English Mysteries Club discussion

This is the thread to discuss Death Of A Hollow Man by Caroline Graham, which has won our poll for February.

This is the second of the Midsomer Murder Mysteries, and I remember it being a good one so am joining in as it's on my bookshelf already 😊 We have already had the first book, The Killings at Badger's Drift as a group read, if you prefer to read them in order.

Who else is reading this one? Officially it will be starting on February 1st, but it's a short month, so do start when you like!

We begin today!

I've got my book, and will start in a few days 😊

My book is on the way, will start next week!

YAY! Who else is in?

I'm in!

I've got my copy but probably won't start till later in the month

I'm in the same position Mike.😊

Finished last night- I enjoyed this one so much more than The Killings at Badger Drift. Granted, I read it over 10 years ago- but am so glad I took a chance and joined in on this month’s group read! Also liked the book character of Cully better than the tv version- Sgt. Troy, it was the opposite!

I read this back in July 2024 and my review is at
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Decided to read it again for this group's February choice, as it was readily available in the library - some of the choices are not. The author devoted many pages to the characters' personalities via their conversations and interactions. For me, this almost puts it in the "cosy" category. The dialogue is often theatrical and a bit pretentious, and the writing full of literary and cultural references. There is humour in the dialogue of some - here's an example.
"Extraordinary thing to do. Slash your throat in front of an audience. I know actors are exhibitionists but you'd think there'd be some limits."
The author throws in some cliche French and some genuine French phrases, probably to give the air of erudition.
The plot and the denouement are satisfactory, and it was enjoyable reading this book again.
I might have been inclined to give a slightly lower rating this time around, but still four stars.

Julie wrote: "I enjoyed this one so much more than The Killings at Badger Drift. Granted, I read it over 10 years ago- but am so glad I took a chance and joined in on this month’s group read..."

Me too! And like both you and John I'm squeezing it in for a reread (and to review) this month 😊 Sadly your link does not go to your review though John.

Interesting ideas on Cully and Troy, Julie.

How are you finding this if it is your first time reading, anyone?

Bionic Jean wrote: "Julie wrote: "I enjoyed this one so much more than The Killings at Badger Drift. Granted, I read it over 10 years ago- but am so glad I took a chance and joined in on this month’s group read..."

M..."

Thanks Jean, I have edited my post and now the link works correctly.

I read a lot of Caroline Graham's books a while ago and then streamed the entire series. I can't decide if I like the series better or the book.

Catherine wrote: "I read a lot of Caroline Graham's books a while ago and then streamed the entire series. I can't decide if I like the series better or the book."

I know what you mean ... in a way the series has moved away from the novels. There were only ever 7 novels, but there are an amazing 140 episodes over 21 series - so far! And two "Inspector Barnaby"s (Tom and then his cousin John). But the various writers keep the formula because it works! Current writers include Helen Jenkins, Jeff Povey, Nicholas Hicks-Beach, Julia Gilbert and Maria Ward.

How's everyone getting on? Anyone else finished?

I really liked the way it is structured with a list of characters "dramatis personae" and then a short section about each. It reads well, as part of the action, but really helped me to remember who everyone is! That's always a problem for me.

I never realised that Joyce Barnaby was a classical singer, and had trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music! I'm not sure that's ever brought out in the TV series. And Tom Barnaby is a talented artist too, recruited for his skill at set painting.

For anyone who has got past the murder (view spoiler)[ I was surprised how much was made of the razor at the beginning, as it seemed quite spoilerish. Or do you think the author wanted us to see this as foreshadowing of what was to come? (hide spoiler)]

I can remember who is murdered from the TV episode, by the way, but not who by.

Well I've waited till the last minute. Starting it today.

I'm not far on really either, Ellen! Not to worry as the threads always stay current for a few days afterwards. This time, with February being such a short month, it should stay even longer 😊

Aha! About a quarter of the way through we get a hint of who might be murdered. One actor thinks of another (view spoiler)[i.e. Nicholas of Esslyn (hide spoiler)]:

"It was all very well for Avery to describe the(view spoiler)[ir leading man's (hide spoiler)] performance as 'just like an Easter egg darling. All ribbons and bows and little candied bits and pieces with a bloody great hollow at the centre."

That's a really crafty bit of foreshadowing 😊

John wrote: "The author devoted many pages to the characters' personalities via their conversations and interactions. For me, this almost puts it in the "cosy" category ..."

That's an interesting way of looking at it, John, I am finding I have to keep checking the dramatis personae, (although it would be possible to skim over who is talking sometimes, and still follow the plot, I expect). I'm also enjoying how the structure of the novel echoes that of a play, plus the replication of actor's "jargon" and in some cases, pretentiousness. I think this is well observed.

I'm also not sure this paragraph would fit in most cosy novels:

"Above his head, above the lightning grid and the theatre roof and the night sky and the limitless deep black arc of the heavens, Thalia, the comic muse, was playing Chinese checkers with the Eumenides. Catching these words on a misdirected breeze, she was overcome by hysterical laughter and had to be helped from her cloud to the nearest comfort station."

It happens after a great comic scene describing the fiasco of the dress rehearsal, when one of the minor players repeats a fatuous platitude that "Everyone knows a bad dress rehearsal means a good first night."

That's all good cosy fare, but then we get references to Classical Mythology. As indicated in the text, in mythology Thalia was the muse of comedy and one of the Three Graces. It continues about Eumenides, which is is a euphemistic name for the Furies, meaning “the Kindly Ones”. This is all then followed by the ironic reference to an ultra modern slang term "comfort lounge" and a fanciful bit about clouds.

To me this juxtaposition lifts it above an average cosy mystery. However there is a lot of dialogue as you say, and I think my final rating may echo yours.

We are told that Tom Barnaby gets more satisfaction from his hobbies: gardening and painting, than from his job:

"Barnaby derived great nourishment from his twin leisure activities ... he could not but observe, and draw conclusions from, the contrast between the fruitfulness of his offduty time and aridity of much of his working life"

This doesn't come out in the TV series!

And at a third of the way through, we are give a teaser when a journalist (view spoiler)[tears up and throws away complimentary tickets for the front stalls on the first night (hide spoiler)]:

"thus missing the scoop of a lifetime"

Oho! Something's afoot there.

I really do like the way this is structured. The next section is titled "First Night".

I enjoyed this read. I think I might get tired of Joyce never realizing she is a terrible cook.

I'm absolutely riveted by this book now we've had a death! Wow - marvellous description.

Our last official day is today, so I am trailing behind.