Work for Idle Hands: Books in October

Thursday October 31, 2019

Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah [read by Julian Rhind-Tutt]
This is the second of Sophie's Poirot novels, which I could not wait to get into - especially with Rhind-Tutt as the reader again. She is very clever in humorously bringing out all of those leetel Poirot foibles and short comings by viewing them through the thoughts of the narrator ("why the blazes didn't he tell us about that before?") - as well as those more common themes in Agatha Christie's writing. I especially enjoyed the following extract:
"...you and I are not the only guests, mon ami, altogether including Lady Playford, there are 11 of us; if one counts the servants as well there are three more... the question is ought we to count the servants?"
[I believe it's a well-known Christie trope that the servants are never the murderer - unless they are nice middle/upper class folk disguised as a servant. So the butler never dunnit].

The King's Evil by Andrew Taylor [Read by Leighton Pugh]
The next in the Ashes of London series for which I've been impatiently waiting to be released in audio format. The Firecourt (second in the series) was a recommendation by a Guardian reviewer, and since 3 books were available by the time I read the review, I downloaded them and listened to them in order. I find the historical descriptions very absorbing and I am very taken with the protagonists Cat Lovett and James Marwood - who are no "Dempsey and Makepeace" despite the abrasive nature of their interactions. It's all a bit Mills and Boon (no real insult in saying that as they are truly the doyennes of the romantic novel) but I do especially like the realism depicted in their relationship. Neither lovers nor even close friends in a way, the bond between them sustains, despite their being apart from one another for many fairly lengthy periods over which the stories unfold. There is, of course, clearly "something going on" between them but.... [Get a room?].

Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel
Due to the Crime Vault listing various author's Desert Island books I have ventured into some novels outside that which would normally come to my attention or attract me. This one is a recommendation by Rebecca Griffiths.
Written in 2003 (but not read by me in the original French), about a murder in 1917, the narrator is a nameless police officer in a small town in France 20 years later, telling the story in flashback and finally "solving" the mystery.
However this is much more than just a murder mystery, giving the reader a lot to ponder on, about love, war, and justice.

Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear [read by Julie Teal]
It's early 1938, and Maisie Dobbs finally returns to England from war-torn Spain. Although she does not feel up to resuming anything like her former life, she is swiftly set upon by the British secret service, who apparently need her "undercover" to impersonate a woman to whom she bears a strong resemblance, thus undertaking the eponymous "journey to Munich". The German government will release an important British subject from prison, but only if his daughter is there to meet him. Unfortunately the daughter is gravely ill and cannot travel herself. While in Munich, Maisie takes on a potential rescue mission of a more personal nature - all set against a very sinister and threatening political background not to mention imminent state of war.
I think this is an excellent depiction of time and place. Everyone is living a relatively normal life - but it's essentially a police state with everyone under observation - how much you are affected by the restrictions very much depends on who you are.

Posted by Christina at 4:47 PM. Category: Books of the Month