I just recently received a letter from a site reader asking these questions:
(1.) What about murder by diary/journal? How many can we come up with where the dastardly deed is revealed during the course of a series of diary entries? The original great must be Les Liaisons Dangeureuses – though the deaths come at the end – but are there any contemporary ones?
(2.) Also I remember reading a few books where the murder was set against the background of collectible rare books – the chapter headings were descriptions of rare books taken from auction catalogues, (sorry about all these extra ‘u’ -I’m in England!) – and the book sale somehow tied in with the plot? Does anyone remember these?
Please leave a comment if you think that you have a book or book series which might be relevant to either of these questions.
Barbara says
Hi Danna,
I have two great book collector series for you Julie Kaewert’s the Alex Plumtree series and John Dunning’s Cliff Janeway series.
Hope you are doing well.
Barbara
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Barbara…
We’re all doing great>>> even Sprite!
Thanks for the additions to the book collector question. Hope you all are doing well, also.
Christine E. Collier, author of The Writer's Club Mystery Series says
Dear Danna,
In my book, Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn, one of the chapters, Mistletoe Tea, is written in journal entries. Tara finds an old journal written in the 1940s, in the closet at Cliffhanger Inn. After she begins reading the journal she’s terrified that she’s stumbled on a murder mystery from fifty years ago. Reading letters or journal entries is one of my favorite ways to share a story! Thanks. Love this site.
The Writer’s Club, Mystery is our Shadow, Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn and Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Christine E. Collier
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you so much for writing, Christine. Mistletoe Tea sounds like it is exactly what the site reader who posed the question is looking for…
Carrie says
Hi!
I will definitely try some of these titles, as soon as I get to unwrap Santa’s little parcels!
I must have been having a ‘senior moment’ when I sent in this request initially, as I now remember that Dangerous Liaisons is written in the form of letters, not diary entries – can’t think how I forgot that!
Anyway, I’m wondering if anyone can remember any mysteries written as diaries or letters, this really interests me at the moment.
I have just read The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – it’s a bit gruesome and harrowing as the murder victim is a child, which I hadn’t realised, but as it’s a true story (not very cozy I’m afraid) it does give an incredible insight into Victorian English society and attitudes as well as tracing the way the detective fiction we all love now developed from reports of this very real tragedy. I thoroughly recommend this book by Kate Summerscale.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Carrie,
Hopefully someone out there will be able to help you come up with some more “diary/letter” cozy mysteries.
Peggy says
One of my favorite books written in letter form is Woman of Independent Means. I can’t remember the author but the name Elizabeth Hailey or Haley seems to be ringing in my head. They made a great tv mini series out of it with Sally Field. She was magnificent.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Peggy, for the recommendation. A Woman of Independent Means was written by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. Although it’s not a mystery, it does look really good! Thanks for letting us know about it.
Carrie says
I will definitely look out for it! Thanks Peggy!
Bill says
I guess it is obvious, but Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories were (all?) written by the character Dr Watson in the form of first person narrative. More of a journal of Sherlock’s adventures rather than a personal diary I suppose.
I guess by modern standards they would be considered generally “cozy”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
So true, Bill… Thanks for the Sherlock Holmes idea….