I just finished the twelfth novel in the (Chief Inspector) Markby and (Meredith) Mitchell Village Whodunit Mystery Series (by Ann Granger) and as usual, I have been left with a feeling of great satisfaction. As I was reading the novel, I kept asking myself… Why do I like this series?
I have to admit that by the twelfth book in a series, a lot of the time I find myself wondering… will this book be able to "hold me?" That sounds rather high-and-mighty, no doubt, but some of you will have to admit to knowing when an author should simply wrap up the series rather than continue. It is always difficult to drop a series that was once a favorite…
I am glad I don’t have that problem with Granger’s Markby and Mitchell series. I still find the characters interesting, and I also find the plot lines enjoyable (and plausible.) As I read this last novel, I found myself falling for the red herrings, and was pleasantly surprised by the ending. And, speaking of the ending… I liked that the book took +/- fifty pages for the mystery to be solved. I absolutely hate it when I have devoted the time to read 300 pages, and then the author wraps up the mystery in the last two pages… almost as if the editor said, "Wrap it up… we go to print tomorrow." I want the solution to the mystery to be woven into the plot line, not simply attached at the end of the novel. I want something interesting… something with twists and turns… and that is what Granger delivers.
A good friend of mine told me about Ann Granger, and I think about my friend every time I pick a Granger novel to read. I am so glad that she recommended Granger’s Markby and Mitchell series to me. (Thank you!)
So, for you blog readers who aren’t yet familiar with this Ann Granger series… If you haven’t yet read a Markby and Mitchell novel, why don’t you try one? You might become a Granger fan, also!
So many people are “into” antiquing these days, so what better profession for some of our favorite cozy mystery authors to use in their story lines? I live in an area of the country where the antiquing business is truly thriving. A lot of the little towns that surround San Antonio seem to be comprised of one antique shop after the other. So I decided, why not make a list of mysteries that use antiques in some way? (Again, I am working off of my alphabetical lists of authors…. but, if you know of another cozy mystery author who uses the antiques theme, please drop me a comment… The comment button is found under this blog, right below a faint grey line…)
Still continuing with the authors from my lists… I have two authors who specialize in Mystery Series with a Pet Sitting, Pet Boutique, and Pet Sitting Themes: