Murder in the Library and a book to give away

 

    Just opened at the British Library in London is the exhibition Murder in the Library: An A-Z of Crime Fiction. This is a look at the history of crime fiction from its early roots to the present day, and it features familiar and well-loved writers as well as more obscure and surprising ones. The 'A-Z' element takes us from 'A' for Agatha Christie to 'Z' for Zodiac as in Soji Shimada's Tokyo Zodiac Murders, an illustrated Japanese detective novel, and highlights of the exhibition - which is free and runs until 12th. May - include John Gielgud's annotated script for Murder on the Orient Express and photographs, from his personal album, for his appearance in Morse, original material relating to the real-life crimes behind Kate Summerscale's The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and Josephine Tey's The Franchise Affair, and Arthur Conan Doyle's manuscript of the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Retired Colourman (1926).

    The Library is hosting a series of events to accompany the exhibition including, on Friday 8th. February, The Story of Crime Fiction with Mark Lawson and crime fiction writers P. D. James, Henry Sutton and Jason Webster discussing the history of the genre, their favourite classics and their own work, and on Friday, 8th. March, The Female Detective in which a panel of writers discuss what makes the female detective, from Miss Marple to Mma Ramotswe, "an icon of the genre".

   

    You may not have heard of Britain's first fictional female detective Miss Gladden, otherwise known as "G", but in 1864 she appeared in the book The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester where "her deductive methods and energetic approach anticipate those of Sherlock Holmes, and she can be seen as beginning a powerful tradition of female detectives". The Library has recently re-published the book, with a foreword by Alexander McCall Smith, and they have kindly offered me a copy to give away, so to enter the draw please leave a comment naming your favourite crime novels or authors (male or female). I'm looking forward to reading what you write as it should amount to a great list of crime fiction, so please do put your name in the hat - it's open to all - and I'll pick a winner in a day or two.

Comments

[AllisMcD]

I adore Agatha Christie, I have done since school. More recently, I have stumbled across Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce novels and they are absolutely wonderful: Flavia is opinionated, lonely, mad on chemistry and is a pig-tailed eleven-year-old. Fab characters in stories spiced with humour.

[sakura (chasing bawa)]

I love historical crime such as Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, Susanna Gregory's Matthew Bartholomew series, Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series and Lyndsey Davis' Falco series. But I would like to draw your attention to John Dunning's The Bookman's Wake featuring Cliff Janeway, an antiquarian bookseller. I learnt so much about the secondhand book trade from it plus there's an amazing mystery about Edgar Allan Poe!

[Margaret @ BooksPlease]

So many favourites, I'm spoilt for choice. S J Bolton, Agatha Christie, Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Ian Rankin, C J Sansom (Shardlake books)& Alexander McCall Smith to name but a few.

[LauraC]

Long time favorites are Agatha Christie-I read all of them as a preteen, and Ellis Peters. I have recently started reading Yrsa Sigurdardottir and am quite fond of Thora Gutmundsdottir, her main character. Also Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway books.

[Else T]

I'd love to win this. Agatha Christie is my current favorite, esp. those dealing with Poirot! And of course, Precious Ramotswe is one of my heroes!!

[Rosie H]

Dorothy L. Sayers is my absolute favourite, but I also love Sarah Caudwell's Hilary Tamar quartet; such a shame that she only wrote those four.

[B R Wombat]

As others have said, there are so many wonderful books to choose from. How about The Talented Mr Ripley - Highsmith's writing is always a joy to read, I find.

[Chris]

Ooooh, back in the day I would have said definitely Agatha Christie, but I have just been introduced to Elly Griffith and Ann Cleeves and am enjoying their books very much!

[Agnieszka]

My long time favourite is a Polish writer - Joanna Chmielewska.

[Claire]

I'm afraid my favourites have already been mentioned, Dorothy L.Sayers, Patricia Highsmith, Josephine Tey and I love Alexander McCall Smith's Isobel Dalhousie.

[rhonda]

Agatha Christie is my longtime favorite.

[Susan in TX]

While Agatha Christie was my "first love," I also enjoy Rex Stout, Josephine Tey, Ellis Peters, and Susan Hill's Serrailler series - just to name a few. :)

[Michele]

P D James is probably my enduring favourite, but there are so many that I enjoy. Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson, Susan Hill, Ian Rankin, Dorothy Sayers, oh my... If I went to my shelves to jog my memory I would be here awhile. Dick Frances saw me through some difficult years in my twenties (Oh, the romance of English race courses to a horsemad Canadian).

[Martin Edwards]

Some great names have already been mentioned, including my first love Christie, but I'd add Ruth Rendell (especially A Judgment in Stone) and her alias Barbara Vine (especially A Fatal Inversion). Reg Hill wrote superbly right to the end, with The Woodcutter a brilliant final book. I was impressed by Belinda Bauer's debut Black Lands, and from the Golden Age I'd mention John Dickson Carr and Anthony Berkeley. As Francis Iles, Berkeley wrote Malice Aforethought, a cynical, witty and clever book that is a real classic.

[JanetD]

I have just discovered the joy of reading Maigret books so they are my suggestions of the day.

[Nancy]

P.D. James and Colin Dexter - heck, there are so many. I love mystery, crime, espionage, and all related things. Just checked with Bill and he added Christopher Fowler, though I haven't read him.

[Nicola]

So many of my favourites have been mentioned already. I'll add Alan Bradley, Ngaio Marsh, Susan Hill, Inger Ash Wolfe, Jo Nesbo and Dorothy Simpson

[Martina]

Don't think anyone has mentioned Cliff Hardy the PI in Peter Corris' novels. They are special for me since they are set in my local Sydney Australia and are always a wonderful bracing unputdownable reading ride. An excellent wordsmith. Shane Maloney and Peter Temple are fine Austrlalian crime writers, but favour Melbourne Victorian settings!!

[Lyn]

So many favourites! From the Golden Age, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham & Conan Doyle. Modern authors, Marcia Muller (just finished her latest last night), Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles & Peter Lovesey.

[Barbara]

Going by how often I'm likely to re-read, Dorothy L Sayers comes top of my list. I also love Margery Allingham.
I second Martin Edwards' recommendation of Malice Aforethought.

[Alison Collins]

I have only recently started reading crime fiction and much prefer the historical kind. My first one was a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle a Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.
Alison.

[Laura]

I have just enjoyed reading The wooden overcoat by Pamela Branch and am part way through her Murder every Monday - very funny.

[Moira]

Gosh, there are so many to choose from and so many different reasons for liking them! I'm very fond of the golden age female writers: Dorothy Sayers, Marjery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh with their aristo detectives trying to be men of the people. Also enjoy P D James and Ruth Rendell's thoughtful policemen ("Simisola" is one of my favourite RRs). Then there's the grittier stuff with Ian Rankin and endless nights sleeping in an armchair with a glass of whisky at his elbow. I went through a phase of reading American thriller-style detectives like Patricia Cornwell and Sara Paretsky, but really I prefer my detectives to stay safe. Sadly I've never really taken to Conan Doyle and have never read Colin Dexter (because of the TV series). It may be time to remedy that. Detective fiction is my comfort/escapism, so definitely good at this time of year.

[Mystica]

This is going to be tough! P D James vs Elizabeth George - Inspector Lynley vs Adam Dalgleish. How could one choose? So many others as well but those are my top choices.
Thanks for sharing as always.

[Carole]

I'd like to add Arnaldur Indridason to the above.
I do love these posts, they expand my own reading list.

[Kate/Massachusetts]

Others have listed many of my favorites - clearly I am in good company!!! I would add American writer Jonathan Kellerman, particularly his early works. Thank you for the chance to enter your book giveaway!!

[betsytacy]

I'm a huge fan of Margery Allingham and her detective, Albert Campion. She was the first golden age mystery writer I read. I also love Dorothy Sayers. Among modern mystery writers, Ruth Rendell and P.D. James can't be beat.

[Tracey]

P D James, Susan Hill, R N Norris, Charles Pallister, Andrew Taylor, Fred Vargas...I could go on ( I won't, far to many to list)

[Tracey]

I meant R N Morris!

[Geraldine]

Flavia de Luce stories by Alan Bradley are all delightful.
Also The Boy in the Suitcase by new crime writers Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friss with a new one just released.

[Pia]

Outside the competition, I would like to recommend a swedish author called Arne Dahl. I know his book "Misterioso" is translated into english. He is a swedish contemporary crime-writer, and in my opinion the best. He is not only a crimestory writer, but also a wonderful writer.

[Georgina]

Most of my favourites have already been mentioned but I do remember enjoying Antonia Fraser's Jemima Shore novels and on a cold, gloomy day like today could really do with some Alberto Camilleri.

I've now just ordered a Sarah Caudwell!

[Liz Davey]

Toss up between the late lamented Reginald Hill and the late lamented Michael Dibdin

[Donnafugata]

My favourites would be Andrea Camilleri, Fred Vargas, Peter May and Louise Penney - and from the Golden Age of Detective fiction Edmund Crispin and Dorothy Sayers

[Deborah]

I love crime novels and particularly enjoy listening to them on audiobook, in the car, on the way to work. I have been known to be found sitting in the drive, on returning home, because I have to know what happens next. Favourites include Ruth Rendell's "The Vault", Nicola Upson's books on Josephine Tey and Lindsey Davis' Falco novels.

[Mary]

As all the classics have already been mentioned, I'll throw in Natsuo Kirino and Out - although her next book Grotesque was too much for me.
And, of course, Wilkie Collins.

[Ann P]

The Hills - Reginald and Susan - for me though perhaps the Sunday Philosophy Club series just wins.

[Lindsay]

Can even tiercels enter?

[Lindsay]

If so, Allingham's Tiger in the Smoke, one of the greatest psychological murders (no mystery, you always know who did it, but that matters not a jot)of the golden age, and Innes' Journeying Boy, slightly over to the thriller side.

[Cornflower]

Scary birds, eh? As long as you keep those talons in!

[Eva Hudson]

Not sure if you can count Kate Atkinson - but I do love the Jackson Brodie series - particularly Started Early... Plus Ann Cleeves (gotta love feisty Vera Stanhope), Cath Staincliffe, Elly Griffiths and Gillian Flynn. I could go on...

Bought One Across, Two Down recently - my first Ruth Rendell, really looking forward to reading it.

The exhibition at the British Library is great - small, but beautifully formed. A must for crime fiction fans.

[Jane Fincham]

Oh, so many - the wonderful Josephine Tey, Cyril Hare, Sarah Waters, Edmund Crispin. (May I also put a word in for 'Emil and the Detectives' by Erich Kastner for anyone with small children.) You can squash down into your armchair knowing that you're safe in their hands. The fog leaking through the trees in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', the creak of the gibbet in 'My Cousin Rachel' by Daphne du Maurier, the opening of "A Judgement in Stone' by Barbara Vine...

[Barbara]

I enjoy Georgette Heyer's mystery books--Footsteps in the Dark so took me back to my grammar school Nancy Drew days but with more of an adult twist!

[Sarie]

So many but I've narrowed it down to Colin Dexter and Ruth Rendell.

[Isobel]

A recent favourite is Jason Goodwin, with his series set in Ottoman-era Istanbul, featuring the wonderful Yashim, who is probably the only eunuch detective in English literature - unless anyone knows otherwise? His books are wonderfully evocative of the sights, smells, food and people of the city.

[Janis Goodman]

Margery Allingham, Dorothy Sayers, Nicholas Blake, Kate Atkinson, Ian Rankin and Fred Vargas would be my current top six - do hope we weren't meant to narrow them down too much! This started off as my top three but i just could not limit them to that.

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

Oooh I hope I am not too late for this, this sounds quite my cup of tea.

Can I count Wilkie Collins, as he features some of the first detectives. Otehr crime authors I love are Kate Atkinson, Susan Hill, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Tess Gerritsen, Agatha Christie and of course MC Beaton... and many many more.

[pam]

Apart from the obvious ones already mentioned - Jason Goodwin,Ariana Franklin and Sarah Bower for readers who enjoy Historical Crime Fiction.

[alison morris]

My current favourite is Alaskan author Dana Stabenow -(particularly her Kate Shugak series set in the Alaskan Bush) who has joined Margery Allingham and Dorothy L Sayers in the re-read and re-read group. I also like Anthony Price (though they're spy thrillers really) and some of Emma Lathen.