Christie's "Hercule Poirot" series revived--

Agatha Christie
(photo from Google.com)

To gain new life, an agreeable family estate may give permission for a new author to write new books about a character created by a deceased family member.  Apparently in the world of fiction, it makes no sense to permanently kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.  And that is the case for crime legend writer Agatha Christie.  Her brilliant retired detective Hercule Poirot is resurrected from the 1970's to return in print last year in The Monogram Murders.   The book is the March book club selection.

The new writer of the detective series is now Sophie Hannah and our library's online catalog features the following under Author Notes & Sketches (about her): Sophie Hannah was born in 1971 in Manchester, England. She is a bestselling, award-winning poet. Hannah went to the University of Manchester and published her first book of poems, The Hero and the Girl Next Door, at the age of 24. In 2004 she won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her psychological suspense story, The Octopus Nest. Hannah was recently chosen by Agatha Christie's estate to resurrect her beloved detective, Hercule Poirot. Her subsequent novel, The Monogram Murders, was published in 2014. (Bowker Author Biography)

Sophie Hannah
(photo from Google.com)

Now, clearly the name recognition has to go the writer that the greater public knows so Agatha Christie's name covers the new mystery book cover in the same font you'd find on the official website of Ms. Christie.  Ms. Hannah is the new work horse for series and she'll be bound to be quite busy--with her writings and about "Poirot" for the foreseeable future.   

P.D. James dies at 94--

On Thanksgiving Day it was announced that English mystery writer great P.D. James had died.  She was 94.  Her actual name (and title) was Phyllis Dorothy James White, Baroness James of Holland Park.
Although I hadn't read any of her work, I seem to recall a fondness   when others talked about James' Adam Dalgliesh in book club discussions about various book characters.  Dalgliesh, identified as   a police commander and poet, is a fixture with police procedural mysteries with novels published for numerous years beginning from  1962 (Cover Her Face) and television appearances. 

  Her writing spanned to a private investigator series with Cordelia  Gray (who I did see in a TV adaptation) and most recently with a  mystery set in 1803 featuring characters from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice novel  in Death Comes to Pemberley published in 2011.  Examining her beloved writing genre in print, she wrote Talking About Detective Fiction (2009) about the history and appeal of mysteries and an autobiography, Time to be in Earnest (1999).

P,.D. James (photo from Google.com)

Dubbed the 'queen of crime' James enjoyed a rich recognition in writing circles for a long, successful career. To find any P.D. James books at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library click here, go to "advanced search."  Do an author search for "james, p.d." to find her books and books on CD.   

Ace Atkin's Carolina book tour swing--

Writer Ace Atkins stopped in Charlotte on an author tour on Wednesday and I was able to speak to him briefly and listened as he shared a few stories of his travels.  Atkins is the author of the Quinn Colson series which follows the work of a new sheriff in northern Mississippi.  He also writes the new adventures of Robert B. Parker's Spenser with three in print to date.  Parker died in 2010.

I told Atkins about my book club at the library and that we had read his second book of the Quinn Colson series The Lost Ones months ago (February of this year to be exact) and enjoyed it.  I wish had remembered to add that I would have suggested the book club read the first book of the series The Ranger--but the library system owned more copies of the second book.

Another comment I would have shared with the writer was that his book did bring us stateside for a story--and in the Souh specifically--after reading a number of books in England and elsewhere.

(I'm standing next to Ace Atkins during his visit to an independent
bookstore in Charlotte.  Our hands are resting on copies of his newest
"Quinn Colson" book The Forstaken which he was signing.)

I caught the tail end of the visit when the  discussion veered to talking "The Rockford Files" TV series starring James Garner.  Atkins was able to see some scenes filmed for one of the TV movies based on the series and also on a separate occasion got into a lengthy discussion with show creator (and novelist too) Stephen J. Cannell.



Library display entitled
"Summertime decisions"
(photo by blogger)

I have a new display up in my library's mystery section to promote that it is summertime now and for those into summer reading--now is the time to load up.  And I see it in action at work with some readers. Some walk out the building needing a clothe grocery bag for each arm. While some at least make a valiant effort to grab that one book that gets read during the year.
 
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is well-underway with its annual summer reading program which is growing with activities and desirable gifts and incentives.  Whether getting a fine waiver card (from $5 to $10) or getting in the drawing for a new tablet, taking time to read has its benefits.  All age groups are included and the library is very wise to engage an interested public in reading.      

The World Map Has a Mystery to be Found--

Over the years, the mystery novels the book club had selected and read have jumped around the
world with busy detectives--whether employed by law enforcement agencies or not--and
amoral criminals.  From Beijing in China (Peter May's The Firemaker) to Ghana in Africa
(Kwei Quaterey's The Wife of the Gods), the world is crowded with too many resorting
to murder.  In our regular meeting space, we have but to look up at the wall on the right 
to see a nicely-detailed world map that on occasion helps to find where in the world 
the novel is set.  Granted, most mysteries are stateside or in Great Britain but we are not
restricted with these spots with our monthly book club selections.

Take for instance Colin Cotterill's Killed at the Whim of a Hat in Thailand and Anne Holt's
1222: a Hanne Wilhelmsen novel in Norway which were scheduled a year apart.  These stories
are set in very different environments and the settings shape the tone of the novels.  Cotterill
looks for humor in human interactions while Holt's tale is somber in the cold environment.
 
It is ever bit of an adventure to read a good international mystery explore the world from
comfortable chair or couch.  And when desired it is helpful to find this certain locale on the
world map. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is celebrating its 2014 community read week event with Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.  Various events are scheduled as everyone is encouraged to read--as possibly discuss at a scheduled library program--the classic science fiction title.  Click here for the events at area libraries and elsewhere. 

I had considered looking at the book for the mystery book club--as library book clubs were encouraged-- but our April date was set.  And the book is far from a standard mystery story so I don't want to buck our book club orientation.  All the same, this American classic fiction book is one worthy of reading, discussing and thought.

New Touch in Promoting New Books--

My library has had a much appreciated new fiction book section where a stand-alone bookshelf housed the new books, identified by its yellow dot stickers with a date marked on them.  Convenient, it was close to the circulation desk in the front of the building.  A reasonable set-up--this was the arrangement for years until several weeks ago.    

First the books were moved across the floor to into a corner lining the wall.  They are no longer close to the circulation desk.

(Photo by blogger)

Second the revamped display appeared with some new fiction books now separated by genre.  As you can see on the photograph above the new mystery books are now on their own shelf with a modest-looking black "MYSTERY" label to identify the shelf for the library user.  And since I work in a different library department, this change was unexpected for me.

In the previous location all fiction books were interfiled although a small sticker on the bottom identifying some by genre.  Today, certain books are filed together as "mystery," "science fiction" and so forth.  I like it. I'm satisfied about the ease for the casual book browser--including me--to quickly find a "new" library mystery book.     

Murder mystery at the library--

(Photo by blogger)

It seems to me that its been a while since my library did the ole book display with an outlined body on the floor to direct library users to mystery novels.  (And what better way is there to denote the murder scene than with an outlined body on the floor with if exact position at death, huh?)

Well, that idea has resurfaced as a special "staff picks" book shelf now has that display as shown to the left.  And a knife is included in this display to the far right (my photo was taken to just include the body outline)--the murder weapon?

My co-workers picked mysteries with a lighter--and sometimes comedic--flare in books by Joann Fluke, Charlaine Harris and Bill Crider.  Death is death so why enjoy a smile when reading about the evil-doing that would sicken us otherwise.

Elmore Leonard dies at 87--

A great figure in the crime fiction genre has died earlier this week in writer Elmore Leonard.  

A monster talent with success in writing for novels and some even later adapted in movies (I read he thought "Get Shorty" was one of the best efforts of transferring his novel to the big screen) and television (I'm a steady viewer of "Justified"), Leonard enjoyed a long writing career.  

Elmore Leonard
(photo from Google)

From the library's catalog under his "Raylan" book is the Author & Notes Sketches entry which reads: Elmore John Leonard, Jr., popularly known as mystery and western writer Elmore Leonard, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 11, 1925. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1946. He received a Ph.D. in English from the University of Detroit in 1950. After graduating, he wrote short stories and western novels as well as advertising and education film scripts. In 1967, he began to write full-time and received several awards including the 1977 Western Writers of America award and the 1984 Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe award. His other works include 
Get  Shorty, Out of Sight, Hombre, Mr. Majestyk, 3:10 to Yuma, and Rum Punch. Many of his works were adapted into movies. He successfully conquered alcoholism in the 1970s; details of his struggle with the bottle appear in author Dennis Wholey's 1986 book The Courage to Change. His title Raylan made The New York Times Best Seller List in 2012. Library of America recently announced plans to publish the first of a three-volume collection of his books beginning in the Fall of 2014. Leonard died on August 20, 2013 from complications of a stroke he had earlier. He was 87 years old. (Bowker Author Biography)

For a list of the library's holdings for Leonard (including novels, books on CD, movies, etc.), click here.

The Unofficial Big Summer Beach Read?

Kudos to superstar writer J. K. Rowling for appearing to knock it out the park with her newest title The Cuckoo's Calling.  The "Harry Potter" author has managed a nice steal by writing under the pen name  Robert Galbraith  and garnering good buzz for the private investigator mystery novel.

When I first heard about the book this weekend on TV news (and the genuine news story now surrounding it) I missed the full title as I had hoped to place a hold on the book before the request list for copies by library users spiked up.  That didn't happen.  As of this moment, more than 40 copies of the book will be added to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system--to help fill 289 holds.

If I can take any solace, a co-worker placed a nice pristine copy of the book in my hands earlier today--before it went on its way to fill a library user's book request.  And Rowling got around to writing that rumored adult mystery.

More with Newspaper Book Critic Salem Macknee--

(Salem Macknee during library program/
photo by blogger)

To read about a few titles from Salem Macknee's "Hot New Mystery Novels for the Summer" list from her program, click here.  The booklist features 11 novels currently available in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's catalog collection. 

With some books still be released, I'm certain that list would grow as the library system is able to add some books after their publication release date. 

Ms. Macknee's entire booklist includes 49 titles.

Newspaper Mystery Book Critic Salem Macknee Hosts Library Program

Salem Macknee holding paperback
mystery during library program
(photos by blogger)

On Thursday June 13th, The Charlotte Observer's Salem Macknee was the presenter for informative "Hot New Mystery Novels for the Summer" program at the library.  As billed, the evening showcased upcoming book titles in the mystery genre with a comprehensive breadth of the new novels for the season.

With a simple handout for program guests, Macknee zipped the list of titles and authors--some with a synopsis--from May through August.    And for any curious about Salem's favorite among the upcoming books--the first page of the handout is entitled "Salem's Top 12 for the Summer 2013."

Threatening weather didn't keep away a few hearty souls to attend the event which concluded with Macknee sharing a number of books from her work location as giveaways for those interested.

Salem going through
summer reading list

A long-time interest in mysteries and a long-time career in newspaper work combined to make an effective relationship when reviewing mystery books.  By taking available opportunities to provide local book reviews at newspapers, she was able to move to reviewing mysteries and to become a favorite with staff editors by offering compact, short reviews.

While reading, Macknee says the novels have to capture her interest very early on for her to continue on for a book review.  She has option to review books which interest her and to avoid the rest. Macknee skips Washington, D.C. stories and courtroom novels for instance.  On the writing side, she prefers to write positive reviews and to avoid "trashing" books.    

During the presentation Macknee mentioned how far along she was reading a few titles she had, adding she averages reading one or two novels per week.

New Yorker Magazine Cover Strikes Again--

Seeing this magazine at work recently, I just thought The New Yorker has nailed it again with a great cover.  I was ready to grab this new issue and to disappear for a while and read which profiled summer novels inside.

Entitled "Big City Noir" by Birgit Schossow, the silhouette of the woman and shadow of the man (both with firearms) convey that great sense of danger and menace that would pull in a reader to a book with that cover.

Here's a great art effort rocking the sense of cool and style.

Newspaper Mystery Book Critic is Library Guest--

The local newspaper, thankfully, can be a reliable source for mystery book reviews and at the Charlotte Observer Salem Macknee has held the spot of responsibility for a while.  Writing mystery book reviews for the newspaper since 1995, Macknee has given readers a quick run-down of selected new books with a few sentences per title and then its on to the next.

Salem Macknee (photo
by Charlotte Observer)

That serves her well as the reviews give a quick gist of the novel and a sense of mood or Macknee's reaction.

This long-time newspaper staffer visits South County Library next week--Thursday, June 13th--as a participant with the Adult Summer Reads series in "Hot New Mystery Novels for the Summer."

Macknee will share what we can expect new in the mystery section at  libraries and book stores.  Additionally, some lucky attendees will have the opportunity to walk away with a  gift provided for the event.  Please register at the library's webpage for programs or call the library at 704-416-6600. ext. 4. 

So instead of the monthly book club session at the library, the scheduled time will feature a guest who just may have read and finished a book or two when even if she didn't find it engaging--then she did not stop after 50 pages.    

Friends of Library Book Sale coming to its end--

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is fortunate to have advocates for its future and well-being such as its "Friends of the Library."  This non-profit organization supports the library in a few ways and assisting with the purchase of new library material as a goal.  That said, it is the sole fund raiser goal for the Friends' annual spring book sale.

Jumbo in nature to attract the greater public--vacant public space is secured for the book sale for several days so people can canvass the display areas to look for books about crafts, travel, sports, religion, children's and young adult books among others.  Tomorrow marks the end of this spring's book sale with a bonus reduction of existing items (books, DVDs, music CDs, albums, etc.).

I'm glad this was the second year in a row I was able to volunteer to help in the Friends book sale, on a warm Sunday afternoon no less.  I'd like to think that the Friends group appreciates seeing library staff pitch in to make this project work.  And I was pleased to receive a freebie for volunteering for an afternoon shift.

For the bibliophile, there are a lot of items donated which may include some nice surprises.  My nice surprise was to find a copy of  Gillian Flynn's mystery-themed Gone Girl.  I had hoped to read a copy of this title at some time--a still very popular book--but I wasn't sure when.  Now, my chances have vastly improved.

No doubt, I want the book sale to succeed.  It is great to see the interested people come in, find good things and make purchases. The library benefits.  The public benefits.

Book club favorite title 2012--

During an earlier book club session this year, I asked those present which book selection for the past year was their favorite.

I was curious which title stuck with them and decided it would be good to get a consensus of the best liked mystery novel.  I didn't know quite what to expect among the various books we read (and some prodding was needed to remember them all).


Mark de Castrique
(photo by blogger)

As I recall, I asked for written responses on paper slips and the runaway favorite--after some brief discussion--was Mark de Castrique's  The 13th Target.  It was his newest book, published earlier in the year.  The book follows  Russell Mullins, a former Secret agent now working bodyguard assignments for a private security company. His currently assigned client is found dead and he is convinced the matter deserves further investigation than the police's conclusion of a suicide.  Matters compound for Mullins with a murder and tracking a suspicious money trial from the Federal Reserve.

The book club also benefited from a visit from this local author who was the guest for the November book club session.  Those in attendance found him a pleasant, affable guest.

Kudos for Walter Mosley!

After the rush (it appeared to me), I finally joined Facebook and started "friending" old classmates and the like.  I also---again, in time--spend time with my profile for the account and added book "Likes" in the favorite entry.  Under book, I added Walter Mosley, author of the great "Easy Rollins" series and others.  Ezekiel "Easy" Rollins is a Los Angeles private detective on the job from the 40s through the 60s.

Walter Mosley
(photo from author's website)



To my surprise last month, I received a Facebook message about Mosley as a Facebook fan.  Mosley was recognized on the list of "New York's 100 Most Important Living Writers" from the Flavorwire website.  The entry notes his various awards along with his writing range including "science fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction, and at least one book of erotica."   

I've been impressed with Mosley's novels and  broad creative reach for a while.  It's good to see him get this recognition. 

Book club discusses "These Dark Things"

 The book club's September selection was Jan Merete Weiss' Italian mystery These Dark Things.  The book cover says at the bottom under the title: introducing the Captain Natalia Monte series set in Naples.   

Jan Merete Weiss
(photo from Google) 

An ancient practice of praying over skeletons in the city's crypts,  performed by the Jesuits centuries ago, is still continued some parishioners today with the assistance of those faithful who go to wash  the bones of loved ones as an act of sanctification.  One such "bone washer" goes about this unique duty when she discovers a young woman in the crypts--a recent murder victim.  Enter Captain Monte and her partner Sergeant Pino Loriano into a case where the murder investigation and suspects range from the academic, the clerical and the local organized crime (or the "Camorra").  

And set in Naples, the book pulls back the cover to show an old world city that does not take too many steps away from its past.   

Comments about the novel included the following: 

• so many shires are located throughout the city
• one said the use of inserting Italian language and phrases broke up one's concentration to understand the story (if you didn't know the language) but another thought the book did a good job of sharing Italian language and translations 
• Natalia has an interesting set of dilemmas at the end of the book 
• the book's writing was choppy
• the book's title can have multiple meanings with the darkness of the hearts of  people involved in the story and even how the bones of skeleton turn dark after a period of time
• the book didn't grab the attention of one book club attendee
• a map of Naples would have helped the reader.

Getting it the crime novel right--

While reading books for the book club and having our book club discussions, I find myself either flipping to the back or the front of the book to check on the "Acknowledgements."  I'm curious how the writer gets to develop "the voice" for the novel to give an authentic sense of place or the right dialogue.  I guess you'd have to have the assistance or support of those who either work in the field or had worked in law enforcement--for mysteries in this case.  Of course, that is not the same in every case (listed in print, anyway) but I look for it.



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That might even become a discussion point during the book club sessions to see whom the author credits in acknowledgements.  Does it appear to be a back bone for what is in print or a deficient that more help is needed? 

As it goes, a number of us carefully watch television to follow crime on the news, serialized dramas and some news magazine shows.  Though it's not that these readers and TV watchers want to join law enforcement to live out the printed page or screen, there are questions about what crime investigation is actually like.  And enter the writer to build that bridge.

So what's out there for the writer who might want help to write realistically about police crime investigations?  A former policeman has offered and an answer in the creation of a new company.  Crime Writers Consultants created by Sgt. Derek Pacifico offers writers help through consultations or a two-day writing program.  Pacifico had retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in Southern California after working nearly 6 years in homicide and handling roughly 200 murder investigations.

When I heard about this on public radio, I thought "aha!"  How many writers work this hard to try to get it from the horse's mouth (so to speak).  I just wonder about that attention to detail.

A Gem of a Writer

Yesterday a patron stopped at the library desk to ask for a copy of the Agatha Christie standout title The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  He commented that it is said to be one of the best mysteries ever as he had his finger placed in a book of his possession (I guess that book mentions Roger Ackroyd.)  and the Library Journal description (as shown on Amazon) mostly agrees. 


Agatha Christie
photo from Google

It says, "written in 1927, [it] is considered the best and most successful of the early mysteries.  It met with no small outrage when it appeared, as it uses a plot device many readers thought 'unfair.' There is a full complement of characters populating the cozy English village of King's Abbot: Major Blunt, Colonel Carter, Miss Gannett, the butler, the housekeeper, the narrator, Dr. Sheppard, and his know-it-all sister (the precursor of Miss Marple, according to Christie), and, of course, the redoubtable Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. There are clues with a capital C to mislead us, and the listener gets so involved with these red herrings (or not) that the very simple truth eludes the puzzler."

That book request reminded me how Christie received nationwide acknowledgement earlier in the month at the Democratic National Convention.  Key note speaker San Antonio mayor Julian Castro spoke of his grandmother learning English by "reading her Agatha Christie novels late into the night."  

All and all, Christie has been a gem as a writing treasure in more ways than one.