The Serpent and the Scorpion

Clare Langley-Hawthorne’s new book featuring Ursula Marlow follows the popular themes of a crumbling empire and the push toward universal (and particularly women’s) suffrage.  Already fascinating subjects, Langley-Hawthorne adds the allure of Egypt and the rising interest in socialist ideas.  This is a well rounded and well researched book that hides many compelling and thought provoking ideas within an interesting mystery.

One of my personal favorite themes in the book surrounds the tension between Marlow’s class and position in society (she is a factory owner) and her socialist leanings.  At the time, it was shocking enough for a woman to be an entrepreneur and it would be easy to think that the author added the socialist theme to plump the plot as it seems incongruous with the character, but the reality is more complex.

There were many rich socialists in the first half of the 20th century and the contradiction between many people’s theories and practices was a reality that provides for a more thorough investigation of gender and class during the Edwardian period.  It also allows the author to explore this division within the women’s suffrage movement, between those that felt that giving wealthy white women the vote would solve society’s problems and those who saw the movement within the context of struggling toward greater equality in general.

The suffragette movement appears to be a popular backdrop within the sub-genre, but I am not complaining; each author focuses on a different aspect of the movement.  Clare Langley-Hawthorne does not make suffrage central in the way that Gillian Linscott does with her Nell Bray series, instead it is used more as a way to help fully develop Ursula Marlow as a three dimensional character, which she is…well actually she might even be five or six dimensional.

Ursula Marlow has a lot going on, and I mean a lot.  She is an emancipated woman of Edwardian England who inherited her fathers factory and has chosen to run it herself.  She is also a socialist member of the Women’s Social and Political Union, with a lesbian best friend and a lover she refuses to marry, an ex she is trying to save, all while being a general adventurer.  There is a lot to Ms. Marlow and she is a fun guide to follow.

The book also touches briefly on Egypt and war profiteering, two themes I wish were explored more fully.  In fact, I could see this book easily accommodating another fifty to a hundred pages (the book is 289 pages).  The research is clearly there and I would have enjoyed longer discussions about Egypt and the partnership between commerce and war; if Anne Perry and Clare Langley-Hawthorne had an authorial baby, it would have perfect soliloquies dedicated to educating the reader on the prominent perspectives of the day.  My only other criticism is that the conclusion of the previous book (Consequences of Sin) is explicitly discussed in the Serpent and the Scorpion so it is a good thing I can never remember things like that but for those of you who have minds like steel traps: beware of the spoilers!  Other than that, I recommend finding and reading this book.

This Dame for Hire

Sandra Scoppettone introduces the reader to Faye Quick and 1940s New York City.  This is an interesting case because it is a historical mystery attempting to replicate the hard boiled style of Dashell Hammett or Raymond Chandler.  The book is definitely more successful at the former, no one would mistake it as actually having been written in the 40s; Scoppettone tries too hard for it to ring true.  At times the constant use of ya instead of you was annoying but in general it was a fun read.

Faye Quick is a pretty likable character (if you can get past someone who says lotta a lot) and New York during WWII is interesting.  The setting was pretty vivid (much stronger than the narration or dialog) and it is clear that the book is well researched.  These moments of historical wartime provide pockets of time where some women were permitted into new roles and many historical mysteries exploit these eras to justify characters that exist outside of the norm; Scoppettone does this exceedingly well and the characters and story are believable, even if the language is not.

Like many noir tales (and cozies for that matter), the story revolves around personal scandals and intrigue, characters are seldom all that they seem, the private dick perseveres, and there is room for a little romance.  As i said, this was a fun and quick read.  It did make me think about situations where the majority of the population is of one gender but, beyond that, it can not be said that the book is particularily thought provoking, but that is OK.  There was one plot device that I cannot stand: a psychic!  I think that is cheating and lazy but the book is not out to win any awards, just entertain so I will let it slide this time.  I am glad that there are so many different kinds of books even within my fairly restricted sub genre and I will look out for more about this dame Faye Quick.

Shadows and Lies

I have to get my distaste for this title out of the way: this book has a terrible title, it reminds me of a Gothic Romance. The book gets much better beyond the title and I found it a really interesting read. Marjorie Eccles wrote this stand alone book (I can not remember the last historical mystery that was not part of a series) that sends the reader back and forth between 1909 South Africa and 1918 England. There are multiple narrators and two parallel stories that eventually come together to solve the mystery.

The changing point of view was compelling but at times unsettling. Eccles did such a good job inhabiting the different narrators that each shift felt like reading a different book. I am not sure if this is the nature of the style or if the author lacked fluidity. I think part of the problem is that the second story does not appear until the reader is well into the book (around p. 140). One result is that the story is masterfully crafted but the reader has difficulty connecting to any of the characters. The second component seems to have little bearing on the mystery for the majority of the book and could almost be called a family saga. It is this section where Eccles feels most comfortable and the characters and setting really come alive, drawing the reader into the fictional world and by far the more compelling tale. All of this means that for a mystery reader, it takes a bit of work to get through but the trip is well worth the read.

The Boer war is not often discussed in these books, it is confusing (hard to say who was the *good guys*) and the ensuing atrocities shocking. The choice to use it as a setting is a difficult one: how to maintain sympathy for the protagonists (White, British) without denying the beliefs of the era. I do not want to say that this is impossible but it is very difficult and Eccles definitely fails here, a flip comment by a narrator about how everyone knows White people are superior to all and this reader stops caring about the fate of said character. On the other hand, had Eccles ignored the reality of British settlers of the time, the story would not ring true.

It is also difficult to say if the exclusion of non British or Dutch perspectives is a conscious choice on the part of the author to demonstrate the folly of the time or if in fact this is done without thought and demonstrates the Eurocentricity of the writing. Either way, Eccles succeeds in making the reader think about a time and place that we do not know what to do with, the statue in Toronto seems to say we should be proud of the boys we sent to kill and die, but it is not celebrated because the motivation and results were less than honourable. Colonialism has such a complex and varied legacy and I am, glad to see that people are attempting to unpack some of its baggage, even if the outcome is somewhat flawed or messy.

I am glad that I read this book but I am not sure that I will read more from the author. This book made me realize how many settings there are to be explored and how few are currently used. I enjoy reading about London and New York but there is a whole world out here to glean stories and ideas from. I think that as the genre grows and more people write historical mysteries we will find more diversity in our authors and therefor in the settings and eras. I want to read about Mexico after the Revolution or abolition era Brazil; imagine the possibilities of partitioning Inda or Czarist Russia! For now I guess I will have to settle for Amelia Peabody.

Dance on Blood

This is an amazing series and Nell Bray is one of my favorite protagonists.  Nell Bray is strong, thoughtful and passionate; brave but still highly relatable.  She is an accidental detective but the mysteries always involve her work as a suffragette in London in the early part of the last century.

The suffragette setting is a highly compelling backdrop for Gillian Linscott’s stories and she fully exploits it to add flavour and plot devices to the mystery.  The suffragettes are often only a footnote in the history of this tumultuous time and Gillian Linscott really brings into to focus the frustration and desperation many (mainly white and middle class) women felt during the era.

Because this is a series, Nell Bray can guide us through the different stages of the movement, highlighting the non-homogeneity of the membership’s methods and motivations.  Not glamorized, the suffragette movement is drawn to display the complex decisions and trade offs required to participate in Politics.  The history is well researched and every included detail adds to the story and the reader’s understanding of the time period, which is a true achievement.

Beyond the setting,  the 7th mystery in this series is interesting and complex enough to keep you guessing, or at least interested for those who are blessed/cursed with being able to always guess the murderer right away.  The added layers of Oscar Wilde, Salome and the opera world help to give insight into the dominant values of the time and place and made me want to reread all of Wilde’s work.

Reading these books makes me realize how much we take suffrage for granted, only 30% of Vancouver’s registerd voters went to the polls in our last municipal election.  It is a good thing that people cannot imagine a democracy without universal suffrage but it is sad to think that the work of so many before us might be forgotten.  A mystery that can make me think about all of this while keeping me completely entertained: I would call that a gem.

An incomplete Revenge

Maisie Dobbs is a strong intelligent heroine who would be right at home on a Mystery special on PBS.  Created by Jacqueline Winspear, this post WWI series centres around the professional career of Ms. Dobbs, a wartime nurse turned psychologist/detective; a rare gift in a historical mystery: a female protagonist that is not an accidental detective.  This, in itself, is compelling and the author’s care with historical detail and commitment to research paid off: I could almost smell the hops and hear a Roma violin song playing in the distance.

The setting is really interesting to me: a powerful yet obsolete estate and the dawning of a new day; the inroads of industrialization colliding with centuries old agriculture; community versus nationalism or commonalities versus differences; and the never ending effects of war.  I think there are so many stories to be found in times of great change and Winspear is good at mining for them.  In fact, this is one of my great attractions to these books: the ability to peer into the lives of women throughout history; there is just not enough in our history books.  Lucky for me I enjoy edutainment, especially when there is a mystery involved!  So needless to say, there is a lot going on in this book that I cared about, unfortunately,  the characters were not at the top of the list.  On paper I should love this book, and the protagonist, but I just never felt truly attached to the story.

This book made me think a lot; about war and loss but also about what makes a book truly absorbing, what is it that makes one excited to open up a book.  If I knew the answer I probably would not be writing here but I think it has something to do with the right balance between plot, setting and character, something that I am sad to say this book is lacking.  I should care about Maisie (I even love her name: Masie Dobbs, it just sounds good) but she is just too distant to relate to as a reader.  I am going to read the rest of the books in this series because the background is compelling and the story is interesting enough, but I just can’t say that I will seek them out.

Queen of the Flowers

I met Phryne Fisher quite late in her career and I look forward to reading the long series that Kerry Greenwood has been writing since 1992. Queen of the Flowers is the fourteenth book in a series of fifteen, so it might be irresponsible for me to discuss it but I am sharing what I am reading and I read this, sorry.

I really enjoyed this book, which takes place in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1920s. This is a special treat for me because I love reading about a variety of settings and this was my first Australian mystery. The new (for me) setting meant it took me the first chapter or so to get into the language and rhythm of the writing, which in the end is quite lyrical and interesting (eg. Silence spread in pools like cold water, p. 40)

This book is driven by Phryne, she is a strong and fiery character who has liberated herself from practical and social constraints. Much like Jade Del Cameron, she is wealthy but generous, to the extent of opening her home to needy children and befriending her servants. I would say this is more of a character driven story than one supported by plot. The story was pretty good but it is the writing and the people that really make this book interesting and complex.

Greenwood manages to clearly communicate the heightened sexuality of Phryne without being explicit, allowing deeper character development without slipping into the romance genre. Some readers (OK, me) may be uncomfortable with Phryne’s relationship, which I think is crafted to demonstrate how unconventional the character is but instead lessons her integrity. Phryne’s man friend is married (to someone else) and she is his “concubine” accepted by his wife. Now, that seems less unconventional and more traditionally inequitable-you see this man is jealous and she is not allowed other boyfriends! This is a clumsy devise of the author to ensure that the reader does not root for Phryne’s marriage. Even with my mild annoyance at her relationship, Phryne is a character I look forward to following.

The Serpent’s Daughter

Indiana Jones fans: this is the book for you! Adventure is the central premise of The Serpent’s Daughter, although you still get a good mystery along the way. The reader is swept off to Morocco between the Wars to follow Jade Del Cameron as she simultaneously tries to improve her relationship with her mother, prove their innocence, deal with multiple kidnappings and restore harmony to a Berber village.

The book will likely appeal to fans of modern historical mysteries, especially those who like the Amelia Peabody series, as it is full of rich detail and is light enough to maintain its coziness. The real success of the book is the author’s ability to evoke a time and a place, the reader is truly transported to dusty roads, teeming bazaars, dark tunnels and the homes of people along the way. I find that many historical mysteries fail to invest in the environment and create stories that would not be out of place in the present day, Suzanne Arruda is not guilty of this; Morocco of 1920s is a main character in this story

Although treated with a very light touch, class, race and gender were all themes in this book (full disclosure: obviously gender is always a theme in historical fiction with female protagonists, but I also read these books looking at the role class plays and how the author portrays it). I have found that the majority of protagonists are either aristocratic but struggling financially or wealth but generous to a fault; Jade falls into the latter category, which allows her endless opportunity while maintaining her likability.

Jade Del Cameron is a highly likable character, even as she pushes the reader’s boundaries in suspending disbelief for the sake of the story. She manages to escape capture so many times that during one kidnapping, I thought: not again. The story did rely heavily on action so readers looking for a more cerebral journey might be disappointed. The story was complex enough that I was compelled until the end and I can recommend this book for those who enjoy a fun, light read that evokes another time and place.