Murder Mystery Blog: The Unexpected Guest

Murder Mystery



I recently went to see this Agatha Christie play at my local theatre. This is one of Agatha’s works that I have never previously come across – there aren’t very many of those!

So what did I think? Well, I came away from the theatre feeling vaguely disappointed – this play is not really typical Agatha and although it is clever and has a few twists, it really failed to hold my interest to the extent I was expecting and looking forward to. The friend I was with, also an Agatha Christie fan, was slightly more impressed than I was, so maybe I was just in an unreceptive mood.

The actual production was very good – the Agatha Christie Theatre Company – the staging and the acting all good quality (although I do have difficulty in disassociating former soap stars from their soap characters!)

Please don’t let me put you off going to see this production if you get the chance, as always the opinions I am expressing is purely personal. Oh, and it’s a long time since I have witnessed a better opening to a performance – the audience jumped out of it’s collective skin!

Click Here for information on the Agatha Christie Theatre Company productions, venues and tour dates.

Murder Mystery Blog: The Unexpected Guest

Murder Mystery Blog: Cadfael

Murder Mystery



Anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery yarn and also has a fascination with history, will love the Cadfael novels of Ellis Peters.

Brother Cadfael is a monk in twelfth century Shrewsbury and the restrictions of the monastic way of life do not prevent him becoming regularly embroiled in murder and mayhem. He has taken his vows and valiantly tries to obey them; poverty and chastity he can cope with, obedience poses a constant problem!

Brother Cadfael became a monk late in life; he had lived an adventurous life up to that point, even taking part in the Crusades.
In true murder mystery tradition, this most unlikely of amateur detectives has an unerring knack of finding significance in small points that completely escape the notice of everyone else. And of course, this inevitably leads to the unmasking of the villain.

In the TV series of the same name, Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of Cadfael is excellent and should not offend Cadfael fans.

Ellis Peters was not the greatest murder mystery writer in the world, the stories came to be rather formulaic after a while, but they are an enjoyable read and deserve a place in any true murder mystery lover’s collection.

Clip From The Cadfael TV Series



The Cadfeal Collection



Murder Mystery Blog: Cadfael

Murder Mystery Blog: Inspector Alleyn

Murder Mystery



Ask anyone to name a famous fictional detective, and the chances are that Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple will be top of the list (and deservedly so.)

The name of Inspector Roderick Alleyn, although well known to murder mystery aficionados, will not immediately spring into the minds of the uninitiated. And yet his creator, Ngaio Marsh produced over thirty detective novels, several of which have been featured in a television series starring Patrick Malahide in the title role.

One should not compare her to Agatha Christie – their styles and their literary creations are completely different. Poirot is more akin to Sherlock Holmes in that neither of them are given much of a background and have virtually no family life – they are unencumbered by domestic concerns. Alleyn, on the other hand, has an aristocratic mother, siblings, an on-going romance with a talented young artist and ultimately, a son. And of course, another big difference is that whilst Christie’s detectives are both amateurs (notwithstanding Poirot’s previous career in the Belgian police force,) Roderick Alleyn is a professional policeman.

Maybe one reason that Roderick Alleyn is not as universally popular as Poirot or Miss Marple is that although one can respect him, it is difficult to feel any great affection for him. There is a remoteness about him (and also about the love of his life Agatha Troy) that prevents the reader from feeling any great degree of involvement

Ngaio Marsh’s plots are clever, though sometimes a trifle convoluted and many of them have a theatrical background. Several are set in her native New Zealand. Although these stories cannot equal the devious brilliance of those of Agatha Christie; nevertheless Marsh’s novels are most enjoyable and will keep the reader guessing.

Inspector Alleyn Selection



Murder Mystery Blog: Inspector Alleyn

Welcome To The Murder Mystery Blog

Murder Mystery



(Photo Credit: Eifion)

A very warm welcome to the Murder Mystery Blog. My name is Mary and one of my great passions in life is reading. I enjoy all sorts of literature and Dickens, the Brontes and particularly Jane Austen are among the esteemed names, which line my bookshelves, but I have a particular liking for murder mysteries.

Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey, Cadfael – all wonderful amateur detectives; and the professionals – Inspectors Alleyn, Wexford and Morse. Just a few of the many sleuths with whom I have beguiled away many an hour.

But when it comes to murder mystery, it is Dame Agatha Christie who to my mind stands head and shoulders above all the others. So much so that just over a year ago I began building a website dedicated to Agatha Christie.

I fully intend to continue building my personal tribute to the life and writing of Agatha Christie, however, through this blog I would also like to talk about the murder mystery genre in general as well as discussing my other favourite murder mystery authors, films, plays etc.

Contributions, comments and opinions from fellow murder mystery fans are always welcome.

All the very best

Mary

Welcome To The Murder Mystery Blog