English Mysteries Club discussion

Our group read for April is Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett. It is the second in his light-hearted murder mystery series about the widow Mrs Pargeter.

These mysteries can be read as stand-alones, although we did have the first one as a group read a while ago. It was very popular!

Reading begins on 1st April. Who's in for this one?

I have this on my kindle already, so am looking forward to joining in. I like Mrs Pargeter, and Simon Brett writes so entertainingly 😊.

I read the entire series recently and enjoyed the first couple books more than the rest. I'm not sure when I got kind of tired of them, but I binge-read and that is sometimes a mistake. I might have enjoyed them more if spaced out more, in other words. I liked Mrs Pargeter as a character for a lot of reasons but won't be re-reading.

no reason others shouldn't enjoy it, however!

I've read some over the years, in no particular order - just when I found a Large Print one in a library sale! I always enjoyed them, but can't remember which they were 😆 Perhaps this bears out what you were saying Jackie? A little at a time.

My library has 26 Simon Brett titles but only title #7 of the Mrs. Pargeter series. I'll try to find a cheap used copy of Mrs., Presumed Dead to read.

Do they lend ebooks Vic? If you read those, it might be worth checking.

If anyone is wondering which edition to get, this is the one I have on kindle https://www.amazon.co.uk/PRESUMED-abs...

Joffe books ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SBBN4K2

They are often cheap or even free sometimes (and always if you have Kindle Unlimited). I noticed today that there is an English dictionary of terms in the back, explaining slang terms for American or other readers. I found it really funny to see all these words written down 😂, but I'm guessing that it would be quite useful!

We begin today! Has anyone started this one yet? It's sure to be a light, fun read 😊

I began today - wow that was a surprising start for a cosy mystery!

Just for a while I wondered if it was our amateur detective ... but then I recognised her as soon as she entered the action. Now I have read up to chapter 7, and am very worried about the (view spoiler)[ chest freezer in the garage, and what it might contain ... (hide spoiler)] 😨

Started it last night- liking Mrs. Pargeter all over again- read the first book several years ago!

Isn't she great? And I really love how Simon Brett drops clues into the narrative about what her husband did for a living, simply mentioning them as asides . eg. He left her well provided for, and she has nice quality furniture, but it tended to arrive about 3 am. She regrets that they had no children, but it wasn't really feasible, as he would be away unexpectedly for long stretches of time. He told her that she must always tell the truth to the police - but say no more than they asked.

We know full well that he must have been a (view spoiler)[crook (hide spoiler)], but it's all described with such humour and grace! 😆 And it's left ambiguous as to whether Mrs. Pargeter really knew what her husband was! Though she is very astute in other ways ...

I do enjoy the skirting of Mr. Pargeter’s job description- not sure she is entirely cognizant of his “business”! But he certainly cared for her and continues even from the grave! His address book full of contacts make for amusing and useful characters in her sleuthing endeavors for sure!

"His address book full of contacts make for amusing and useful characters in her sleuthing endeavors for sure!"

Oh yes 😁

I'm at 50% now, and one of Mrs Pargeter's contacts has (view spoiler)[just found the body! (hide spoiler)] It seems quite late on really, but has been very entertaining so far.

How far has anyone else got?

I've just read ch 30 (about 68%) and for the first time I was a bit uncomfortable. (view spoiler)[ In looking for Teresa Cotton's husband Rod(?) Truffler Mason has discovered he's a homeless alcoholic: a tramp or "dosser" in the lingo of the time. I know by the end of the chapter Mrs Pargeter and Truffler have agreed that he's deliberately trying to end his life because he feels he is a failure - and indeed he succeeds in that his body is discovered (hide spoiler)] -but to me this all feels a bit too close to real life to enjoy in a light-hearted spirit.

It seems ironic that I can accept (view spoiler)[ strangulation, a body in a deep freezer, (hide spoiler)] not to mention Mrs Pargeter's little book of useful criminal contacts and her "interesting" take on morality, but am disturbed by this episode in a humorous cosy mystery.

Does anyone else feel the same way, or am I just weird?

Bionic Jean wrote: "I've just read ch 30 (about 68%) and for the first time I was a bit uncomfortable. [spoilers removed] -but to me this all feels a bit too close to real life to enjoy in a light-hearted spirit.

It ..."

I'm not reading this mystery but I agree with you : suicide is tragic act, of course a murder is too, but, if I've not mistaken your comment, this is a humor mystery and the author are telling in a humorous way a suicide.
This is in bad taste.... also because I think that every person who commits suicide actually wants to live, only that they would like to live feeling satisfied with themselves, but their mistakes and circumstances cause such desperation that they cannot see solutions.

I'm not reading this mystery, but I agree with you: suicide is a tragic act, obviously so is murder, but, if I didn't understand your comment, this is a humorous mystery and the author tells a suicide in a humorous way.
This is in bad taste.... also because I think that every person who commits suicide actually wants to live, only that they would like to live feeling satisfied with themselves, but their mistakes and circumstances cause such desperation that they cannot see solutions.
It's not just drunks and slackers who feel like failures.
I have felt like a failure many times in life, a feeling that still persists for many reasons.
I suffer from depression and I have felt so bad that I cannot see solutions, it's something I wouldn't wish on anyone.
Nowadays with the stress of this frenetic and superficial society, the murder rate is higher, even among teenagers ... I wouldn't joke about it. As you say it is too close to reality.

Thanks Tizi; I agree with what you say.

And I was surprised that I felt that way about the whole chapter. Even though there was a bit of "Isn't there anything we can do to help?" from Mrs P, the situation felt out of place in what was essentially a light hearted puzzle. In cosy mysteries, we don't really believe in what we read, but this was so true to life, and felt real 🥹.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Tizi; I agree with what you say.

And I was surprised that I felt that way about the whole chapter. Even though there was a bit of "Isn't there anything we can do to help?" from Mrs P, the ..."

Again I agree with you, in light/cozy mysteries (as well as on TV starting with old TV series like Murder She Wrote ), we usually enjoy the investigation, but we are kept away from the horror of the murder (while I use to feel shocked when the tv news is telling about daily murders).
I think that maybe the author was not good enough in telling it and lacked sensitivity.
Probably he gave you the impression of telling a bad thing in a superficial way.

I think that cozy mysteries and/or classic mysteries, should maintain a light atmosphere, without making the reader forget that a murder or a suicide are things that should not happen and no one should accept or even joke about it.

Yes, it's a fine balance to hold, for sure!

Jean, it's been awhile since I read this but I don't remember having that reaction.

Apparently I fell in with a light-hearted attitude to every kind of crime, up to and including every kind of death, I honestly don't remember being upset by it.
But if you found it too real, that's a kind of tribute to the author?

I'll be interested to read what you think after you finish.

I like this book very much Jackie. I'm thoroughly enjoying it (for the second time though it was so long ago I've forgotten it! 🤣)

It was just that one chapter (30) which felt out of place in a light-hearted novel. I'm now thinking the facts had to be there, to make sense of the story. In a way though, I wish it had happened "off screen" so to speak.

"if you found it too real, that's a kind of tribute to the author"

Perhaps - I admire Simon Brett's writing. He's very entertaining and spot-on with his nuanced characters. There are lots of witty observations throughout. However, I don't believe the author wanted us to face this (view spoiler)[alcoholism leading to Rod's losing his job and home (hide spoiler)] as a social issue, any more than say, (view spoiler)[the snobbishness and materialism of those in Smithy's Loam, or the targeting of gullible people by "The Church of Utter Simplicity" - a made-up sect, to swindle them out of their money.

These are both just as real, but somehow not as upsetting. It's perhaps because in this case one individual is described, whom we think we almost know, and the complete (self)destruction of their life is smack in our face.

Thanks for your thoughts! (hide spoiler)]

Just jumping in now. I brought the collection on my kindle, even though I haven’t read the first book I don’t think it’s a series that necessarily needs to be read in order.

That's right Celeste. I've read them out of order too - glad to have you along! 😊

I enjoyed book overall. At first, I had to “get my head right” about all of the fortunate resources Mrs. Pargeter had at her disposal due to her late husband’s connections and friends. (I didn’t read the first book in this series so there may be a bit more about what business Mr. Pargeter was in.) But once I got past that I enjoyed the story. I found the writing good and the characters worth following.

Near the climax, I thought having all of the suspects gathered in one place for a meeting about a restaurant was a clever idea.

I will say that I put the book down for a week or so, then picked it back up and overall, I found it an enjoyable read.

I've really enjoyed my reread and the discussion, and hope others are doing too. I'll be writing a review in a few days.

This will be archived in a few days too, after everyone's had a chance to finish and add their final thoughts.

I’ve just finished chapter 20, so I’m about halfway through. Since I’m a slow reader and April is over I thought I’d jump in and give my impressions so far.

I like the subtle comments Mrs Pargeter makes about what her husband did for a living, and how it comes across as so innocent but I’m certain Mrs Pargeter is far smarter than that. I’m thinking one of the neighbours killed Mrs Cotton because they were jealous and angry over something she did, and I’m interested to read the upcoming conversation Mrs Pargeter will have with Mrs Nervy the Neurotic.

Celeste - that was one of the things I most enjoyed about the book too - all the "clues" we had as to what Mr Pargeter did for a living 😂

I ought to say that I changed my mind about the apparent suicide, which I thought was in bad taste. I should have known better and trusted in Simon Brett's judgement.

So here's my review Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jean's review