Ellis Peters may be known to many of you as the author of the Cadfael series. I have only read this modern crime story, however, and was inspired to re-read it when I came across this post, written by Kerrie.
This fine old crime story begins when Edward Arundale, quite uncharacteristically, gives a young girl with a guitar case a lift to Follymead, a musical college. It is the sixth in the Felse series. As far as I have understood, father and son (Dominic Felse) solve the stories in turns.
Some of the main characters are Dominic Felse, son of a policeman and an amateur sleuth, and his girlfriend, Tossa Barber. It is also clear from the beginning that we are supposed to notice Lucien Galt and Liri Palmer, two of the famous folk singers that participate in the folk music course, plus Edward Arundale´s beautiful wife and his gawky niece, Felicity.
Very soon there is an atmosphere of jealousy and anger, and finally, on page 65, someone disappears, leaving only trampled grass and – perhaps – a few drops of blood. Young Dominic calls in his father, D.I. George Felse to take a discreet look so no one will be scared away from the college.
If you like a quiet, entertaining crime story in the best British tradition, you will like Ellis Peters.
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8 kommentarer:
Dorte - Ellis Peters was definitely one of the ruling "queens of British crime." I really like her quiet style, actually. Thanks for this recommendation.
Thanks for the tip, Dorte! It sounds right up my alley.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Dorte, I did not know Ellis Peters had written anything other than the medieval series. Thanks for highlighting this book, which I will now have to seek out and read. Again, you add to my "must read" list, and it is becoming overwhelming. Thanks! :-)
Margot: I am glad you can also recommend her!
Elizabeth: yes, I think she is an author you would like.
R.T.: actually, I have never read any of the medieval ones. I like historic fiction, but not quite as old as that. She writes really well, though.
Dorte, you really must try some of Ellis Peters' medieval mysteries. Unlike many other similar series (too often bogged down by too much historical detail for context and setting), Peters focus principally on characterization and plotting. You might sample by reading A Morbid Taste for Bones, one of Peters' best.
R.T.: Well, with your whole-hearted recommendation plus that title ... I have added it to my list. (I think I´d better go off-line; I added two books in one hour).
I saw "Ellis Peters" in your tags and had to click on this entry. The Cadfael books are some of my all-time favorites. I remember being so sad when Peters died, knowing there would be no more Cadfael!
I have two of the Felse books, but haven't read them since I like to read series from the beginning and these are difficult to track down. I'm not sure how many there are or if they are even available anymore.
I also have her "Brothers of Gwynedd" quartet published under her real name, Edith Pargeter. A rather lengthy historical fiction, I've yet to read it.
Kelly: I have only read this one by Ellis Peters. I bought it via Abebooks.uk, but I think it should be quite easy to find most of the series via Amazon.com.
I also like historical fiction, but I prefer stories from the last two hundred years or so, because it is easier for me to judge whether they seem credible or not.
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