I've finished two books this weekend, one short one that I just started and one tome that I started back in March. I've started to mysteries from Canadian authors as my replacements. I'll update that and then also continue with my 15th entry in my look at the Mystery genre, American PI's.
Just Finished
"I enjoy reading the Maigret mystery series by Georges Simenon. Maigret Has Scruples is the 52nd book in the series. I haven't read the series in order, more as I've found books available for sale, but it doesn't seem to be necessary to read them in sequence.
Maigret has Scruples is a different sort of case for Inspector Maigret of the Paris police. Like most police officers, he's used to working on cases where the crime has already occurred. In this story, the possible suspects / victims come to visit him before anything has happened.
First is Xavier Marton, a married man who works in a Paris department store as the toy department manager and is a model train enthusiast. He indicates that he thinks his wife might be trying to murder him and that he has been to a psychiatrist to prove he isn't mad. Later the same day, Marton's wife, Gisele, visits Maigret as well, partly to ascertain what her husband went to see Maigret for and also to express her concerns about her husband.
Maigret is somewhat at a loss what to do. Is it a case he should investigate? He asks his boss and also the Public Prosecutor and that leaves him undecided. In the end he has some of his inspectors keep a tab on the two to try to provide more info on their lives and anything else that might be useful. The wife is a successful businesswoman who works in a lingerie shop. Living with the family is Gisele's sister. So there you have it, all the clues necessary for you to solve the case. Got it yet?
It's a short story, as are most of the Maigret mysteries. Maigret is a crusty, grumpy police inspector. We always have tidbits about his family life with Mme Maigret, always understanding and clearly the love of his life, even if he isn't the most expressive man. He uses his detectives well, in this story we have Janvier and Lapointe playing the main roles. It's an interesting story and moves along nicely to the climax. I think the ending was somewhat pat but still satisfying enough. It's always an enjoyable series. (3.5 stars)"
"It's been a few years since I delved into Jan Burke Irene Kelly mysteries. Bloodlines, published in 2005 is the 9th book in the series and I think I can safely say it is Burke's Magnum Opus of the series.
The story covers decades, running from the 1950's to Irene Kelly's present life. It covers a variety of reporters at Las Piernas' Express newspaper, all reporting on an old story, a wealthy purportedly family lost at sea and a baby (same family) kidnapped and her nanny murdered. As well, local reporter, Jack Corrigan is brutally attacked and left for dead in a farmer's field, thinking that he has seen a car buried on the property.
We run through Jack Corrigan, his protege Conn O'Connor and then are introduced to new reporter, Irene Kelly. It's a long drawn out story with a cast of characters, all interesting and unique. I did find it difficult at times keeping track of the varied family and social relationships so it might be worthwhile, if you read this to maybe make a couple of family trees. :0)
Conn O'Connor is a paper boy as the story is introduced and idolizes reporter Jack Corrigan and his reporting friend / partner Helen Swan. Corrigan takes Conn under his wing and helps him become a reporter as well. Corrigan is a fighter and his often times opponent are the Yeager family, booze smugglers, criminals, violent when the need to be. They are the focus of the disappearances but nothing can be proven until many years later; no bodies, no witnesses, etc.
The story is tracked over the decades and the flame is passed from reporter to reporter. We meet Irene Kelly in the middle chapters as she has moved from Bakersfield back to Las Piernas for a variety of reasons; to care for her ailing father, to try her hand at working at the newspaper and to escape from a relationship.
It's a very complex story and too difficult to describe in a few words. Suffice it to say that the mystery is fascinating the research conducted by the various reporters is well-crafted. There is sufficient action and intrigue to keep you turning the pages and the development of the various characters is excellent. The ending is somewhat pat but still filled with tension and action. All in all an enjoyable history and mystery and introduction to Irene's past. Read the earlier stories first to prepare for this one but you will enjoy. (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Now, in The Etruscan Chimera, antiques dealer Lara McClintoch is hired by a reclusive billionaire to purchase an obscure Etruscan sculpture. But the land of old Tuscany hides danger behind its charm, as Lara finds out when she discovers a prominent collector buried in his own Etruscan tomb."
"In this prequel to the earlier books in the series, Ellis Portal, the disgraced former judge turned sleuth, is taken back to his law school days."
My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre, American PI's #15
In my last entry I highlighted Jonathon King - Max Freeman and John D. MacDonald - Travis McGee.
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| Ross Macdonald |
"The Archer Files: The Complete Short Stories of Lew Archer, Private Investigator by Ross Macdonald is my first exposure to MacDonald's writing. I have enjoyed quite a few books by his wife, fellow mystery writer, Margaret Millar and have wanted to explore the world of Lew Archer, as created by MacDonald.
The book is a series of short stories featuring PI Archer and also a number of unfinished stories showing some of the other cases that Archer might have been involved in.
I enjoyed MacDonald's writing, in the style of Dashiell Hammett and John D. MacDonald and enjoyed PI Archer. Archer takes on cases where he feels a responsibility to the person hiring him or the person being investigated. In a number of cases, he just falls into by accident and wants to correct a wrong or just help a person in need. He never overcharges; $50 a day plus expenses and he doesn't like helping the Mob or being bought. He's an ex-boxer and officer from WWII and knows how to handle himself in a bad situation. He works in California with a small office on Sunset Boulevard. The book starts off with a nice biography of Lew Archer, his past and what makes him tick.
People get killed in his cases, sometimes by him, sometimes by someone else. There are nice little twists in each one, some not complex. You can figure out who is responsible, but the explanations are always interesting. MacDonald's description of the people and the surroundings are always on point and he has a nice, tidy way of getting out the facts and the stories. I enjoyed very much and now look forward to trying one of Lew Archer's cases in novel format. (4 stars)"
"Before I tried Ross Macdonald's writing I'd become a major fan of his wife, Canadian mystery writer Margaret Millar's books. At one point, I decided it was only fair to try MacDonald's books as well. The first Lew Archer book I read was The Archer Files, a collection of short stories featuring his noir PI, Lew Archer. That hooked me on his books as well.
The Drowning Pool, published originally in 1950, was the 2nd Lew Archer book. It was later turned into a movie starring Paul Newman. Archer is hired by Maude Slocum to investigate a threatening letter she had received. Archer is hesitant to take the case as Mrs. Slocum provides little to no information to help him in his investigation. Archer agrees to go to Nopal Valley to meet her family and to do at least a cursory investigation.
While there, Mrs. Slocum's mother-in-law is found dead in the pool and this accelerates Archer's investigation. There are many suspicious people (it is a mystery after all) and threats of violence and other deaths. One thing I've noticed about the few Archer stories I've read so far is that they don't mind being gritty.
MacDonald writes in a sparse, but at the same time, a rich style. His characters breathe life and you get an excellent picture of the setting and action. Archer is one of those great historical characters, in the same vein as Travis McGee and Philip Marlowe. He's tough, hard nosed but has strong moral values. I will continue to read this series now that I've tried it. Millar and MacDonald are a powerful writing duo. (4 stars)"
"I've probably said this before in reviews of other books by Ross Macdonald but I started reading his work after enjoying some of the mysteries by his wife, Margaret Millar. Sleeping Beauty is the 3rd book of his Lew Archer series I've read now and all I can say is that I'm so glad I finally took a chance on Macdonald.
Lew Archer is a private eye in Los Angeles. He's an ex-cop who decided to work on his own. In Sleeping Beauty, he has just returned from a trip and hears about an oil spill west LA as he's driving back from the airport and decides to check things out before he returns home. While there he meets a young woman, Laurel Russo, who is upset by the spill and also by the death of a seabird that she had pulled from the oil-soaked waters.
Archer offers to drive her home, takes her to his place to calm her down. She leaves and he discovers that she has taken a bottle of Nembutal (tranquilizers) from his medicine cabinet. Concerned, he drives off to try and find her. He checks with her husband, a pharmacist, from whom Laurel is currently estranged. Tom Russo hires Archer to find her.
It turns out that Laurel is from a rich family. In fact, they own the oil well that has sprung the leak. They don't like Tom Russo, feeling he is beneath their status. Laurel has an on and off again relationship with them and with her husband. Yes, she has issues.
This begins Archer's investigation into Laurel's disappearance. It appears that she has been kidnapped as her parents receive a ransom threat. Archer finds himself getting deeper into this family's history / skeletons in their closets as he continues to investigate. Is that enough to pique your interest?
This was a fantastic mystery. Ross Macdonald has such a clear and descriptive writing style. You can see the characters, the locale and even with the twists and turns, the story flows along so neatly and smoothly. Lew Archer is a fantastic character and the characters he meets over the course of his investigation are all interesting with flaws and personalities that make the whole story even more interesting and readable. I enjoyed this so very much and even the ending, which had a nice little twist, was eminently satisfying. (5 stars)"
The remaining books in this series can be checked out at this link.
Well, there you go. See anything interesting? Some books for you to check out. Oh, bottom of the ninth inning and the Blue Jays are now losing 8-2.. *sigh*.. Enjoy your week.
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