Worth the wait?

I remember several incidents when a new title in Stephen King's Dark Tower series would be released where library patrons would amiable complain that King needed to write the next book faster, as they were impatiently waiting for more! I would question them on whether they thought it would be worth it; perhaps the books were so compelling and left you wanting more because the author took his time writing them. If they were whipped off quicker, would it be as satisfactory?

Several times I've found myself in the same position with my favourite authors, thinking 'come on already, it's been two years! You must have SOMETHING to release!!!' With mystery author Erin Hart, I've been biding my patience for six, yes six, years for her next entry in the Cormac Maguire/Nora Gavin series. The first two titles, Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows, focused on Nora's fleeing to Ireland after her sister Triona's murder, seemingly committed by Triona's husband Peter. There, Nora stumbles upon two local mysteries, which she and Cormac help to solve. Hart's new release, False Mermaid finds Nora returning to the U.S. to finally confront her demons, namely, Peter.

The plot focuses on Nora's investigation in the States, where she discovers Peter is engaged to the younger sister of Nora's ex-fiance. She fears that Peter will do to Miranda what he did to Triona: slip her drugs which make her black out, make her suspicious of her own family, manipulate her into otherwise uncharacteristic actions. Nora also worries on how to approach her young niece, Elizabeth, who is unaware of the details of her mother's death,and must adjust to her new step-mother.

The storyline shifts to Co. Donegal, Ireland, where Cormac is trying to bond with his ailing father. There he finds one of his colleagues, a folklorist interested in the history of a missing local woman from the 19th century believed to be a selkie, living with Joseph Maguire in his isolated homestead. The story of the selkie plays a pivotal role in False Mermaid, as Elizabeth, like her mother in her youth, is also intrigued in this 'fairy tale.' So, like Hart's first two mysteries, False Mermaid ties in a current crime investigation with an older one, while examining rituals, traditions, and superstitions of a past people.

So, is False Mermaid worth a six year wait? Uhm, somewhat yes, somewhat no. It's a great book, and very gripping. The tiny details, the intriguing primary and secondary characters, the family relationships, the myth of the selkie tying in with the role of the modern day woman and her freedom and identity, the fast paced storyline, are all fascinating. As a stand alone book, it's excellent; but as part of a series I really enjoy combined with a six year wait, it's a bit of a disappointment. I think this largely stems from the fact that I prefer the Irish setting of the first two books, and the prehistoric subplot, albeit I enjoyed the selkie storyline most in this book. Perhaps if the book had been released in a more timely manner, or Erin Hart was a new author to me and I read the three books in quick succession, then my anticipation would not have reached the almost unbearable stage, and my expectations may have been better satisfied.

That said, however, nothing could have prepared me for the somewhat, I felt, rushed ending, which truly had me scratching my head in confusion regarding certain elements, but also leaving me feeling dread at its sense of finality! I want more! And hopefully before 2016!

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/

Remarkable Russell

After an agonising four years, mystery author Laurie R. King brings Mary Russell and her husband, the great Sherlock Holmes, back in The Language of Bees. King's dynamic duo not only returns in print, but after seven harrowing months abroad, home to Sussex. Immediately, Holmes is immersed in a domestic mystery of the 'death' of one of his beehives. What the two don't realise is that soon, a bigger mystery will overtake their lives, tracking down Holmes' son Damian Adler. Adler is accused in a number of murders and disappearances, including that of his own wife and daughter. The violent episodes appear to centre around celestial events and ancient monuments such as Stonehenge.

The characteristic I enjoy most about King's Mary Russell series is its old-fashioned quality. In this day and age of fax machines, emails, digital cameras, television and mobile phones, it would be relatively easy to inform the public about the roaming of a dangerous predator. Not so for poor Russell; in order to try to apprehend her suspect, she hires the (supposedly) quickest form of transportation, a single engine airplane, which still takes her a matter of days and a great deal of frustration to travel eleven hundred kilometres. I also enjoy Holmes' classic keen sense of observation, and deduction of an item's appearance at a crime scene. Clever language and fine detail are key components; these are not fast paced books, but they offer suspense and intrigue, all the while encouraging readers to take their time and relish it all.

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.

My Favourite Mystery Series

Gunshots and blood spots
And mayhem abounded.
Who dunnit, I dunno, I am confounded.
Killers and victims, their sordid hist’ries…
These are a few of my fav’rite myst’ries.

Erin Hart Haunted Ground, Lake of Sorrows
Death and destiny, myth and mystery,forensics, history, archaeology, suspense, in Ireland past and present.


Laurie King Mary Russell series: The Beekeeper's Apprentice; A Monstrous Regiment of Women; A Letter of Mary; The Moor; O Jerusalem; Justice Hall; The Game; Locked Rooms
Young Mary Russell lost her family in a tragedy, but fate lends a hand when she meets and matches the brilliant Sherlock Holmes, who becomes a major player in her life.


Iain Pears Art History Mysteries: The Raphael Affair; The Titian Committee; The Bernini Bust; Giotto's Hand; Death and Restoration; The Immaculate Deception
The adventures of British art historian Jonathan Argyll and two members of the (fictitious) Art Squad of the Italian police: researcher Flavia di Stefano and the head of the squad, General Bottando.


Peter Tremayne Sister Fidelma Mysteries: Absolution by Murder; The Monk who Vanished; Badger's Moon; Act of Mercy; Suffer Little Children; Shroud for the Archbishop; The Subtle Serpent; Valley of the Shadow; The Spider's Web; The Haunted Abbot; Master of Souls; A Prayer for the Damned.
Sister Fidelma is not simply a 7th century Irish religieuse, a former member of the community of St Brigid of Kildare. She is also a qualified dalaigh, or advocate of the ancient law courts. With her companion, Brother Eadulf, Fidelma travels through Ireland, the British Isles, and as far as Rome using her knowledge to find the guilty party.


Sharyn McCrumb The Ballad Novels: If I Ever Return, My Pretty Peggy-O; The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter; She Walks These Hills; The Rosewood Casket; The Ballad of Frankie Silver; The Songcatcher; Ghost Riders.
In the mountains of Appalachia, seer Nora Bonesteel could tell Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his small staff a thing or two in advance while they try to maintain their town's law and order.


Margaret Coel Wind River series: Eagle Catcher; Dream Stalker; Story Teller; Lost Bird; Spirit Woman; Thunder Keeper; Shadow Dancer; Killing Raven; Wife of Moon; Eye of the Wolf; Drowning Man
Father John O'Malley and attorney Vicki Holden work together to help the people of the Arapaho Wind River Reservation.


Lyn Hamilton Lara McClintoch Archeaological Series: Moche Warrior; Celtic Riddle; African Quest; Magyar Venus; Orkney Scroll.
Antique dealer Lara McClintoch just can't seem to avoid trouble, or involvement in murders (solving them, at least)!


Hailey Lind Art Lover's Mysteries: Feint of Art; Brush with Death; Shooting Gallery
After being discovered working with her grandfather, a master art forger, Annie Kincaid is relegated to opening a faux finishing design company. Unfortunately, the dead bodies that Annie keeps stumbling across are far from faux.