March in the Library: Inquiring Minds Are on the Case

Mystery fans are excited to hear that Lenora Clark, a well known OLLI instructor, will be offering a three session series about mystery novels beginning March 14 as part of the Inquiring Minds program.  It is sure to be a popular offering.  The class sessions will include discussions about Golden Age women mystery writers and police procedurals.

Golden Age Detective Fiction was a style of writing published mainly in the 1920’s and 1930’s.  They often were “whodunits.”  Many of the best authors remain in print today and continue to be read by Manor residents.  Some of these books might be considered “cosy” writing, but it could be argued that the writing quality, especially of those still in print, is clever, engaging, and colorful.  Many were turned into British television productions.  Some of the books available on campus were written by:

Agatha Christie:  Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series

Dorothy Sayers:  Lord Peter Wimsey series

Ngaio Marsh:  Inspector Alleyn series

Georges Simenon:  Chief Inspector Maigret series

A copy of Josephine Tey’s classic The Daughter of Time and a collection of Raymond Chandler stories are on display.

Leonora Clark may choose to discuss detective novels that take a disciplined approach to police procedures.  But, as any detective story fan knows, authors often allow their law enforcement characters to veer far and wide from regulations.  In fact, many of the heroes revel in their rule breaking.  One characteristic that they share in common with the Golden Agers is a penchant for a main character who is supported by various sub characters who may or may not be competent or heroic.

For example, John Sanford’s best selling “Prey” novels feature Lucas Davenport, who gradually moves from the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to become a roving U.S. Marshal. He frequently corrals Agent Virgil Flowers, a sort of minion.  Flowers is so likable and funny that he has his own series.  He occasionally solves cases in small Minnesota towns, including one about a murderous school board and another whose mayor’s campaign slogan is “I’ll do what I can.”

Police procedurals often take place in locations that are vividly described.  In fact, sometimes the settings are more riveting than the plot. A few authors with interesting plot locations include Martha Grimes (Richard Jury of Scotland Yard), Donna Leon (Commissario Brunetti of Venice), Steven Havill’s Posada County series (New Mexico), and Dana Stabenow (Alaska State Trooper Jim Chopin and Kate Shugak).

The Manor library houses many mysteries in varying genres.  Please come investigate.