Howdunit

~ Michèle Griskey ~ Leave a comment

Murder, She Writes

I’m taking a break from reviewing mysteries to cover this delightful collection of essays created by crime writers: Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club, edited by Martin Edwards. This gem is a collection of 90 writers, including greats like Agatha Cristie and Dorothy L. Sayers to contemporary writers across all genres from traditional mysteries to thrillers.

The book is divided into sections like “Motive,” “Beginnings,” “Plots,” “Detectives,” and “Writing Lives.” It’s not a book that must be read from start to finish, though nothing would stop the reader from taking this approach. I particularly loved an image of a handwritten flow chart by Kate Ellis. A great reminder that some of our best ideas start with scribbles on a sheet of paper.

There are no rules. The only moral compass is honesty, writing to the best of your ability.

A straight avenue to the heart. –Frances Fyfield

It’s a book full of new writers to explore and familiar ones to reconnect with. It’s also a book that, as a writer, I found the shared experience of the challenges of creation and the beauty of putting the puzzle pieces together.

This book’s strength covers both the predictable and the quirky unexpected; those thoughts writers have when caught at a desk for hours wound up in ideas about crimes, clues, and detectives.

A book I keep by my desk for inspiration!

Going to the Dogs

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Murder, She Writes

Art by Laura Catalán

In need of something that had nothing to do with the state of the world, I found Wendelin Van Draanen’s recent middle grade mystery, Mr. Whiskers and the Shennanigin Sisters, and entered a world of an old, mysterious house (with secret passages!), two tenacious sisters, a father gone missing, pirate treasures and more–all told through the unique perspective of a dog. That’s right. This book is from a dog’s point of view.

Not just any dog, but a clever, street-smart, and all-around good boy.

Van Draanen is a popular writer who has published many children’s books, including the popular Sammy Keyes series. Her mastery of the middle grade is evident in this story. When Misty and Zelda’s dad gets ordered away by some suspiciously bogus FBI agents, it’s up to Mr. Whiskers and the sisters to save the day. In an old San Francisco boarding house where the sisters live, they find clues and old pirate secrets that lead them to their dad.

The voice of Mr. Whiskers was especially fun because Van Draanen creates an authentic sense of a dog’s point of view with some creative woofy puns. Obviously, this dog is not the only animal perspective in middle grade, but I found it interesting here because Mr. Whiskers must interact with humans, who do not always understand his clever insights.

The book begins with a whiff of danger:

I smelled trouble. It came driftin’ in off a fella on the sidewalk outside and tickled up my schnoz clear down to my paws

I hope this one becomes a series!

The Red Palace

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Murder, She Writes

I was fortunate enough to recently receive some feedback on my writing from Kat Brzozowski (Senior Editor at Feiwell & Friends), she mentioned I should read The Red Palace, by June Hur. I’m so glad I did!

Hur’s YA historical mystery takes place in Korea in the year 1758. Hur’s lyrical prose pulls the reader right into the story without needing to explain everything. Though this era in history was previously unfamiliar to me, I was able to slide into this world through Hur’s effortless style. Of course, I doubt it was effortless (writing is hard!), but it felt effortless.

The protagonist, Hyeon works as a palace nurse, and when her mentor is accused of killing multiple women, Hyeon is called into action; despite warnings that she should stay out of trouble, she investigates to find the real killer. There are layers of challenges–a strict socioeconomic system, specific gender roles, and family complications. The clues lead the characters to believe that the Crown Prince could be responsible for the murders, which further complicates the story.

Along the way, Hyeon joins forces with Eojin, a police inspector and a romance flourishes. Hyeon and Eojin must work together to find the truth and put themselves in great danger.

The story has satisfying plot twists, unique settings, a fascinating social history, and a budding romance.

A unique and wonderful read with universal themes!

Crime to Spy

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Murder, She Writes

It’s been a busy few weeks with a plethora of essays to grade followed by a delightful trip to southern Colorado where I enjoyed time with my family.

Quaking aspens!

Today’s post is a look at Ashley Weaver’s historical Electra McDonnell series. The story takes place during WWII in London where Ellie McDonnell works with Uncle Mick, a locksmith, who, when necessary, also picks locks and breaks into the safes of the wealthy. One night while orchestrating an illegal job, they are caught and offered a deal: They can avoid arrest if they help the British government with some clandestine work. They agree though Ellie is not particularly taken with Major Ramsey, the uptight but (of course) attractive man in charge.

The plot is engaging with clever spy work, cryptic clues, and betrayal; Weaver employs twists and layers that keep the reader guessing.

Along with the adventures in espionage, Ellie and Major Ramsey move from frustration to admiration and back again, in a growing circle of attachment. Their romantic feelings are obvious though Ellie pretends they couldn’t possibly exist. A twist is that Ellie is also dealing with romantic feelings for her longtime family friend, Felix.

Which man will eventually win Ellie’s spirited heart?

Ellie is strong-willed and smart, and she eventually takes pride in helping the government; Ramsey reflects his name a bit. He craves order and is quick to anger when his plans are thwarted.

The characters experience doubt, fear, frustration, humor, compassion, and connection in their desire to stop the German spies.

I’ve been listening to this series on my commute, and it’s a great dive into the dangerous and intriguing past. My only frustration is that I have to wait until next year to read the 4th book in the series.

Needing a Little Humor?

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Murder, She Writes

I needed a little humor in my life.

Fortunately, I discovered The Cornish Wedding Murder by Fiona Leitch. As the title implies, something goes terribly wrong at a wedding . . . well right before the wedding. Jodie (Nosey) Parker has left policing in London at the Met to raise her daughter, Daisy in the quaint seaside town of Penstowan where Jodie grew up. With a new career to try out, Jodie’s first job is to cater an ex-boyfriend’s upcoming wedding, but things do not go exactly as planned. When the groom’s ex-wife is murdered and the bride-to-be goes missing, Jodie’s sleuthing skills emerge and she’s on the chase.

To complicate matters is an attractive but stern Detective Inspector who doesn’t initially appreciate Jodie butting into his investigation. Needless to say, the sparks fly . . .

Leitch has a number of witty lines.

. . . he should be in a Hallmark movie wearing a lumberjack shirt and running a pumpkin farm somewhere in the Midwest. The midwest of America, obviously. The mid-west of England would be Birmingham, which wasn’t known for either its romantic heroes or its cucurbit agriculture.

Fiona Leitch

The plot has satisfying twists as we are engaged from the start attempting to figure out the murder and what the heck happened to the future bride. There are great clues, suspicious characters, and a sweet setting.

Let’s not forget the food! This book has strong descriptive passages about tasty meals, something I love in a cozy mystery.

There are six books published in this series so far. This should supply many much-needed laughs in the months to come.

To Catch a Heart

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Murder, She Writes

Back from a trip to California . . .

I recently read Martha Brockenbrough’s sweet middle grade mystery novel, To Catch a Thief.

The story unfolds when an unknown thief steals a dragonfly staff, an important and reportedly lucky artifact for the quaint town of Urchin Beach. Amelia MacGuffin decides she will use her detective skills to find out who is behind the missing staff (and a number of other items that disappear).

To complicate matters, a major storm hits the community, odd new neighbors show up, and the MacGuffin children rescue a sweet dog that they probably will not be able to keep because their family cannot afford a pet.

I love the seaside town setting, and this book has heaps of fun characters: Dr. Agatha, the reclusive mystery writer; Dot and Dash, the new 7th-grade Morse-code-expert twins; Birdie, a student journalist, and even a grumpy real estate agent named Mike Jung (who interestingly shares the same name as a writer I met once . . .).

In fact, all sorts of writers are mentioned like Kekla Magoon, William Alexander, Linda Urban, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Kelly Barnhill, Anne Ursu, Laurel Snyder, Laura Ruby, Tracey Baptiste . . .

Writers who write books Amelia, her siblings, and even her dad love to read.

Amelia hoped she would grow up to be the kind of grown-up who remembered that kids know what’s good and not boring.

Martha Brockenbrough

At the core of this sweet mystery is the MacGuffin family: Amelia, and her younger siblings–Bridget, Colin, and the twins, Duncan and Emma.

I’m a big fan of Martha’s books. Her works include masterful syntax, funny dialogue, and strong plots, but most of all, she understands the emotional core of her characters. In this case, Ameilia realizes what is truly important in her world and this emotional core to the story feels completely authentic.

Like Mr. MacGuffin, I still read plenty of books for younger readers. What would 10-year-old Michèle have thought of this book? Would I have liked it? Oh, yes!

I really hope the adventures of Amelia and her crew will become a series!

Canadian Adventures

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Murder, She Writes

Design and Illustration by Margaret Hanson

I recently stumbled across a delightful series from British Columbia, the Lane Winslow mysteries by Iona Wishaw. This series has many tempting boxes to check: The setting, the historical era, the characters, and of course, twisty plots!

A Killer in King’s Cove begins in 1946 near Nelson, BC, we meet Lane Winslow, who left England and recently purchased a charming old house in King’s Cover where she plans to write and garden, but when a body turns up, her new peaceful life gets a tad more challenging. Lane worked as a British Intelligence officer in WWII and is mending from a broken heart and the horrors of war. Nevertheless, she is clearly a modern woman. She will not swoon at the sight of a corpse, and she’s persistent with coaxing seemly subtle clues that eventually reveal answers.

Other characters include eclectic neighbors and the attractive but aloof police detective, Inspector Darling, who tries to resist the allure of the beautiful and brilliant new resident. This slow-burn relationship builds with the series, as the two characters realize they cannot deny their connection.

I like Winshaw’s commitment to historical details; she’s clearly done her research. I also like the strong point-of-view shifts that build scene by scene as readers are introduced to other characters and other puzzle pieces of the plot. Like a focus on a lens, the story suddenly comes into view.

I’m eager to read more books in this series!

Gaudy Feelings

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Murder, She Writes

I’m heading back in time to one of my favorite writers from the heyday of British detective fiction, Dorothy L. Sayers. The protagonist in Sayers’ novels is Lord Peter Wimsey, an intelligent, wealthy British nobleman veteran who suffers from bouts of PTSD when he isn’t solving mysteries.

Harriet Vane, a mystery writer, and Wimsey’s love interest, first shows up in Strong Poison, where she is accused of her lover’s murder until Wimsey figures out what really happened. Wimsey wants to marry her, but she hesitates to marry him for a number of reasons, both rational and irrational.

Gaudy Nights takes place at Oxford University in the fictional women’s college, Shrewsbury. Harriet Vane reluctantly returns to an annual reunion, called a Gaudy at the request of an ill former classmate. Soon she is engrossed in a mystery at the college, where a poisoned pen writer is sending out hateful messages to students and faculty. This mystery Harriet works on methodically and with an intellect not often seen in female characters of the era.

In all her novels, Sayers considers the psychology of our experiences–love, shame, anger, guilt, and more. Gaudy Nights, in particular, provides plenty of opportunities for Harriet Vane’s perspective on the roles of women, marriage, her own role in marriage (if she were to marry Wimsey), and the challenges of being attracted to someone while concerned about the long-term outcomes of where attraction can lead. Will she lose her sense of self?

I enjoy the banter and intellectual interactions between Vane and Wimsey. As the story evolves, the mystery of the person behind the poisoned pen notes and all-around mischief-maker grows increasingly dangerous. Sayers was a master at complex plots with heaps of clues in multiple directions; that is one of the many reasons I find her novels worthwhile.

Though Sayer asserts a critical view of the treatment of women, especially intellectual women, there are some classic male and female tropes. Considering the publication date of 1935, the underlying stereotypes represent a reflection of the era. With that said, Wimsey is one of the early detective characters who evolves over time as a complex human, not merely a bright and witty rich guy. Vane’s leading role in this novel demonstrates Sayer’s understanding that a woman’s perspective is as valuable as a man’s.

“What are you to do with the people who are cursed with both hearts and brains?”

Doorothy L. Sayers

There is a solution, but I will not give it away!

Sinclair’s Sleuths

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The first post in my new series, Murder, She Writes!

This cover! Cover and interior illustrations by Júlia Sardà

Let’s start with a delightful middle grade series, The Sinclair’s Mysteries by Katherine Woodfine.

The Clockwork Sparrow, The Jeweled Moth, The Painted Dragon, and The Midnight Peacock.

Set in London in 1909, readers meet Sophie Taylor who recently lost her father and must make a life of her own in the big city. Sophie gets a job as a hat clerk at an extravagant new Sinclair’s department store. There she meets Billy, Lil, and Joe, and they team up to solve the mystery of the missing Clockwork Sparrow, a beautiful jeweled bird that may or may not also be an infernal machine!

The story has rich and accurate historical details, the plot is quick and twisty, and, as a reader, you will find yourself growing quite fond of the characters as they work their way through complex clues and get themselves in and out of increasingly dangerous mishaps.

I also loved the audio version of this book. I have a commute for my day job and often found myself pausing in the parking lot eager to hear the next exciting scene.

Woodfine’s impressive research made me feel as if I had slipped into a time machine and traveled back to Edwardian era London. Sinclair’s where Sophie helps wealthy women try on the latest millinery fashion, has roots in real department stores from the era. You can find out more about the history of these luxury stores in Katherine Woodfine’s blog, Follow The Yellow

The characters come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and as the series progresses, additional characters become more diverse. Woodfine gives each of the characters depth with unique interests and backgrounds. At the core of the story are four friends: Sophie, quiet, intelligent, and persistent; Lil, the adventure-seeker and iced bun devotee; Billy, boy detective hopeful; and Joe, whose kindness leads him away from a gang and into a world with real friends.

Each book has a specific plot with a resolution, but, in addition, a bigger mystery weaves its way into all four books. I found myself surprised and enchanted by the story.

I raced through the books with important questions:

Who is the mysterious Baron?

Is the eccentric Edward Sinclair keeping a secret?

These questions and more were answered with a satisfying ending in The Midnight Peacock.

Woodfine also wrote another series, Taylor & Rose Secret Agents, which takes the characters on thrilling adventures around the world. We’ll visit those books in a future blog post.

The Sinclair’s Mysteries are mysteries worth reading!

A Fresh Start

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It’s been a while since I blogged in earnest, so I’m starting my blog again.

I contemplated what I should post. My life is kind of yawn-inducing. I thought about writing about writing, but I didn’t just want another “how to” blog.

I thought about my deep dive into mystery novels.

During the height of the pandemic, mystery novels took over all of my reading. I read classics, contemporary, cozies, police procedurals, and private detectives. I read middle grade, YA, and adult books, and I’m still reading . . . 

Why mysteries? I’m writing mysteries, so I wanted to know more about how writers approach their stories. But, I think there is something else as well; I think the allure of reading mysteries is the innate need we have to believe that justice will prevail, intellect reveals the truth, and persistence will pay off.

This is why I’m going to start with blog posts covering a book, author, or series.

Instead of a traditional book review, I’m going to cover two elements of the work.

  1. I will share what I liked about the book (without spoilers) from the reader’s perspective. What makes the book compelling? Twisty plots, compelling characters, enticing settings, humor, heart-pounding passages, romance . . .
  2. I will analyze the craft. From the writer’s perspective, I’ll share what the writer does well to make the story work.

I learn a great deal from everything I read. Obviously, some books are better than others; I have books and series I read again and again, but even if a book isn’t perfect (does one exist?), there’s always something to gain by reading, thinking, and writing about books.

Stay tuned for Murder, She Writes!

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