The works of Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie were up for
discussion at our June meeting. There's always plenty of interesting
discussions to be had which makes for an enjoyable get together.
ROSEMARY - Some fun and interesting facts about both writers. A.C.
published 6 non crime novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. She learned
to surf and became one of the 1st Britons to ride a surf board. During WW1
Agatha worked as a dispenser, giving her extensive knowledge of poisons. Hercule
Poirot is the only fictional character to receive an Obituary in the New York
Times. R.C. didn't publish his 1st novel until he was 50. He worked as a screen
writer and worked with Alfred Hitchcock. He often complained how his works were
adapted for film. Raymond is credited as transforming the detective genre,
making it more realistic, worldly and grittier.
KRIS - They Came to Baghdad - Agatha Christie. 1951. A
superpower summit, the President will attend, an underground organization
planning to sabotage the talks, a friend in danger. This situation collides
with a young woman, Victoria, bored, looking for excitement and travel arriving
in Baghdad. A wounded Agent dies in her room and Victoria needs all her
resourcefulness to deal with the situation. Kris enjoyed the fast moving story.
PRU - The Big Sleep - 1939. Raymond Chandler. 1st novel to feature Philip Marlowe PI. Marlowe is hired by a
millionaire to handle a blackmailer. Many complications occur. Marlowe appears
as hard drinking, tough and sharply
spoken but underneath is morally upright and a man of honour. He's trying to
act ethically and improve the Los Angelese of the 1930's. Racism, sexism and
casual violence - a book of its time. Pru thought it was fun to read but
prefers the gentle English crime of Agatha Christie.
VAL - The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler 1953 . Many character, beautiful women, lengthy
descriptions, thoroughly enjoyable.
PAMELA - Farewell my Lovelies - Raymond Chandler - 1940. Classically
educated, Chandler's writing shows great craft and clever use of language. He
became the head of the Crime Writers Association.
JUDY De - Death in the Clouds - Agatha Christie. 1935.A death on a plane, many clues including a wasp. Hercule Poirot
solves it.
HELEN - Murder at the Vicarage - Agatha Christie. 1930. First book in the Miss Marple series, set in
St Mary's Mead. Reverend narrates, many characters, very good descriptions.
Helen enjoyed the language but not the plot - too convoluted.
JOAN - Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha
Christie. 1934. A murder, 12 suspects on a train that is stuck in the snow. 12
stab wounds. Hercule solves the case with 2 options. Visually beautiful, the plot was OK.
JO - Murder is Easy - Agatha Christie. 1939. 5 dead
people, a woman rejected by her lover, many suspects. Jo loved it.
MARGARET - Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha
Christie. 1934. The Language, the conversations, the assumptions. So good.
LYN - Crooked House. Agatha Christie. 1949. Another
in the nursery rhyme series. Agatha waited until she had plenty of time to
write as she wanted to enjoy the process
of writing this book. A large house,
members of the family all living together, fabulously wealthy, Grandfather
insisted all the family remain on the estate. Grandfather is murdered with
barbiturates. Many options for potential suspects. Lyn thoroughly enjoyed the
twists, turns and the unexpected ending.
PAT - Peril at End House. Agatha Christie. 1932. Hercule
on holiday, accidently meets a woman who had already 3 attempts on her life in
the previous 3 days. Whilst she was dismissive of the danger she faced, Hercule
takes on the case fearful of further murderous attempts. Concluding with the
final (6th) murder attempt, many twists and turns, a surprising end, and a very
vain Hercule - Pat thought the novel was OK.
BEV - Mrs McGinty's Dead. Agatha Christie. 1952. A char
lady is killed, a boarder is a suspect and found guilty. Sometime later Hercule
thinks differently and solves a cold case.
LESLEY - A Pocket Full of Rye. Agatha Christie. 1953. Another
Mother Goose rhyme used to create a crime story. A wealthy, corrupt businessman
drops dead after drinking his morning cup of tea. Many suspects, Miss Marple
invites herself into the household and ultimately solves the crime. Most of the
characters unlikeable and the plot was implausible however Agatha Christie did
know how to write an entertaining story.
Lesley
JULY: Books by Kate Grenville or Charlotte Wood
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