A Musical Salute ;-)

Today (or tomorrow, depending on when you read this), we’re celebrating Independence Day in the U.S.. This year I’ve thought of a different sort of way to observe the occasion. I hope you enjoy
 

 

I wish a happy and safe Independence Day to my U.S. readers!

But I’ve Reason to Believe We All Will Be Received in Graceland*

One of the things people love to do when they travel is visit famous places – monuments if you want to call them that. We’re drawn to places such as the pyramids in Egypt, the Washington Monument in Washington DC, Buckingham Palace and the Taj Mahal at Agra for a number of reasons. They’re beautiful, they’re richly steeped in history and they’re often interesting in their own right. They also can make really interesting backdrops to crime fiction novels, especially for those who enjoy virtual travel as they read.

Several of Agatha Christie’s novels have monuments and famous places as their backgrounds. For instance, in Death on the Nile, newlyweds Simon and Linnet Doyle are taking a honeymoon cruise of the Nile, during which they stop at several of the famous pyramids. On the second night of the cruise, Linnet is shot. The most likely suspect is Linnet’s former best friend (and Simon’s former fiancée) Jacqueline de Bellefort. But she has an unimpeachable alibi, so someone else must have murdered Linnet Doyle. Hercule Poirot is on the cruise as is Colonel Race. So the two of them look among the other passengers to see who would have wanted to kill the victim and why. In Christie’s Appointment With Death, the ancient city of Petra is the tourist destination for the American Boynton family. While they’re there, matriarch Mrs. Boynton dies of what turns out to be a deliberate overdose of digitalis. Poirot is traveling in the Middle East and works with Colonel Carbury to find out who the murderer is, and they’ve got several suspects from whom to choose. Mrs. Boynton was a mental tyrant and all of the members of her family wanted to be free of her. In the end, that tyrannical personality is the reason she’s killed.

There are many famous places in the US capital of Washington, so it’s not surprising that they figure in the setting for murders that take place there. Margaret Truman’s Capital Crimes series focuses on several of those places. For example, Murder in the White House, her debut, is the story of the murder of Secretary of State Lansford Blaine. Blaine is shot late one night in one of the high-security areas of the White House, where the tourists don’t get to go. President-elect Robert Webster wants to give the impression that the investigation of the murder is transparent. So he appoints Special Counsel to the President Ron Fairbanks the task of overseeing that investigation. Fairbanks begins to look into the murder and finds out that there are several people who might have had a good motive for murder – including Webster himself. Washington’s Kennedy Center is the setting for the murder of campaign staffer Andrea Feldman in Truman’s Murder at the Kennedy Center. The sleuth in that novel is attorney and Georgetown School of Law professor Mackensie “Mac” Smith. Feldman worked for Senator Ken Ewald, a friend of Smith’s. When Ewald’s son is accused of the murder, Ewald asks Smith to act for the family. This means that Smith will have to find out who really killed Feldman, and there’s a list of people who could have committed the crime. In the end we find that Feldman was killed because she trusted where she should not have trusted.

Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef series features chef Olivia “Ollie” Paras. This series of course also takes place mostly at the White House, and readers get an “inside look” at the workings of one of the US’s best-known landmarks.

Rita Mae Brown’s Murder at Monticello takes place at the Virginia home of US president Thomas Jefferson. An archaeological team led by Kimball Hayes has been granted permission to excavate the ruins of a cottage that’s recently been discovered at Monticello. There’s a gala to celebrate the official beginning of the dig, and several locals, including Brown’s sleuth postmistress Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen are invited. To the dig team’s surprise, they discover the skeleton of a man who died in that cottage in the early 1800’s. When word gets round about the skeleton, there’s a lot of speculation as to the victim’s identity and what he might have been doing at the cottage. Then, Kimball Haynes is shot. Now, Sheriff Rick Shaw and Deputy Sheriff Cynthia “Coop” Cooper have two murder investigations on their hands. Harry suspects that there is a local connection to both murders and in the end we find that someone in the area did not want some historical truths to come to light.

Riley Adams’ (AKA Elizabeth Spann Craig) Memphis Barbecue series features Aunt Pat’s Barbecue, a popular Memphis restaurant. Aunt Pat’s is owned by Lulu Taylor and her family and is a watering hole for the locals. A group of those locals also serve as docents at Elvis Presley’s home at Graceland. In Finger Lickin’ Dead, Flo, one of the docents and a friend of Lulu Taylor’s, is helping a particularly difficult bride named Ashley and her mother Cynthia arrange a wedding at Graceland’s chapel, and everything has to be perfect. The wedding plans take second place in everyone’s mind when Adam Cawthorn is found murdered. Cawthorn is the real person behind “Eppie Currian,” a restaurant critic who’s been excoriating local restaurants, so there are plenty of suspects including his ex-wife and soon-to-be-wife-again Evelyn Wade, who is also a friend of Lulu Taylor’s. Then, on the afternoon of Cawthorn’s funeral, his wife Ginger, from whom he was separated, is also murdered. Lulu is sure that her friend is not guilty of either murder and begins to ask questions. Meanwhile the Graceland wedding looms closer and everyone’s frantically trying to help Flo get ready for it. I don’t think it’s giving away spoilers to say that Graceland is the scene of the wedding and a dramatic showdown with the killer, and nearly the scene of another murder.

And then there’s Pablo de Santis’ The Paris Enigma. In that novel, we meet Sigmundo Salvatrio, son of a Buenos Aires shoemaker and aspiring detective. He is thrilled when he selected to be one of the “chosen few” admitted to the Academy for Detectives founded by world-famous sleuth Renato Craig. Craig is one of a group of top-notch detectives known as The Twelve, which is slated to do a presentation at the upcoming Paris World’s Fair. When Craig proves unable to attend the fair, he sends Salvatrio in his place. Salvatrio travels to Paris and meets the rest of The Twelve, including the group’s co-founder Viktor Arkazy. Everything is all ready for the opening of the fair when Paris detective Louis Darbon, one of the The Twelve, is murdered in a fall from the brand-new Eiffel Tower. Then there’s another death. Now it looks as though someone is targeting the members of The Twelve. Salvatrio works with Arkazy to find out who the killer is.

There are a lot of other crime fiction novels that take place at monuments and other famous places – many more than I have room for in this post. Which ones have you enjoyed?

 

ps. The ‘photo is of Sky Tower. Located in Auckland, it’s the tallest human-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere. See that narrow point close to the top? I was up there; it was an incredible experience…

 

 

 

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Paul Simon’s Graceland.

You Opened Up the Door*

A really interesting post by mystery novelist Elizabeth Spann Craig got me to thinking about one of the debates that always seems to be simmering in the reading world: the roles of genre fiction and literary fiction. Elizabeth makes the very well-taken point that for many people, genre fiction can open the door, as you might say, to other kinds of fiction. It’s accessible. I certainly think that’s the case with crime fiction. Many people who don’t think they enjoy literary fiction or even reading in general find themselves drawn to a good crime novel. And that makes sense. Crime fiction tells the whole of the human story, really. It is about us. And in a well-written crime novel, readers identify with the characters, get caught up in the suspense of the mystery, and feel a strong sense of place, too. Little wonder the genre draws readers in.

Besides resonating with readers, crime fiction has lots of different sub-genres and is written in many different styles. So no matter what one’s interests are, there’s bound to be some crime fiction novel or series that appeals. I’ll just give a few examples of what I mean; I’m sure you could think of many more than I could anyway.

For one thing, crime fiction is written at a lot of different reading levels, including those intended for children. Young readers can start trying to figure out mysteries quite early in their school years. For example, Harry Allard and James Marshall’s Miss Nelson is Missing! is written for children between the ages of 5 or 6 and 8 years of age. It tells the story of a kindly teacher who’s treated badly by her students – until the day she mysteriously disappears and is replaced by a much stricter, mean teacher. The students very soon find that they miss their former teacher and want her back, so they ask Detective McSmogg to find out what happened to Miss Nelson. When McSmogg finds out the truth, the children also learn an important lesson.

Crime fiction is so varied that people with just about any interest can find something they like. For instance, some crime fiction (Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef series and Kerry Greenwood’s Corrina Chapman series come to my mind) is food-themed. Kitchen wizards who may not enjoy reading other kinds of books may very well find a series such as Hyzy’s or Greenwood’s that pulls them in. Outdoors enthusiasts and naturalists who might not otherwise think they enjoy reading could easily get drawn in by C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series or Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series. There are even plenty of mystery/crime fiction novels with a fantasy/paranormal twist, such as M.J. Grothoff’s Everwing novels. There are a number of other examples, too, of themed series. Series like that can pull a person into reading in a way that other kinds of novels and series might not be able to do. History, politics, religion, travel, romance, humour – it’s all there in crime fiction and because of that variety, the genre draws in all sorts of readers who might not otherwise think of themselves as readers.

And crime fiction isn’t just accessible in terms of its themes, reading levels and topics. Crime fiction is available in so many different formats that it’s accessible to people no matter what their preferences. There are world-famous mystery plays (Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, anyone?). There are some wonderful crime fiction short stories and short story collections. There’s flash- and micro-fiction, too. There are also mystery games such as the ones written by  mystery author and blogger Elspeth Antonelli, “Mystery Weekends” and other interactive mystery events. There are all sorts of computer games, including some very interactive ones, in which players learn about and solve mysteries. There are also plenty of comics and graphic novels focused on mystery and crime fiction. And I need not mention the myriad crime fiction stories on television and film (but I will anyway). So no matter how one best enjoys fiction, there’s probably something in crime fiction that will appeal.

But what about that connection between genre fiction (in this case, crime fiction) and literary fiction?  Once people find themselves enjoying crime fiction, is it a great “leap” to other kinds of fiction, including literary fiction? The thing is, there doesn’t have to be a great division between the two. As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, lots of what people think of as literary fiction is arguably crime fiction. Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, in which we learn of the mysterious life and death of Max de Winter’s first wife Rebecca, comes to my mind right away. But it’s far from the only example. Several of Shakespeare’s plays (Hamlet and Macbeth are only two examples) deal with murder or other crimes. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of a man on trial for a murder he didn’t commit. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart tells about the life of Okonkwo, a leader in his village of Umofia. The story follows Okonkwo and what happens to him and his family as a result of the coming of White people to his part of Africa, and the struggle between the traditional ways of doing things and new ways of doing things. But Things Fall Apart is also the story of the murder of Ikemefuna, a young boy who’s taken prisoner as a settlement between the village of Umofia and another village. Other murders also occur in the story as the people of Umofia come to terms with the new arrivals. All of these novels and plays are considered great literature. They are also all arguably crime fiction.

There’s plenty of crime fiction, too, that has great literary merit. For instance, Peter Temple’s Truth is the story of Victoria Inspector Stephen Villani, whose team investigates several different crimes during a hot and dangerous fire season. A young woman is found dead in a very posh apartment, the bodies of three drug dealers are found in an abandoned warehouse, and no-one seems to want those crimes solved. To add to things, Villani’s personal life is no easy road. He’s been unfaithful to his wife, and hasn’t been an attentive father. He’s also worn out and wounded by life on the police force. This is definitely a crime fiction novel but it is also a fine example of literary fiction; in fact, Truth was the winner of Australia’s 2010 Miles Franklin Award, a literary prize going to the best Australian “’published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases.”

There’s also P.D. James, whose novels are rightfully considered crime fiction. And yet, Death in Holy Orders was shortlisted for the 2002 WH Smith Literary Award. In that novel, Commander Adam Dalgliesh investigates the death of Ronald Treeves, who was preparing for the ministry at St. Anselm’s, a theological college. According to the coroner’s verdict, Treeves’ death was an accident, but his father Sir Alred Treeves doesn’t think that verdict is correct. So he asks Dalgliesh to investigate. You can argue that novels like James’ are literary works even though they are usually classified as crime fiction.

If you think about it, crime fiction is a really effective and accessible way for people to begin to experience all sorts of other kind of fiction, including what most people call literary fiction. There isn’t always a clear dividing line between genre fiction such as crime fiction on the one hand, and literary fiction on the other. So it makes sense that the one might lead to the other. But what do you think? Has your interest in one led to the other? Do you see a great division between genre and literary fiction?

 

 

 

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Journey’s Opened The Door.

The Alphabet in Crime Fiction: Z is for Ziti and Other Delicious Food

The Alphabet in Crime Fiction community meme has reached its destination! Thanks to our leader Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise, we’ve made it to the last letter of the alphabet with no casualties (except, perhaps, our book-buying budgets ).  Before I go any further, I’d like to take a moment and specially thank Kerrie for organising this terrific trip through the alphabet. Please do visit her superb blog, Mysteries in Paradise. It’s a treasure trove of crime fiction news, reviews and resources. If you like crime fiction, I think you’ll find that it’s a “must include” on your blogroll. I know I visit it daily.

So now, on to our final stop. We’ve all had a long journey, so I think it’s appropriate that we all take time for a good meal. That’s why my contribution for this last stop – the letter “Z/Zed” is Ziti and other delicious food. It’s interesting when you think about it how many crime fiction novels and series are centered on fine food. And there are lots of sleuths who truly appreciate a good meal.

Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, for instance, is a gourmand. In Mrs. McGinty’s Dead, for instance, he’s pleased because he’s just discovered a new restaurant and has truly enjoyed his meal. As he himself admits, being a gourmand does present difficulties. After all, one can only eat three meals a day. Nonetheless, he’s happy with his find, but when he returns to his home, he’s told he has a visitor. Superintendent Spence has come to ask a favour. An elderly charwoman has been murdered in her home, and all of the evidence points to her unprepossessing lodger James Bentley. On the evidence, Spence had no choice but to arrest the man, and now he’s been tried and convicted. In fact, Bentley is due to be executed. But Spence doesn’t think Bentley’s guilty, so he asks Poirot to investigate. Poirot agrees and travels to the village of Broadhinny, where the victim and her lodger lived. He soon finds out that more than one person had a reason to kill Mrs. McGinty, and as the novel evolves, we learn more and more about some of the secrets the villagers would like to hide. In the end, Poirot gets to the truth about Mrs. McGinty’s murder, but he pays a price. While in Broadhinny, Poirot stays at Long Meadows, a Guest House run by Maureen and Johnnie Summerhayes. They’re a pleasant and well-liked couple but neither has any idea of how to prepare a decent meal. Poirot suffers through more than one culinary catastrophe and is not pleased about it.

Roderic Jeffries’ Inspector Enrique Alvarez is also a gourmand. He lives and works on the island of Majorca, but he doesn’t let his job get in the way of good living. He loves good food and brandy, and gets very out-of-sorts when he’s not eating well. Alvarez’ cousin Dolores keeps house for him and does the cooking, so she’s got a lot of power in his life. For instance, in Definitely Deceased, Dolores wants Alvarez to clear the name of her cousin-by-marriage Miguel Munar. Munar is suspected of smuggling, but Dolores doesn’t think he’s guilty. Alvarez isn’t eager to investigate this case because it’s not in his jurisdiction. Besides, he’s never overly eager to take on another case. But Dolores finds a unique way to get Alvarez to co-operate. She punishes him with bad cooking. After a short time, Alvarez realises that the only way to restore domestic harmony (and settle his stomach) is to look into the Munar case, so he does. Munar tells Alvarez  that there is one witness who could corroborate his innocence, but that witness has disappeared. And then a headless, handless body is discovered in the mountains, and it looks as though that could be the body of the elusive witness. Of course things aren’t as simple as they seem, and Alvarez has his work cut out for him if he’s going to eat well again.

Donna Leon’s Inspector Guido Brunetti is fortunate enough to be married to a talented cook. Paola Falier is a professor by vocation, but she’s also skilled in the kitchen, which is why Brunetti does his best to be home for meals. Several of Leon’s novels depict the Brunetti family meals in very appealing ways, and I could list some of those descriptions, but you’re better off reading them yourself. I’ll just mention one of my favourite quotes about Paola’s cooking. In About Face, Brunetti and Ispettore Vianello investigate the murder of a trucking-company owner, some mysterious business dealings and dangerous and illegal toxic waste hauling. One morning, Brunetti and his wife awake to snow. Brunetti gets up, opens the window and presses his hand into it. When he returns to his bed, Paola says,

 

“‘If you put that hand anywhere near me, I will divorce you and take the children.’
They’re old enough to decide themselves,’ he answered with what he thought was Olympian calm.
‘I cook,’ she said.
‘Indeed,’ he said in acknowledgment of defeat.”

 

Wise decision, I think.

And of course, no discussion of ziti or any wonderful food would be complete without a mention of Andrea Camilleri’s Salvo Montalbano. He lives in Sicily and knows every good trattoria in the area. Montalbano takes his food very seriously and is always appreciative of a well-made meal. In fact, that’s one thing that worries him about the ongoing friction between his housekeeper Adelina and his lover Livia. Adelina is a top-notch cook and always makes sure that Montalbano eats well at home. He has no desire to alienate her. On the other hand, he loves Livia. It’s quite a dilemma for Montalbano. One of my favourite quotes about the way Montalbano feels about food comes from The Snack Thief, in which he, Mimì Augello, Fazio and the rest of the team investigate the shooting death of a Tunisian sailor and the stabbing death of a retired businessman who was killed in the elevator of his apartment house. At one point, Montalbano’s eating his lunch when Mimì joins him at the restaurant and orders a plate of spaghetti with clams:
 

“When the spaghetti arrived, Montalbano had fortunately finished his hake. Fortunately because Mimì proceeded to sprinkle a generous helping of parmesan cheese over his plate. Christ! Even a hyena, which, being a hyena, feeds on carrion, would have been sickened to see a dish of pasta with clam sauce covered with Parmesan!”  

 

Gourmet cuisine is a central focus of Julie Hyzy’s White House chef series. That series features White House chef Olivia “Ollie” Paras. Because of what Paras does for a living, there’s plenty of delicious food featured in this series. Because of where Paras works, there’s also plenty of political and other intrigue going on. Paras herself is strong-willed, intelligent and witty without being insufferable, and flawed without being stereotypically haunted by demons.

I’d also like to share with those of you who don’t know about it a truly delicious mystery blog, Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. This blog has several contributors, all of them crime fiction writers. The regular contributors are Avery Aames, Ellery Adams,  Elizabeth Spann Craig (who contributes as Riley Adams), Sheila Connelly, Cleo Coyle, Krista Davis, MJ Maffini and Wendy Lyn Watson. There are lots of guest contributors, too. This blog offers some truly tasty recipes and a search function so you can look for all sorts of cooking ideas. I recommend it.

There are lots of other crime fiction novels and series that focus on wonderful food. I’d mention more, but I’m hungry, so I think I’ll go get something to eat .  Which are your favourites?

 

 

Ps…. Oh, the ‘photo? That’s a picture of Roman-style ziti with tomatoes, olives and capers. Appropriate, I thought, for a crime fiction blog .