Detective Fiction
This month I hope to introduce a new section into Buzz about books and reading.
One of my favourite genres is detective fiction, a taste shared with many other people.
I thought that on this page you might like to advise me of what you think, suggest new authors, or tell us what books you’ve recently read.
Crime novels can essentially be divided into two or three categories. There are first and foremost (my personal favourite) the good old fashioned detective stories set in England with an old fashioned detective to solve the murder; generally the police are involved, though sometimes the private detective is much better than the police. ( I always feel one should suspend disbelief at this point)
Secondly there are the medieval/historical mysteries- an increasingly popular genre set in the past; some the more recent past like the Victorian era (Anne Perry’s books) or the medieval past like those by Michael Jecks and Ellis Peters.
Then there are the crime scene thrillers, American style involving the FBI, or court room dramas
And there are the psychological thrillers - those by Mary Higgins Clark or Robert Goddard, but I don’t consider them true crime writers.
I’d like to list here some of my all time favourite detective writers.
PD James – the plots are perhaps not as good as they once were and again you have to suspend disbelief- Can Adam Dalgleish and his team of two really solve a murder without any outside help?
Ruth Rendell the Wexford novels- She also writes psychological thrillers and other books under the name Barbara Vine.
Cynthia Harrod- Eagles Not a writer normally associated with crime fiction, but her series with Bill Slider is excellent
Kate Ellis- who combines past and present very effectively
From time to time a new author appears and such a one is Brian Cooper, recommended to me in the library ; his books are set in 1950s Britain and are quite naïvely written, but they keep you guessing; this has to be the essence of a good story- if you can’t work out who did it until the last page. Enjoyable like trying to solve a crossword clue though I can’t do crosswords!
Finally a short quiz for you- answers next month
What is the connection between these three detective stories ?
‘Curtain’ by Agatha Christie
‘The Remorseful Day’ by Colin Dexter
‘The Blue lamp’ by Ted Willis
Please send me in your comments, suggestions and ideas for this page. Email editor@bidefordbuzz.org.uk or send them in to Bideford Library Hope to hear from you soon
There are many sources of reading material in Bideford. Aside from your local library, there is a huge selection of all kinds at the Pannier market and good bookshops like Walter Henry’s in the High Street
For second hand books try Allhalland Books or charity shops. RA
