The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series

Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries is the next in my series of most popular and recommended Cozies. Before I begin, I have to give this disclaimer: this series is not really about a Cozy Mystery sleuth. Rather, Mrs. Pollifax is a woman from New Jersey who while in her 60s is bored after losing her husband and who volunteers with the CIA to be a spy. So the books are really more in the line of spy novels with some strongly Cozy elements.

In The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the series begins on a strong note with Mrs. Pollifax becoming a CIA courier whose mission was supposed to be a simple job to pick up some information in Mexico City. The book was first published way back in 1966 which was right in the middle of the Cold War, so there are plenty of potential adversaries who could be very interested in the information that Mrs. Pollifax is supposed to bring back home. Needless to say, the mission turns out to be a bit more difficult and complicated than it was supposed to be!

Mrs. Pollifax is a delightful character who is a resourceful person who can talk, charm, and sometimes shoot herself out of jam after jam. She has a way about her that is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, of course because of her age, but also because of her unassuming demeanor backed up by extraordinary intelligence and wit.

I recently finished re-reading this first book of the series, which for me was actually listening to the audio book. I decided to re-listen to it mainly because the Audible version is narrated by the wonderful Barbara Rosenblat. She is one of my very favorite narrators. I know I have talked about her before, but I just have to say that she brings the books she narrates so much to life that listening to them seems like watching movies. (And, as I have mentioned in the past, originally, I listened to all of the Mrs. Pollifax books. My library actually had the cassettes. >>> That’s how long it has been since I listened to them!)

Speaking of movies, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax has been made into two movies, Mrs. Pollifax-Spy in 1970 starring the delightful Rosalind Russell, and The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax starring the also delightful Angela Lansbury in a 1999 made-for-television version >> I don’t believe I have seen this version.

Mrs. Pollifax is one of my very favorite Cozy Mystery characters even while not being a traditional Cozy Mystery sleuth who solves murder mysteries.

If you’re interested in other entries about some highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

Some More of My Favorite Narrators of Books on Tape… Pt. 3

Here is the last of the three entries I have written about my favorite narrators of Books on Tape. 

Lisette Lecat
Lisette Lecat was born in South Africa. This accounts for the wonderful accent she lends the characters as she narrates Alexander McCall Smith‘s the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency mystery series. Her voice has a melodious quality which brings a humanity to all of the novels’ characters. It is truly a delightful experience to listen to Lecat’s narrations.

Nadia May, Wanda McCaddon, Donada Peters
Wanda McCaddon is an audio book narrator who has won many awards. She has a tremendous ear for accents, and is able to take the audio book listener to distant locations using her incredible mastery of accents. Elizabeth George, Ruth Rendell, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh are just a few authors whose mystery books have been brought to life by May/McCaddon/Peters

Stephen Thorne
If you are an Ellis Peters audio book fan, then no doubt you have heard the wonderful work of Stephen Thorne. He has performed in television, movies, radio, and on stage, as well as his accomplished performances in well over 300 audio books.

Colin Buchanan
Actor Colin Buchanan is probably best known for his portrayal of Pascoe in the television productions of Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel & Pascoe mysteries. This Scottish graduate of the London Drama Centre has narrated several of Reginald Hill’s audio book mysteries.

Len Cariou
Tony Award winning actor Len Cariou has had a long and distinguished dramatic career in both the USA and Canada. He has appeared in movies as well as on stage. He has also garnered high praise for his audio book narrations, which include books by best-selling authors Michael Connelly and James Patterson.

Boyd Gaines
Boyd Gaines joined the television cast of “One Day at a Time” years before becoming a mystery audio book narrator. He has brought Caleb Carr‘s mysteries to life, and has also won Tony Awards, as well!

James Saxon
James Saxon is a very distinguished British actor who has also leant his talents to audio books. Ngaio Marsh, P. G. Wodehouse, and Agatha Christie are amongst the authors for whom he has narrated.

Brian Glover
Glover is memorable in Margery Allingham’ Albert Campion television productions, where he portrays Campion’s butler, Lugg. He has lent his acting skills to Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel & Pascoe mystery audio books. (I have to admit that some people find his accent a little difficult to understand…)***I just corrected this… I got my sleuths all mixed up! Thanks, Carol!

These are just several of the audio book narrators who I feel a particular allegiance to. Do any of you have favorite audio book narrators who you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?

Part 1 of Audiobook Narrators

Part 2 of Audiobook Narrators

Great Narrators of Mystery Books on Tape… Pt. 2

In my previous entry I talked about Barbara Rosenblat and Derek Jacobi, two people who really know how to narrate a mystery book on tape! Today I want to add the following people to my list of (mystery) book narrators who help bring a book to life. 

Davina Porter
Davina Porter narrates best selling books in a manner that allows the listener to enjoy every aspect of the mystery novel. Porter is one of the pioneers in audio books. Her ease with mastering accents (whether for male or female protagonists) is truly an art form. She narrates the Isabel Dalhousie (non-mystery) series by Alexander McCall Smith, the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt mystery series by Anne Perry, Cynthia Riggs’ Martha’s Vineyard mysteries, and mysteries by such masters as Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George.

Barbara Caruso
Mystery fans who have listened to audio books by Edna Buchanan or James Patterson have no doubt enjoyed the narrations of Barbara Caruso. Caruso is also an actress, which helps explain her rich portrayals. Caruso first started narrating audio books for the American Foundation for the Blind. She received the Alexander Scrouby Award, which is a very high award given by the American foundation for the Blind for excellent work in audio books.

John McDonough
Perhaps a lot of people visually recognize John McDonough as the second Captain Kangaroo, but a lot of people also recognize his voice as the terrific narrator of Jan Karon‘s Mitford (non-mystery) series. McDonough’s voice is so peaceful to listen to, with very soothing qualities. Once you have heard McDonough, he will become instantly recognizable to you.

Joan Hickson
Joan Hickson is a treat to watch and hear. She portrays Miss Jane Marple in the BBC’s Miss Marple mystery series. She also narrates several of the Agatha Christie Miss Marple novels. What a treat! She is a perfect choice for the Miss Marple readings and portrayals. Agatha Christie actually thought she would be a perfect Miss Marple.

David Suchet
Who better to narrate Agatha Christie‘s Hercules Poirot mystery books than the actor who personified the fictional detective? In 1991, Suchet was nominated for the BAFTA (comparable to the Emmy) for his portrayal of Hercules Poirot, and in 2008, he won an Emmy for his roll in “The Way We Live Now. His narrations are true treats to hear.

Part 1 of Audiobook Narrators

Part 3 of Audiobook Narrators

Listening to Mystery Books on Tape… Pt. 1

I know I have touched on this subject before >>>I’m hoping it wasn’t too recently! The previous entry has me thinking about how much enjoyment I have gotten from listening to books on tape.

Every time I drive somewhere in my car (alone!), I listen to a mystery book. Both of my children went to the University of Texas in Austin, which is about an hour and a half from our home, but I never balked at having to deliver a book they had left at home (or clean clothes!)… this just meant that not only would I be able to treat them to lunch, but I would also have at least three hours in the car to enjoy my current Cozy Mystery.

I have a few narrators who I absolutely love to hear. These are people who are able to take some of my favorite 3-D characters, and flesh them out even more. (Let’s face it, one of the wonderful things about being addicted to Cozy Mysteries is that MOST of the mystery books have 3-D characters!)

In this entry, as well as the next two entries, I am going to name some of my favorite narrators. I know I have named several of them before – but they’re so good they deserve another mention! (I also know that not all of the authors I mention are Cozy Mystery book authors…)

Barbara Rosenblat
There is a reason that Barbara Rosenblat has won more Audie Awards than any other audio book narrator: She is terrific! Rosenblat is a narrator, as well as an actress. If you have ever had the privilege of hearing Rosenblat’s work, you would probably be hard-pressed to decipher where she lives (New York!) Her characterizations are so believable that it truly is difficult to pin her native accent down. She has narrated for such distinguished authors as: Elizabeth Peters, Linda Fairstein, Lisa Scottoline, Kathy Reichs, Diane Mott Davidson, Nevada Barr, and Dorothy Gilman.

Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek Jacobi is not only a very accomplished actor; he is also a very talented audio book narrator. He has narrated a vast amount of books – from Homer’s Odyssey to Peter Graves’ I Claudius, to Ellis Peters‘ Brother Cadfael Mysteries. It is no wonder that he has won so many awards for his work in audio book narrations.

Part 2 of Audiobook Narrators

Part 3 of Audiobook Narrators

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