting.
Each chapter has a paragraph about a particular herb courtesy of China - she owns an herb shop. Those are always interesting too.
These stories typically take place in Central Texas and much of the description and references are familiar to me, so that is always fun.
The bonus to the China Bayles books are recipes at the back of the book. And you can actually make them and they taste good. For instance, "China's Taco Casserole" and "Cass' Shrimp, Pasta and Rose Petals". I plan on trying them both but probably will leave out the rose petals. :) There are several other recipes too.
The link to this mystery series is above. Have a look.
On to my next mystery!
Just finished the latest China Bayles mystery: Death Come Quickly by Susan Wittig Albert.
I have read all of the China Bayles books. This is #22.
http://www.abouthyme.com/China/index.shtml
This story will grab you in the first couple of pages. It is very intriguing and I learned a few things that I did not know.
The story begins with Karen Prior (a friend of China's) meeting someone (we don't know who) in a back parking lot. (probably not a good idea) She is hoping to obtain some information on a 15 year old murder unsolved murder case that her students are making a documentary film on.
Well things do not go well. Of course there is a lot more to the story. Cover ups and art fraud to name a few.
I learned a lot of things I did not know about trials, judges, and attorneys about what goes on behinds the scenes. Very interesting.
Each chapter has a paragraph about a particular herb courtesy of China - she owns an herb shop. Those are always interesting too.
These stories typically take place in Central Texas and much of the description and references are familiar to me, so that is always fun.
The bonus to the China Bayles books are recipes at the back of the book. And you can actually make them and they taste good. For instance, "China's Taco Casserole" and "Cass' Shrimp, Pasta and Rose Petals". I plan on trying them both but probably will leave out the rose petals. :) There are several other recipes too.
The link to this mystery series is above. Have a look.
On to my next mystery!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Is everyone glad it is Fall? If you live in central Texas, the answer is probably YES!
I haven't completed a book since I finished Rebecca last week but here is what I am reading this month.
I have started Death Come Quickly by Susan Albert Witting's latest China Bayle's mystery - #22.
I read the first chapter and I will tell you that it really hooked me right away. A friend of China's goes to meet someone (she does not know who) that is supposed to have information pertinent to one of her student's documentary about a 15 year old murder case Well, she is assaulted in the parking lot where she is to meet the person...
The writing is very intriguing and really grabs you. I don't think it will take long to read once I get a couple of hours, I will not want to put it down.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114046-death-come-quickly?from_search=true
Also this month I will be reading our mystery book club selection for November: Dog On It by
Spencer Quinn. This is the first in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Oh and it is told by Chet, Bernie's dog.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5600151-dog-on-it?from_search=true
Went to my Mystery Book Club. Here are books we will be reading in 2015.
1. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny - #10 of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. There are already 40 holds on it for the library so this will probably be a purchase. I don't want to miss it.
If you have never read this series, I strongly recommend it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19561922-the-long-way-home?from_search=true
2. The Last Policeman by Ben. H. Winters (1st in a trilogy). This will be a new author for me. More to come.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330370-the-last-policeman?from_search=true
3. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles Another new author for me. One club member has already read it and reported that it is excellent. I understand it is 800+ pages so I will need to get to it early.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505832-natchez-burning
This is what I love about the Mystery Book Club I belong to. We read such a variety of types of mysteries and are introduced to authors we may never have read otherwise. We also share authors we read on our own to the group also.
So many books, so little time....
I haven't completed a book since I finished Rebecca last week but here is what I am reading this month.
I have started Death Come Quickly by Susan Albert Witting's latest China Bayle's mystery - #22.
I read the first chapter and I will tell you that it really hooked me right away. A friend of China's goes to meet someone (she does not know who) that is supposed to have information pertinent to one of her student's documentary about a 15 year old murder case Well, she is assaulted in the parking lot where she is to meet the person...
The writing is very intriguing and really grabs you. I don't think it will take long to read once I get a couple of hours, I will not want to put it down.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114046-death-come-quickly?from_search=true
Also this month I will be reading our mystery book club selection for November: Dog On It by
Spencer Quinn. This is the first in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Oh and it is told by Chet, Bernie's dog.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5600151-dog-on-it?from_search=true
Went to my Mystery Book Club. Here are books we will be reading in 2015.
1. The Long Way Home by Louise Penny - #10 of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. There are already 40 holds on it for the library so this will probably be a purchase. I don't want to miss it.
If you have never read this series, I strongly recommend it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19561922-the-long-way-home?from_search=true
2. The Last Policeman by Ben. H. Winters (1st in a trilogy). This will be a new author for me. More to come.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330370-the-last-policeman?from_search=true
3. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles Another new author for me. One club member has already read it and reported that it is excellent. I understand it is 800+ pages so I will need to get to it early.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505832-natchez-burning
This is what I love about the Mystery Book Club I belong to. We read such a variety of types of mysteries and are introduced to authors we may never have read otherwise. We also share authors we read on our own to the group also.
So many books, so little time....
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