Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Two series that have a similar feel to them are Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia and Anna Lee Huber's Lady Darby books. Nevertheless, one significant difference it the pacing. Raybourn's books take time to get going and it is not uncommon for the murder to occur halfway through the book. In contrast, the mystery in Huber's book began almost immediately.

Do you prefer the build up, i.e., getting to know the characters and the setting before the crime or do you like the action to start right away?

It depends. Sometimes authors build interesting backgrounds and develop characters which keep me reading until the murder occurs. If not, I will probably stop reading long before the action starts.

If I'm reading a murder mystery, I'd like the murder to occur at the beginning (I like the investigation part and the discovering of the clues). If it takes too long to get going, then I get distracted thinking of when will the murder happen and/or who will be the victim, that the mystery would be too easy or that it won't be interesting enough.

It depends. If I'm reading a cozy-type period then I want it quick. If I'm reading a non-series book, I expect it to be a bit more drawn out. A long series, I suspect there will be some subplots and this is where the balance of pace and development can get tricky. It's largely based on the author's skill.

For murder stories, I prefer it when the murder happens at least in the first few chapters since the murder is the whole point. If it's a series then I am more flexible about the timing in later books because hopefully by that time I am also invested with the characters enough to allow for more slices of their personal lives.

I agree I prefer the murder to happen sooner rather than later. I remember reading one book (now I can't recall the title) where the murder happened so late I began to wonder if there was even going to be one....

I agree with Veronica. If it's a long series, I don't mind reading about the characters; the mystery/murder is almost secondary to me.

I'm with Veronica also. I remember being frustrated with one of the Lady Julia books because it took quite some time for the murder to happen. I think, if it's a series, it's important for the murder to occur quickly in the first book, and from that point it can be a bit flexible. But it also depends on what is going on during that time. If the author is building up the story and including information that will be relevant later on, I don't mind as much (though I may be frustrated while I'm reading it).

Meghan wrote: "I'm with Veronica also. I remember being frustrated with one of the Lady Julia books because it took quite some time for the murder to happen. "

It's probably the book that prompted me to as this question, lol!

Lauren wrote: "Meghan wrote: "I'm with Veronica also. I remember being frustrated with one of the Lady Julia books because it took quite some time for the murder to happen. "

It's probably the book that prompted..."

Actually, it was (view spoiler)[ Silent on the Moor (hide spoiler)], though that one has definitely been my least-favorite of the series.

This is such and interesting discussion! I have to say I never even considered which I prefer. Off the top of my head I would have said that I liked a murder up front, but I did love the Lady Julia books. I think, to me it might depend on how much I like the characters and the other aspects of the book.

Meghan wrote: "Actually, it was (view spoiler), though that one has definitely been my least-favorite of the series. "

Interesting. That was my favorite in the series so far.

On the whole, I prefer the action to start immediately otherwise I lose interest. That said, there are times when I enjoy a slow build up, but as many have said, it is usually once a series that has already caught my attention and then I don't mind if there is more characterization.

Agreed. That's actually one of my favorite things about the Sebastian St Cyr books, the murder always happens in the first chapter. :)

Veronica wrote: "Agreed. That's actually one of my favorite things about the Sebastian St Cyr books, the murder always happens in the first chapter. :)"

It would be hard to argue with that comment! Those are such fun books.

"It depends." Does the novel have enough other interesting things going on to amuse me before the body or bodies show up? (And there's the occasional mystery, some excellent, that don't even have the corpse.)

A situation with "developing menace working up to a dead body" can work very well, too.

I like a crime fairly soon, as a rule, but am not inflexible. Occasionally I read a book where I think we have a body too quickly, actually.

I prefer story/character development, but I think it's bcause I'm not a huge fan of procedurals. I like more than just the crime/clues/suspects/solution.

Michelle wrote: "I prefer story/character development, but I think it's bcause I'm not a huge fan of procedurals. I like more than just the crime/clues/suspects/solution."

I'm also not a fan of police procedurals. They are less likely to deal with the unusual characters and situations that attract me to books. That said, there are always exceptions.

I prefer police procedurals on TV rather than in books.

Thanks, Shomeret! Totally agree!

And Susanna - you're right. I've watched every single Midsommer Murders, for example, but I don't think I would like to read them!

I've read one of the Midsommer Murder books; I prefer the TV series.

Thanks for the confirmation!

I need character development as well as the murder mystery aspect. I get bored with TV procedurals after awhile so I definitely don't like book series that follow that storytelling template. For me to remain interested and invested the characters need to change and grow in some manner.

Agreed!

I don't mind a bit of build up as long as it is directly involved in the series but prefer the mystery to start somewhere in the first 40 pages.

Kris - My Novelesque Life wrote: "I don't mind a bit of build up as long as it is directly involved in the series but prefer the mystery to start somewhere in the first 40 pages."

Ditto. I usually DNF if the story hasn't grabbed me by then.

Fifty pages is my usual benchmark to see if a book is grabbing me.

the reason 40 stuck with me was because I once heard if you want to see if a book would grab you read page 40.

I'm curious, when you hit the 40-50 page mark and it doesn't grab you, do you move on or finish reading?

I always feel compelled to finish - just in case the book fairy is watching.

I usually give it a bit longer than 50 pages if it was one I really wanted to read, but if it is not really picking up, and I don't care who the killer is I will abandon ship. If it is a book in a series I will usually finish if it is the first book and everyone says the series gets better, or if it is a series I am reading and this is the only bad book.

I used to be scared of the book fairy but pleaded the case of my tbr list being so big I wanted to make sure I read good ones!

There are too many excellent books out there and so little time. I really don't want to waste it on books I'm not enjoying. If I'm not there by page 50, I'm never going to be and I move on.

The book fairy can only threaten not to send me any more books, but I'm buried in books so I'm really not impressed with that threat. I have enough books on my Kindle alone to last several lifetimes.

If a series is supposed to improve later, I'd start where it was supposed to improve. Then if I like that book, I'll go back and read the first book for background. That works better for me because then I'll be invested in the character and will be more inclined to read it even if it isn't much of a mystery.

That's what I did with the Maisie Dobbs series. I started with the second book and read a number of the later books before I decided to fill in the background with book one. I'm pretty sure that I would have stalled on the first book, abandoned it and never again read a Maisie Dobbs novel if I'd started with that one. I often abandon books.

I'll have to live to be 283 to finish my TBR, so I guess it's time to get over the book fairy :-)

Chris wrote: "I'm curious, when you hit the 40-50 page mark and it doesn't grab you, do you move on or finish reading?

I always feel compelled to finish - just in case the book fairy is watching."

For me, it depends. Sometimes I'm in these moods where I don't mind pushing ahead. Other times, I hit a streak where I can't seem to finish anything, even if it interests me.

Shomeret wrote: "f a series is supposed to improve later, I'd start where it was supposed to improve. Then if I like that book, I'll go back and read the first book for background."

Unfortunately, my reading in order obsession doesn't allow me to do that. I have to read from the beginning or I get totally lost.