I only have a few moments to write because dinner is upon us. But I'd like to say how much I have enjoyed John Banville's mysteries since I first started reading them in autumn 2021. At that time I read Snow, and adored it. John Banville is an Irish writer, lives in Dublin, but now that I've read him I'm quite positive his ancestry is Anglo-Irish. Or, as the saying goes, he is of "Prod" ancestry (Protestant). How else could he write so knowingly of the "Prod" policeman Strafford?
Actually, John Banville is a writer of literary fiction and won the Man Booker Prize in 2005 for The Sea. But several years later, he began writing detective fiction under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. Then after 2020, he continued writing detective fiction using his real name John Banville. He is an exquisite writer--his writing is flawless
I'm thoroughly enjoying Francine Mathews's Death on a Winter Stroll, the latest Merry Folger Nantucket Christmas Mystery. Merry is now Nantucket Island's Chief of Police and has her hands full during the island's traditional Winter Stroll Weekend, when thousands of people descend on the island to walk the cobblestone streets, view Christmas decorations festooned in every shop, listen to roaming carolers, and participate in loads of other festivities. I have read the first two novels in this series Death in the Off-Season and Death in Rough Water and enjoyed them. And I did not know that Francine Mathews writes the Jane Austen mysteries as Stephanie Barron. This one is rated 4.49 on Goodreads!
I have only read the first novel in the Quirke series by Benjamin Black but my husband has recommended Snow, so I will give it a try. I would like to read it soon if I can find it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are enjoying the new book in the Merry Folger series. And I really like that cover. I do have Death in the Off-Season by Francine Mathews and hope to get to it soon too. It has been on the shelf for 6 years, but it is easier to get too. Might not start that one until 2023.
Oh, yes--definitely Snow. I wouldn't recommend having the highest of expectations for it, because that's not what John Banville's crime fiction is like. He does character very well. Strafford, in particular, is a humor-producing puzzle of a police person. Banville's humor pushes through the back door and hits you sideways. Tongue in cheek all the way. Gosh, maybe I have to re-read Snow. So glad I have a pristine hardcover edition.
DeleteSince I posted, I have read much more of Death on a Winter Stroll, and I absolutely love it. 5+ stars. Her best yet in this series. (Of course, that saying, I haven't read them all!) I'm reading it slowly--savoring every single, minute detail.
I read The Sea some years ago and at the time could not think what all the fuss was about. I had absolutely no idea that he also wrote crime fiction! I think that bears investigating as you make the series sound rather good.
ReplyDeleteFrancine Mathews is a new name to me but I have heard of Stephanie Barron and have her first JA book on my tbr. Planning to read that next year as part of my renewed interest in JA and all the off-shoot novels and non-fiction her books have inspired. My 2023 project, though I did start that this year. I've just looked at the Nantucket books on Fantastic Fiction and think I must try them.
The Francine Mathews' Nantucket mysteries really encapsulate the wonders of the island, which I have visited 3 times only, and not since 1988. I absolutely think you would enjoy this series.
DeleteI haven't read all of Stephanie Barrons's Jane Austen series, but I did LOVE the one set over the Christmas season, when they have a huge house party for the holiday, and the snow relentlessly falls, allowing no one to leave for...I think close to 2 weeks. A treasure for sure, but I'll admit I don't recall the title. Definitely you don't have to read this series in order.
Ok so it was a rumor the princesses were in Ireland during the Blitz but really they were at Windsor Castle? I'm a little unclear. I guess Belfast got a bit of the Blitz in 1941 so it's good they weren't there. It seems I've read some Irish authors lately with Donal Ryan and Sebastian Barry. Have you read either of them? I have not read John Banville yet even after all these years ... so I'm adding to my list.
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't respond sooner! I love Sebastian Barry's novel that is set in the U.S. during the Civil War--unusual for a non-American writer, but it was top-notch!!
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