[For Kerrie´s alphabet meme and for Two-Sentence Tuesday, hosted by Women of Mystery]
Many of my readers probably like series just as much as I do; the feeling that opening the next book, you will meet friends who are as familiar as your favourite slippers. Yet they can also surprise you – which is all the better.
Today I will only mention one couple, Daniel Kind and Hannah Scarlett, known and loved by thousands of fans, created by Martin Edwards in his Lake District Series.
Officially, Hannah is the detective while Daniel is just a historian. Somehow he always gets involved in her cases, however. There may be more than one reason for this, but it is clear that crime and research appeal to him. Both characters are credible and interesting personalities, and though we like them and take an interest in what happens to them, they are not boringly flawless.
A few words about Rhapsody Gershwin and Archibald Primrose, my own partners in crime.
Archibald is the village constable, but Rhapsody always stumbles on something sinister. She loves working together with her fiancé on a case, and she is probably more dogged than dainty. So far, she sees detecting as an exciting hobby, and an opportunity to get away from household chores which don´t appeal to her very much.Below Rhapsody is trying to question a young man in Aldburgh, her new setting:
“So you are home for the weekend?” Rhapsody said to Darwin, and at least she succeeded in making him lift his gaze from the floor. He studied her with his mouth slightly open until he made up his mind she deserved a smile. Not that she cared of course; she just wanted to form an impression of the people around her.
“Yeah,” he breathed, nodding as if he had said something very profound.
“I´m afraid I don´t know exactly what you are studying,” she beamed at him.
“Really?” He left his mouth open and his eyes on her cleavage.
Who is your favourite amateur sleuth? Why does this character appeal to you?
NB: I never ever link to videos because they ´are not my thing´, but I must admit I found this one irresistible: I am reading a book.
Thank you for the fun, Elaine.
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15 kommentarer:
I think my current favourite is Ruth Galloway from the Elly Griffiths novels...I like the fact she's smart and funny. I must admit I like Ollie Paras too, she appears in an American cosy series and really I just like her for the setting - a combination of food and politics (she is the Executive Chef at the White House)
Bernadette: Ruth Galloway is an excellent choice. I have several favourites, but of course I chose Daniel and Hannah because they were a couple & could lead on to my two-sentence Tuesday. If I want to participate in both, I´ll definitely have to combine them.
At the moment I would have to say it is Flavia in The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie.
Dorte - Thanks so much for sharing those sentences :-). I actually like Hannah Scarlett and Daniel Kind very much, so I'm glad you mentioned them.
As to who my favourite amateur detective is? Honestly, there are so many that it would be hard to say. I like Riley Adams'/Elizabeth Spann Craig's Lulu Taylor, and I really do like Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway, too. I love Martha Grimes' Melrose Plant and of course, Dorothy Sayers' Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey. Ah! Too long a list for me to go on any longer ;-).
It's so hard to come up with a single "favorite" amateur sleuth. Much of it depends on what kind of mood I am in. There's the indominable Miss Marple of course. But in the modern vein, I adore Ellen Byerrum's Lacey Smithsonian.
Oh my, I'm not sure I could even begin to pick a favorite! I "know" and love so many!
I'll agree with Margot about Melrose Plant... he would definitely rank high on my list. I like Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles quite a bit, too.
Enjoyed your sentences about Rhapsody, too.
:)
Thanks for the Martin Edwards info and as always, enjoyed your little dialogue.
I don’t have a favourite, yet. I need to expand my crime reading in the amateur sleuth department first. The above comments are helpful for this. I have to go with Miss Marple and friends for now.
Moving to television, I enjoyed Rosemary and Thyme, which they’re re-playing on UKTV again.
Tracy: Flavia is indeed wonderful.
Margot: another handful of great detectives. Lulu Taylor is fine, but I hope we´ll also hear more about Myrtle Clover, her earlier protagonist, again.
Laura: I haven´t come across Lacey Smithsonian, but I like the name.
Kelly: ah, thank you for mentioning Rhapsody.
Joanne: oh, the more I read, the harder it becomes to point out ONE favourite. I love them all! (And I wish we had access to more British TV).
My favorite is Tommy and Tuppence... well, more Tuppence. She's an adventurous sleuth with spunk and wit.
Oh, I love Miss Marple. :) I love that she wasn't the typical little old lady and that she used her knowledge of human nature for crime fighting.
My favourite would be Agatha Christie's Tuppence. She is so real, I love her.
And I love Miss Marple because she understands human nature better than anyone else.
Thanks for this thought provoking contribution to the CFA Dorte. I've added it to Mr Linky
Nancy Drew.
Clarissa and Rayna: well, my favourite Christie protagonist is Miss Marple; I must admit I have never really been won over by Tuppence.
Elizabeth: do you see Myrtle Clover as a modern-day Miss Marple? (To me that makes sense at least)
Kerrie: sorry I forgot. I am a bit distracted these days ;)
Patti: I haven´t read a Nancy Drew for many years, but the series is one of the very few American series we had access to via the library when I was young :D
My favorite series detectives are Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. (Also Mary Russell in the Laurie R. King books featuring Holmes and Russell.)
When it comes to private detectives of the modern sort, my favorite is Elvis Cole in the series set in L.A. by Robert Crais.
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