Delicious Fromage!

When I pulled it out of the box of newly delivered DVDs, I had never heard of the 2008 BBC series Bonekickers. From the writers of Life on Mars, Bonekickers, set at the fictional Wessex University, is a little bit Kathy Reichs, a little bit Indiana Jones, and a little bit Dan Brown.

Dr. Gillian Magwilde is the spitfire team leader who is afraid of nothing: risking poisonous gases, deep wells, and dark tunnels, she breaks the rules to get her answers. Her cockiness is balanced by the down-to-earth Ben Ergha, who challenges Gillian's quests for stupendous results and attempts to keep her focused and out of danger. Gregory Parton is a loquacious walking encyclopedia with a taste for women and spirits. Their team has newly added Vivian, a young intern who is the target for Gregory's attentions and Gillian's wrath, who has a quest of her own.

The episodes deal with disparate periods of history and characters: the Knights Templar, U.S. slaves, the Roman occupation of Britain, ancient Iraq, Joan of Arc and King Arthur, yet all the stories feature a common thread, an artifact that Gillian's mother spent her life looking for, and which led to her mental demise. The acting is excellent, and the plot lines intriguing. Unfortunately, the script, along with the editing, are bordering on dreadful. Does this make for a bad show? I will argue that it is quite the contrary.

While there are aspects of the show I didn't like (the shaky camera and unusual filming angles, the egotistical attitudes of some of the characters in their introductory scenes, the inconsistencies in Gillian's point of view from the importance non-traditional thinking in one episode to rejecting the same sentiment in Ben's theories in another, some totally cheesy lines and outlandish, convoluted storylines), curiously, as a whole, I liked it. While I prefer a slower character development, once I got over the initial shock of being thrown right into the series, I enjoyed the historic backgrounds of the show, the 'flashbacks,' and the settings. I was interested in the personal dynamics between the characters, and I even laughed at some of those cheesy lines, such as Gregory yelling at a gang of murderous thugs "Don't mess with me; I'm an archaeologist!"

Due to low ratings, the show only lasted the one season, about which I feel rather disappointed. While I felt Bonekickers took itself a bit too seriously sometimes, it was a good ride. I would have delighted in seeing them tackle and solve more long-standing archaeological mysteries, take on more baddies, and deliver, with a straight face, lines like "Right, bras off" (you'll just have to watch to find out).

Great Gamache

Quebec author Louise Penny's latest installment of her Three Pines series, like her previous titles, does not disappoint. The Brutal Telling again features the brilliantly conceived Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, an intelligent, well-read, calm and highly respected murder investigator, his right-hand man Inspector Beauvior, quick tempered and narrow minded, and a bevy of local characters, including the horrendously mannered award winning poet Ruth Zardo and her pet duck, competing husband and wife artists Peter and Clara Morrow, and larger than life Gabri who runs a bistro with his partner Oliver, the latter of whom is at the centre of the book's investigation.

When a dead body is found in Oliver's bistro, a bizarre set of circumstances unfolds. Was the man local? Why does no one recognise him? Where does he live? How old is he? And how did he acquire the priceless items eventually found at his residence? Penny reveals the answers to these questions with an old-time mystery appeal. The plot is intriguing, and twists and turns from what seems to obvious answer. It is vivid in its imagery and description, and the balance of characters and their interplay is realistic and engaging. For example, Beauvoir, a bit lacking in romanticism and imagination, is amazed that Gamache can take the time to admire a stunning sunset in the middle of a murder investigation, or 'marvel' in the perfection of an autumn leaf.

The dry sense of humour is also delightful. A mother responds to her son's incredulousness about his father being alive after years of supposing he was dead with "I might have exaggerated." As a former Montreal Anglophone, I particularly like Beauvoir's observations on long-standing cultural prejudices, such as "the English he knew to be all the same. Nuts."

The town of Three Pines itself is a major character in Penny's books. Nestled in Quebec's Eastern Townships, amidst maple trees and gently rolling hills, many of the characters are former Montrealers who gave up the fast paced lifestyle and stressful city lifestyle for a quieter life in the country. In fact, Penny's descriptions of Three Pines has helped to increase tourism to that region. The combination of location and characters makes all of Penny's books sensational reading.

http://www.manoirhovey.com/presse/Globe%20and%20Mail%2009%2012%2018.pdf

Also see Penny's website for titles in the series, pronunciation guides, and photos of the Eastern Townships.

http://www.louisepenny.com/

New year, 'new' author

A few weeks ago I wrote about my favourite books which combine past and present lives. Here is an addition to that list!

A new 'discovery' for me, author M.J. Rose's The Reincarnationist focuses on Josh Ryder, a photographer who, while enraptured with a confrontation between a police officer and a woman pushing a stroller, has a near death experience. Afterwards, he has visions of Julius, a 4th century pagan priest in Rome. Julius watches as Emperor Theodosius outlaws paganism, disbands the Vestal Virgins, and authorises the destruction of non-Christian places of worship.

In present day Rome, Josh becomes involved with Professor Gabriella Chase, an historian interested in a 4th century tomb of the last Vestal Virgin, who's mummimified body clasps a collection of precious gems. The gems are believed to be The Memory Stones, which are crucial to people being able to remember past lives. When they are stolen, Josh and Gabriella become entwined with numerous questions, threats and dangers.

The Reincarnationist is a great thriller, a la Da Vinci Code, albeit a bit of a slower pace, and with substantially less information (which is not a negative characteristic!). There were certain sections, which while interesting, I think could have been left out without detracting from the story. Also like The Da Vinci Code, the book is more than just a thriller: it is a commentary on religion, politics and leaders, particularly the subject of reincarnation in Christian culture. As the characters of the book point out, if a soul is reborn and humans in charge of their fate and afterlife, it would detract power from the Church and its leaders as the sole method of absolution on earth.

A good way to start off a new year of reading.

An untimely passing

A while ago, I listed a number of my favourite mysteries. Included on the list was the Lara McClintoch Archeaological Series by Lyn Hamilton. It was with regret that I read about Hamilton's death from cancer over the weekend.

Lara, a Toronto based antiques dealer, came to being late in Hamilton's life. After working in communications, and being responsible for archeological and heritage conservation projects as director of Ontario's Cultural Programs Branch, the author published The Xibalba Murders in 1997. The title earned her a nomination for the Arthur Ellis Award for best first crime novel in Canada. Her 2003 book, The Celtic Riddle, served as the basis for a Murder She Wrote television movie, with Jessica Fletcher taking over from Lara as sleuth. With eleven adventures under Lara's belt, Hamilton wrapped up the series in 2007 with The Chinese Alchemist, in order to focus on helping new writers, and with a vague promise that she may return to writing. A private person, she was likely already fighting her cancer.



The elements I enjoy about the Lara McClintoch series, in addition to Lara's unenviable talent to stumble upon a murder virtually everywhere she went, are Hamilton's interests in the archaeology and history of different geographical regions and cultures. I always felt like I was taking a mini-vacation, albeit a bloody and violent one, while learning bits and pieces of said regions and cultures. And Lara is a likable, feisty, and intelligent heroine. And a pretty good sport, considering her outings inevitably end up far from relaxing.

For anyone who has not indulged themselves in one of Lyn Hamilton's mystery, I think it would be a wonderful homage to the author to pick one up and feel some regret that her talent was lost too soon.


For a complete list of Hamilton's Lara McClintoch series and more information, visit her website at www.lynhamilton.com.