Reading Notes: Mysteries

I've come to the conclusion after reading the first 60 or so pages of Murder on the Cliffs by Joanna Challis, that I'm the wrong reader for this particular mystery.  I heard about it in my online reading group a while ago and was instantly intrigued--a new mystery series featuring a young Daphne du Maurier as the sleuth.  I'm often hesitant about reading a novel that has an actual person as a main character, but I really enjoyed Nicola Upson's An Expert in Murder (with a fictionalized Josephine Tey), so I decided to keep it in the back of my mind and watch for it.  I finally came across the book whilst browsing online and was completely taken with the cover, which I think is gorgeous and so fitting for the story.  It's not actually due out until later this month, but having no patience when I come across a book I really want to read I asked the publisher if they would be willing to send out a review copy and they kindly did.

In Murder on the Cliffs, Daphne has convinced her parents to let her travel to Cornwall to do some research in a local abbey.  Of course in the back of her mind is the idea of a little freedom, as the last thing she wants is to think of looking for a husband, and perhaps she'll find a little inspiration for her writing as well.  She's twenty or so and and has her own ideas of how she wants to live her life.  Soon after her arrival as she's walking along the beach she comes across the body of a woman, very obviously murdered, and finds herself engulfed in a murder investigation. 

I think the reason the Upson book worked so well for me when the Challis hasn't is that I knew very little about Josephine Tey or her work, whereas I'm a great fan of Daphne du Maurier.  I've read a handful of her novels and short stories as well as a biography by Margaret Forster, so I have this idea in mind of what she was like.  I think of her as being a very formidable and complex woman.  It was hard to reconcile this younger, fictional Daphne in my mind with what I've read and imagined about her.  I just couldn't picture her in this setting, doing these things.  Someone in my book group mentioned having listened to an interview with P.D. James once where James said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that she wished that reviewers would review the book she wrote rather than the book they wished she had written.  As I was reading I couldn't help but feel that was the case with me.  My expectations were too high and whatever story Challis had written about Daphne was unlikely to meet was what already in my mind.

Had the main character in this book simply been a fictional young woman getting wrapped up in discovering who committed murder, I think I could have clicked with the story.  The setting is perfect--Cornwall, along the coast.  Challis is good at mood--I could hear the waves pounding the shore and feel the tenseness of coming upon such a hideous scene.  There is a great house involved and a prominent family.  The elements are right, but it just didn't mesh for me.  As I didn't finish the book, I can't really write a proper review, but I did want to mention the book as I think it might appeal to readers who like cozy mysteries and who don't mind a famous person in the starring role.        

At a loose ends for a mystery to read (I always have at least one on the go), I picked up Fred Vargas's Have Mercy on Us All, which Smithereens sent to me some time ago.  I've never read any of her mysteries, but I've heard good things about her books, and so far this one seems to be working out better than poor Daphne did.  I've yet to meet the sleuth, and so far there hasn't actually been a crime, but I'm curious where Vargas is taking the story.  It's set in contemporary Paris and was published in 2001.  A bit disappointed not to be reading a good cozy, I'm also contemplating choosing something else--perhaps something by P.D. James or Ngaio Marsh, or maybe trying (new to me) Edmund Crispin.  The nice thing about mysteries is there are so many to choose from, and so many readers with varying tastes, it's just a matter of matching the two. 

Comments

[A Bookshelf Monstrosity]

I'm sorry to hear you were disappointed with this one; the premise sounds so interesting. Perhaps since I'm not as well-read on du Maurier as you, I might like it better?

[Danielle]

A Bookshelf Monstrosity--If you like cozy mysteries, you might like this one. I love the setting, but I couldn't get an image of Daphne du Maurier out of my head, so it just didn't quite work for me. I have a feeling that the period and place will appeal to readers and there was a nice gothic touch to it as well.

[BooksPlease]

I just don't see how this would be successful. If you know anything about Daphne Du Maurier it won't do - unless you can forget about what you know - and if you don't, then the novel could just as well have a fictional character as the sleuth.

It doesn't appeal to me, although the story (without du Maurier) sounds interesting.

Have you actually abandoned the book?

[litlove]

I think this is what spoils films of books for me, too. I have such an image of characters I've read that seeing them on the screen, looking different, sounding different, acting different, can be a bit hard to take. I've very much enjoyed the two Vargas mysteries I've read, but do hunt around for the perfect book. It's so lovely when you finally find it.

[Stefanie]

Too bad you didn't click with the book, it seems like it should have been so perfect too. Hope the Vargas book turns out to be good.

[catharina]

I find it (a bit)difficult to really let go of a book when it doesn't work. Especially when I have been looking forward to reading it or others liked it very much. As if I haven't tried hard enough. Yet time is too precious. Good luck finding the perfect fit for this moment!

[Kathleen]

Sorry to hear that this wasn't a good one. I would have been drawn to buy it based on the cover alone. It looks beautifully spooky!

[iliana]

Even if I don't know too much about the real people I still have a problem reading mysteries featuring actual people. I would like to give this one a try but am not in a rush. Hope you'll like the Vargas book better. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it - I've been meaning to check that author out too but you know how it is :)

[Darlene]

It's so disappointing when a story has all the promise of being excellent and then falls short. Last week, I dug an Agatha Christie out of the discard bin, it was a donation so in great condition. I haven't read anything by her since I was a teen but would love to make time for her books again.

[Tiina]

If the Vargas book you are reading features the three historians living in the same building but in different floors according to their speciality (newest history in the top floor :)), you are in for a good read. Also the books featuring Adamsberg are good.

Greetings,
Tiina

[Danielle]

BooksPlease--That was my problem--not being able to put from my mind what I knew about her. I just couldn't imagine her as this fictional character, and perhaps the author wasn't necessarily trying to make Daphne exactly as she was in real life. I think it would have worked for me with an entirely fictional character. I have unfortunately abandoned it. I was afraid I would start getting resentful over the story when it wasn't clicking, so best put it aside.
Litlove--I know what you mean. I think that's why I always read a book first as once I've seen a movie I have a specific person in mind as the characters and I don't really like that. I've been reading the Vargas book and it is pretty quirky, I'm also enjoying it. Not that I'm not also on the lookout for just the right cozy!
Stefanie--The premise sounded wonderful. The execution just wasn't quite right. So far the Vargas is working much better.
Catharina--I also hate setting aside a book I was so looking forward to, but with so many other books I can't wait to read, I am trying to be better about it.
Kathleen--Isn't the cover wonderful? Whoever designed it did a great job. That alone would make me pick it up in a bookstore.
Iliana--I generally stay away from books like that as well. I just lucked out with the Upson. I really liked it. The Vargas is as different as you can get, which is probably a good thing.
Darlene--Oh well, not every book can be a favorite. I ususally do pretty well choosing, but every once in a while one just won't work. I've read very little Agatha Christie, but the books I've read I've really enjoyed and want to read more. I had thought of getting out Murder on the Orient Express, which I think I'll read next (of her books that is...).
Tiina--Hi. I am reading an Adamsberg mystery. He is an unusual guy, but I like Fred Vargas's writing style. I'll have to check out the others you mention, too. Those sound like fun as well. I also like the Parisian setting!

[Dorothy W.]

It's too bad that this book didn't work out better. I can see your argument, though, that if you have ideas about a person, it's hard to read someone else's version of them when it doesn't match your own (and it probably often doesn't). It's so easy to have someone else's version of the person replace your own, and I worry that will happen. I want to keep my own vision of the person intact.

[Danielle]

Dorothy--I was so looking forward to this one, it's disappointing not to have enjoyed it more--enough to finish. But I could just never picture Daphne as a sleuth. I don't mind it when historical figures pop up in novels, as long as they are acting as you would expect them to act. But when you put a real person in an artificial sort of environment acting in a way you don't expect them, then it all becomes sort of iffy for me. And I think you're right about not wanting a false idea of a real person to replace my own--I think that's part of the reason I decided to set the book aside. I prefer the image of an older, formidable, and very complex Daphne du Maurier.