Ooh, I heartily second this. I believe the first book is called The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. They’re collectively referred to as Mary Russell novels. I also recommend reading the Sherlock Holmes stories. I don’t care much for the novels; they feel a bit stretched out, honestly.
For something along the lines of the Brother Cadfael mysteries (which I strongly, strongly, strongly encourage everyone to read), try the Owen Archer mysteries by Candace Robb. They involve an apothecary’s apprentice/former spy/former captain of archers in fourteenth century York reluctantly solving crimes. The first book is The Apothecary Rose.
There’s also a mystery series set during the Egyptian craze at the beginning of the twentieth century that I can’t for life of me remember the title or the author of. Or even if it existed at all – I went through a phase where I read as many novels involving Egypt as I could. Does this ring bells with anyone?
Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody series? Great fun. I actually prefer Peter’s Vicky Bliss series. I’ve just re-read “Night Train to Memphis”, which is a romanctic suspense story set in Egypt with a country and western theme. Elizabeth Peter’s also writes romantic suspense under the name Barbara Michaels, if that’s a genre which appeals to you, look out for them. I’m pretty sure Elizabeth Peters is American, but the Amelia Peabody series are set in Egypt and England during the late nineteenth century and continuing up to and past the First World War.
And I heartily second the suggestion of Margery Allingham. I think she was the best of that collection of writers, “Tiger in the Smoke” is still one of the scariest books I’ve read. She’s interesting because although her novels include the same characters, they tend to be different in tone. “Tiger in the Smoke” is a thriller, “A Fashion in Shrouds” is as much a novel of manners as it is a crime, there’s one the title of which escapes me, which has a supernatural element.
And I really don’t think anyone can resist the charms of Maggersfontein Lugg, manservant extraordinaire, Amanda Campion, heroine and mechanical engineer, let alone the elegant Albert Campion, scion of some obscure but possibly royal house. Allingham is a subtle writer who can add an extraordinary frisson of the sinister to the most ordinary of happenings.
I love Dorothy Sayers, but I truly disliked Jill Paton Walsh’s Sayers books … for me the tone was just wrong, but that’s a personal thing.
While we’re in the Golden Age of detective fiction, I will confess to a long time affection for the original “Saint” novels by Leslie Charteris. The films and TV series have mostly been crap, but the novels are witty and elegant and very engaging. I spent many school holidays as a child curled up in my Great-Aunt’s loungeroom reading the Saint in the old yellow paperbacks.
That sounds right. Thank you so much, for both the confirmation my brain hadn’t created a mystery series and for the suggestions. Library, here I come!
Ooh! I didn’t think of Peters, for some reason. Super-enthusiastic endorsement! I have the entire Amelia Peabody series, and have read the whole thing two or three times. Amusing, engaging, very good. (But I don’t like the Vicky Bliss novels as well as the Peabody ones. De gustibus non est disputandum and all that, right?)
Could this be Look to the Lady, which I mentioned above? There’s a chalice kept in an ancient tower, protected by a mysterious and possibly supernatural guardian, not to mention the “nameless 'orror” running around the woods scaring people.
Mostly due to the wonderful performance by Brian Glover in the TV series, I’ve come to think of Lugg as the anti-Bunter.
I’ve been listening to Beaton’s “Agatha Raisin” series via audiobooks and have enjoyed them, though they’re certainly not high art and I’m glad I didn’t spend money on them.
Patricia Wentworth is an often overlooked writer. Her Miss Silver books are wonderful.
Though no one will ever compare to Sayers for me.
Oh, and MM Kaye wrote some wonderful mysteries. She was of British descent though born in India. She married a military man and moved all over the world. Her mysteries take place in each locale she lived. Great stuff.
The Scold’s Bridle was on TV fairly recently (a rerun, no doubt), and rather absorbing. But what astonished me is they misspelled it as “Bridal.” Honest.
It was misspelled as “Bridal.” It was tragic. A fantastic movie-thingy rendered mediocre by a misspelling. (Okay, that may be over-dramatic, but it was pretty jarring because it didn’t make any sense at all.)
Well, the misspelling was such a stupid thing - so bad I thought I might have imagined it - that you have a right to be ticked, Miss Purl McKnittington. (I love your name, and I suppose if I were steeped in British mysteries, I would be able to work out the derivation. )
Anyway, today on the Biography Channel, they seem to be running old stuff. The Dead of Jericho looks like the very first Morse mystery. Lewis doesn’t even work for him, but for some other Chief Inspector - crude and cantankerous.
We’re about halfway through this episode. Hope it’s a good one.
Thanks for the compliment on the name. I made it up and it bears no relation to any murder mystery. It does remind me of Miss Marple in a way, though, leading to my mostly unused signature. And I watched Inspector Morse today. I’m not sure which one – he’s solving a 19th century murder/disappearance?
I made it up and it bears no relation to any murder mystery. It does remind me of Miss Marple in a way, though, leading to my mostly unused signature. And I watched Inspector Morse today. I’m not sure which one – he’s solving a 19th century murder/disappearance?