I have written about Conrad Allen‘s Dillman Mystery Series before. (Actually, it’s called the Dillman and Masefield Mystery Series, but I find that to be a little bit of a SPOILER!) Well, since I just finished reading one of the Allen’s Dillman mysteries, I thought I would (again!) tell you about this series. I consider this series something of a “classic”, the Dillman and Masefield Mystery Series all takes place in a series of interesting venues – trans-Atlantic voyages at the turn of the 20th century.
Besides fitting comfortably within the Cozy Mystery formula, the Dillman and Masefield Mystery Series also qualifies as something of a historical mystery. Though started by Conrad Allen in 1999 with the release of Murder on the Lusitania, the books all take place in the early 20th century, with the first taking place on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania in 1906, the vessel whose sinking in 1915 would eventually lead to the entrance of America into World War I.
As with most good historical mysteries, the Dillman and Masefield series takes full advantage of its setting, using the bygone era to help paint a more “ideal” version of the setting, rather than the often more messy reality of the time. For a novel to truly qualify as a historical novel, it can’t take place during the author’s own time – so novels such as Agatha Christie’s Poirot series, which take place in what would now be considered the past, don’t usually qualify as historical since they took place in roughly the same era that Christie herself was writing.
The specific setting Allen selected, the early 1900s, make a particularly good period to set such novels due to the relatively peaceful nature of the decade. At the same time, the rising tensions before the actual outbreak of war are enough to help set the stage for intrigue among the passengers. The decade also benefits from perhaps being a bit less well entrenched in the minds of many readers than some alternatives – it manages to possess the prosperity of the roaring ’20s, without necessarily possessing the widespread cultural change from that particular decade.
Besides the charm of the setting, Allen also does a good job of making likeable protagonists and supporting cast. The first novel in particular is interesting since he takes his time in revealing the secrets and pasts of the main protagonists. Many authors are in too much of a hurry when they first introduce their sleuths, quick to drop as much exposition as possible to help get their characteristics across. Instead, George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield are introduced more gradually, letting the reader come to like them through their interactions with the rest of the cast, so that when we learn about their pasts we’re more interested in them as characters whose company we already enjoy.
All told, I thoroughly enjoy this series and can recommend it to anyone seeking quality Cozy Mystery reading. The only suggestion I would make to readers is that perhaps they should space out their Dillman and Masefield mysteries. The setting of a grand ship making the trans-Atlantic passage in the 1900s is certainly interesting, but reading several novels with the same interesting setting in quick succession might wear slightly on the novelty. Conrad Allen has also written several other series, under his actual name of Keith Miles and his Edward Marston pseudonym.
Marienne says
Thanks to “Downton Abbey” & it’s many explanatory adjuncts I suspect that the first decade of the 20th century is more rather than ‘less well-entrenched in the minds of many readers’. It’s the first thing that came to mind when I read this intriguing Post. I hope the books are available as ebooks because, thanks to DA, I find this period enchanting & interesting!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marienne, they are available as Kindles, and they are really cheap ($2.99 a piece).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marienne, there’s my problem! I only watched the first season…
Stash Empress says
I loved this series! And well before Downton Abbey LOL! Have I mentioned (numerous times!) how much I love historical mysteries – particularly those set in luxe locales with gorgeous clothing???
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, I especially like it when Dillman travels in the first class section for that very reason. Opulence is the word that comes to mind…
PamB says
Danna, you always do such a great job describing books. I’ve read the first two Dillman’s and, also, thoroughly enjoyed. The third book is ‘waiting’ to be read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, there you go! “waiting”!!! 🙂
Susan* says
These are personal favourites of mine, too. I started with the second book (Which I still consider the best,) and am gradually filling in the gaps.
One of the things I like about these is that he manages to make things different. Ie: It’s not the same old murder / drug smuggling / secret papers, ‘every’ time. Anyone who’s read the second one, (The Mauretania) in particular, will know what I mean.
No spoilers, but the lady passenger and her chess-playing husband… and the car that’s being transshipped as well. It’s the smaller things that really make a story, and Allen weaves in the secondary plots, and fleshes out the background characters so well.
This one is actually another of those mysteries we’ve been talking about recently, where a cat plays an important role in solving the mystery. (The cat is only a minor character, in this case, but important.)
Now I want to go and re-read these again – and I’m right in the middle of another series! Drat you, Danna! Lol!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I’m so glad you wrote this comment! I hope everyone reads it. I’m starting Conrad Allen’s Railway Detective Mystery Series (written as Edward Marston) because I like this one so much.
That’s right >>> blame it on the messenger!
Susan* says
Just on a side-note, to me, a ‘historical’ is anything that’s set a hundred years or more ago. So Sherlock Holmes for instance, technically qualifies, despite being contemporary when they were written.
The Conrad Allen’s just sneak into that, too.
Also – and I realise I’m probably going to annoy a few people here – if it’s set during a particular historical period, I feel it can, in one way, be classed as ‘historical’ fiction.* Although, to be honest, it’s probably a different meaning of Historical than the one we’re discussing here.
(*My Mum was born during WWII and my referring to WWII settings as ‘historical’ annoys her no end. I suspect it’s one of the reasons I do it! Lol!)
Just my personal opinion, so no offense intended to anyone and please feel free to disagree! (Hey, maybe there’s another blog entry here, Danna – ‘What is Historical?’ Lol!)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, that’s another way to see historical fiction. But then that would make Agatha Christie’s very early mysteries historical in a few more years, as it would every other author who wrote anything before 1915. Let me think about it…
Susan* says
Well, as I said, it’s just my opinion. Although perhaps moderate that to anything pre the 20th century. 🙂
I think that Holmes seems older than Christie because her characters use motor cars, rather than horse-drawn cabs like Holmes, if that makes sense.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I’m still thinking about it. I probably should have not stated my opinion about what constitutes an historical novel, without saying as much…
Anne says
Susan, I think your definition would be too subjective. I know young people who think everything before they were born is history.
I have to say I don’t like much “historical” fiction although I really like history. I find the “real” stuff much more exciting and interesting than a fictional version – apart from a brilliant writer like Hilary Mantel.
In the end everything is history and the old stories, like the Greek myths, and the old writers, like Shakespeare, are the best. imhp!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, I hadn’t thought about young people who see (let’s say) the 1980s as historical.
Anne says
I think we can only consign an era to history when it’s outwith living memory. WW2 can’t be called history because it is still within living memory, albeit the memory of the very old and those who were children at the time.Still valid.
The last person in Britain to have been born in the reign of Queen Victoria died recently so we can say that era has been and gone. There is a story told about a Chinese leader in the 80s who was asked about the effects of the French Revolution who replied “It’s too early to tell.”
(actually he never said quite that but the Media tend not to let truth get in the way of a good story.) Bit like some of the less good Historical Cosies! imho!
Susan* says
That’s why I think it would make for an interesting discussion, Anne! 🙂 Everyone’s perception of what constitutes ‘historical’ is different!
Anne says
yes, that’s true.
Anne says
sorry, I think that should have been inmho!
Anne says
Echo?
Mel says
Thanks Danna! I remember reading a series like this years ago,but I lost track of who wrote it. I can’t wait to read the ones I didn’t know about!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mel, I hope this is the series you were reading years ago. It it’s not, you’ll probably still enjoy it…
Linda L says
Danna, I just finished “Murder on Lusitania” (before a cruise to Bermuda!) and can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it! So much so that I’m starting the second book right now, contrary to your advice. 🙂 I do plan to wait until later for the third book, though, since there are only eight books in this series and I want to stretch out the time to look forward to the next one. Any idea if Allen plans to return to it? It looks like he tends to start a series then abandon it.
Thanks for another great suggestion! Do tell us what you think of the Railway Detective series. I see you noted “not cozy”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda L, I have noted it’s reportedly not Cozy because I heard from someone who said it wasn’t. However, I would say it’s as Cozy as his Dillman series. His sleuth in the Railway series is a Scotland Yard detective, not an amateur sleuth, but Dillman is also a detective. I would recommend Edward Marston’s Railway series to people who like Conrad Allen’s. (I’m guessing we won’t be seeing anymore Dillman mysteries, but there’s always hope!)