tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post298686350288866747..comments2024-03-11T00:52:06.529+10:30Comments on MYSTERIES in PARADISE: The Dangers of Genre MixingKerriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-82745861414117205492009-06-29T18:03:43.970+09:302009-06-29T18:03:43.970+09:30Thanks for the recommendation Susan. Another to ad...Thanks for the recommendation Susan. Another to add to the growing lists!Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581470363339796352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-10842253583429030342009-06-29T15:17:09.738+09:302009-06-29T15:17:09.738+09:30I do read some historical mysteries - Candace Robb...I do read some historical mysteries - Candace Robb is my new one, set in York England in the 1100's. I quite liked the one I read, but the others are out of print so I have to hunt for the rest now. I've read some of Charles Todd - both my mother and i like him. I'm reading Susanna Gregory as well, set in 1600's England (Thomas Chaloner series) which having been to London recently, I am really enjoying the series and atmosphere and landmarks. <br /><br />I would have to say that mystery and history do combine very well if the historical aspect is complementary to the mystery - ie, not too much historical fact gets in the way, and is just used as setting, atmosphere, and character realization. I enjoy thoroughly reading about other times....oh yes, Ariana Franklin's Art of the Poisoner series is fabulous!!! set in 1100's England as well.....Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095246748581382752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-35833521012245941832009-06-05T13:57:21.876+09:302009-06-05T13:57:21.876+09:30Great discussion. I don't like reading much hi...Great discussion. I don't like reading much historical fiction, but I do like a blend of historical and mystery usually. I also like mystery/fantasy blends. I'm a Reginald Hill fan, and a Jane Austen fan, and as it turns out, I loved A Cure for All Diseases! I thought Hill's characters were just lovely, and the mystery worked for me, too. So I guess I'm just someone who likes blended genres.Bellehttp://msbookish.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-15694497073056077462009-06-04T09:36:36.629+09:302009-06-04T09:36:36.629+09:30On a related subject, there are authors that write...On a related subject, there are authors that write mystery that decide to add a fantastical element (like a ghost). I actually read a lot of fantasy and enjoy it, but I guess it's all about expectations. It can be jarring if you're reading what you think is a "straight" mystery and suddenly fantastical elements show up. Case in point, I'm reading "Criminal Tendencies," a collection of crime fiction--there's a couple of stories with a fantastical element. In this type of collection it feels kind of like it's being sprung out of nowhere because it's so unexpected. <br /><br />I don't read a lot of historical mysteries. Perhaps it is because it is very difficult to merge the two and make it work. Another reason is that some I have tried tend to have too MUCH by way of facts and it bogs the story down. In a lot of ways it all about expectations. If I sit down to read a historical, I expect to keep a slower pace. If I sit down to read a thriller...I don't mind some historical elements, but I probably picked the thriller because I wanted ACTION!<br /><br />:>)Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234907275906877802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-34118431190891354152009-06-02T22:00:41.744+09:302009-06-02T22:00:41.744+09:30Thanks for the link. I agree with everything you a...Thanks for the link. I agree with everything you and Bernadette say; historical crime fiction needs research, a good plot and a feel for the period. <br />I haven't read Charles Todd but it sounds as if I should but Ellis Peters was marvelous. I would not know my monastic herbs from my habit, but my wife is a bit of an "expert" [she denies this] on the medieval period and enjoyed the Brother Cadfael books immensely.Uriah Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02046023583067265187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273911883856580200.post-33774734540778494072009-06-02T20:52:25.640+09:302009-06-02T20:52:25.640+09:30LOL Kerrie I just posed a question about this very...LOL Kerrie I just posed a question about this very aspect of SITG for the discussion on Oz Mystery Readers. Great minds think alike eh?<br /><br />I think some writers think it's really easy to stick a mystery or romance in some arbitrary period in history by throwing in a few obvious references and not a lot of detailed research and I don't think you can get away with that. You have more chance if you treat it a bit lightly (as Rhys Bowen or Elizabeth Peters do). but if you're going to treat it seriously you do have to get it right and give your characters contemporary thoughts, actions and behaviours. My favourite example of getting it right that I've read this year is Tom Rob Smith's CHILD 44. Awesome book.Bernadettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07641617609801125707noreply@blogger.com