tirsdag den 28. december 2010

Charlotte MacLeod, The Recycled Citizen (1987)


This Canadian cosy mystery is the seventh Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn mystery.

When you have read the very first lines, the scene is set:

´Coffee, Theonia?´
Mrs Adolphus Kelling was a strong woman for her age and size. She managed to lift Dolph´s great-aunt Matilda´s baroque silver pot without a quiver, and pour without a splash.
´Thank you, Mary dear.´Mrs Brooks Kelling stretched a graceful hand from the chaise-longue on which she was reclining like Madame Récamier to accept the ornate gold and green demitasse.


We are in Boston, among the blue-blooded Kelling family. Mary and Adolphus Kelling run the Senior Citizens´ Recycling Center, trying to improve the conditions of the poor and homeless by letting them salvage bottles and cans.

Unfortunately Chet Arthur, one of the regulars of the centre, is mugged and killed. Among his earthly possessions, the Kellings find traces of heroin. The family have their own private detective, however, so Max Bittersohn and his pregnant wife Sarah (formerly Kelling), set out to solve the case before it can endanger the reputation of the recycling centre.

The characters are appealing, and though the story was written in 1987, it has this typical cosy fiftyish feel so you are quite surprised when you hear that Sarah actually owns a microwave and that Max´ wardrobe includes a pair of jeans.

The story is a quick and entertaining read though I am not sure anyone would distribute heroin the way it is done in this book. I bought it myself and recommend it for lovers of traditional cosy mysteries.

5 kommentarer:

Anonym sagde ...

Dorte - Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I like the Kelling/Bittersohn series; as you say, they're traditional cosy mysteries and I find that sub-genre appealing, even if there are some things that stretch credibility...

Mason Canyon sagde ...

Another interesting book to add to my 'wish list.' This sounds like a good cosy mystery to check out.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Dorte H sagde ...

Margot: as I must admit that credibility is not my first priority when I write my own Knavesborough stories, I can hardly demand it from other cosy writers ;D

Mason: yes, it is a rather appealing story, and I´ll probably try some more of her books later.

Kelly sagde ...

I'll keep this series in mind for North America in my global challenge. I already have a Central Am. book lined out as one of my choices, but I want to do something from Canada for my second.

I see you've signed on for another challenge!

Dorte H sagde ...

Kelly: good idea for North America. And I remember you said you read very slowly so you´ll probably enjoy this short book.

Yes, I thought the Irish reading challenge looked great, and as I have been wanting to read those books for ages ...