tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post700881300366152211..comments2024-03-28T10:31:55.774-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: Death at the Outer Banks: Shooting at Loons (1994), by Margaret MaronThe Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-87085431280245271682014-03-03T23:04:32.584-08:002014-03-03T23:04:32.584-08:00Well, Noah, I do wonder why some modern mysteries ...Well, Noah, I do wonder why some modern mysteries even bother with the mystery element, they are so interested in other things. A lot of modern cozies could be, for example, Jan Karon novels, if you took out the murders. Would people really miss them?<br /><br />I liked this enough to make me want to look at some later Marons in the Knott series, though I'm just not caught up in the protagonist's personal life. I liked it better when drama flowed through, not out of, the detective--the detective as conduit, not originator, as it were.<br /><br />Agree about Sigrid Herald.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-65983110366572973272014-03-03T22:59:47.722-08:002014-03-03T22:59:47.722-08:00Yep, that's me. I'm not normally that sun...Yep, that's me. I'm not normally that sun-toasted, lol.<br /><br />I think older mysteries tend to have a balance between the personal stuff and the plot that better suits me.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-1360074294639527632014-03-03T22:58:04.025-08:002014-03-03T22:58:04.025-08:00Gun in Cheek is great. I'm going to keep look...Gun in Cheek is great. I'm going to keep looking at modern cozies throughout the year, I think.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-14303602361365586802014-03-03T22:57:09.191-08:002014-03-03T22:57:09.191-08:00Peggy Ann, I know, I love the locale, but I did fi...Peggy Ann, I know, I love the locale, but I did find myself not needing all the detail about Judge Knott's romantic life. But then that tends to be the modern fashion!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-4196981409623915072014-02-27T06:36:18.584-08:002014-02-27T06:36:18.584-08:00I started reading Margaret Maron way back when -- ...I started reading Margaret Maron way back when -- her first mystery, "One Coffee With" (1981), was part of an unattractive series of paperbacks from Raven House Mysteries, which I think was an effort of Harlequin predating their Worldwide imprint, and stood out like a gem in that poorly-selected and poorly-packaged line. Its current value is probably as much as the sum of all the other books in the line together. Maron produced a bunch of Lt. Sigrid Harald mysteries before moving up to her current series, but I'll always remember her for her debut novel and a later entry in that series that is the only mystery ever set against the backdrop of a cribbage tournament -- "The Right Jack". <br />I too found her observation about the expectations of modern readers interesting, and telling. I've heard people say occasionally that they wouldn't mind if their favourite authors just put out books about the lives of their series characters without bothering to add a mystery element!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-5503111822941891772014-02-26T20:32:35.321-08:002014-02-26T20:32:35.321-08:00I am more mystery than romance, social observation...I am more mystery than romance, social observation and side issues as well. I don't mind side issues or social observation in small doses but the plot must come first with good character development.<br /><br />It's interesting to read Maron's comment about modern readers expectation on what a mystery novel should be.<br /><br />p/s: Nice to see you in person. ;-)Wewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06128483520352646210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-80051366041668697822014-02-26T18:06:26.666-08:002014-02-26T18:06:26.666-08:00Very interesting. I am starting to read new writer...Very interesting. I am starting to read new writers based on your recommendation (enjoyed death of an old goat last week); with recent entries in mind found a margaret scherf book (nearest i could get to modern cosy)- found plot a bit murder she wrote, except the dialogue was so full of political rhetoric it did keep me reading- at one point a cop exasperates that just cos we now all have the right to vote, it doesnt mean we should- i think it was satire but could equally be heavy handed politicising. most annoying aspect was that murderer seemed plucked from nowhere as if time running out. Last time i felt like that was a paul temple book, when durbridge seemed to have written a plot that went 'i'm making it look like the killer is x' but in a later chapter went ' look- fooled you, the real killer is (quick -eeny meeny miny mo) him! no reason just is. not all the paul temple books are like that as i enjoyed the four i'd read previously. One more thing - loving gun in cheek, another one i heard about thanks to your good self grimwighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150168436753680867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-91874874792013965822014-02-26T06:25:08.796-08:002014-02-26T06:25:08.796-08:00The Outer Banks is a frequent destination for us s...The Outer Banks is a frequent destination for us so I would like the story for that aspect but I'm like you more mystery than romance and side issues. I love the cover though!Peggy Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426356514707257708noreply@blogger.com