- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
The Problem w/ Modern Mystery Novels...
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:05 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:05 pm
I read a decent amount of mystery novels, mainly classics with some modern mixed in. It has been quite a while since I've found a modern mystery that I truly enjoyed.
I was listening to a podcast the other day and it was interviewing a NYT (I think) book critic who strictly reads mystery. She talked about how the genre has changed over the years and she said something that clicked with why I don't think I've found any great mystery novels of late that I'd never thought of before. She said that right now, authors focus more on the characters than they do the crime. The crime is just an after thought and you no longer read trying to be a detective and solve the mystery, you're just reading about characters and solving the crime isn't as important as it used to be.
That was spot on with the book I was listening to on audible at the time. The Tenant by Katrine Engberg. I could not tell you a single thing about the crime and murder but I could tell you the 7 or 8 times she brought up the main characters boner/lack there of and genital's. It was insane how bad this book was and focused on almost everything about the characters lives and maybe a few chapters worth of the crime.
With Doyle/Sherlock and Christie/Poirot for ex, you know the quirks and style of both characters, but mainly learn more and more because you're reading multiple stories. But still, if you were to read them as stand alone books like Hounds of Baskerville or The Mysterious Affair at Styles, you would enjoy the characters and get to know them, but solving the crime is still the most important part. You love their detective skills but you also try and become a detective. It's just a better way and more enjoyable way of reading a mystery.
So, thoughts?
I was listening to a podcast the other day and it was interviewing a NYT (I think) book critic who strictly reads mystery. She talked about how the genre has changed over the years and she said something that clicked with why I don't think I've found any great mystery novels of late that I'd never thought of before. She said that right now, authors focus more on the characters than they do the crime. The crime is just an after thought and you no longer read trying to be a detective and solve the mystery, you're just reading about characters and solving the crime isn't as important as it used to be.
That was spot on with the book I was listening to on audible at the time. The Tenant by Katrine Engberg. I could not tell you a single thing about the crime and murder but I could tell you the 7 or 8 times she brought up the main characters boner/lack there of and genital's. It was insane how bad this book was and focused on almost everything about the characters lives and maybe a few chapters worth of the crime.
With Doyle/Sherlock and Christie/Poirot for ex, you know the quirks and style of both characters, but mainly learn more and more because you're reading multiple stories. But still, if you were to read them as stand alone books like Hounds of Baskerville or The Mysterious Affair at Styles, you would enjoy the characters and get to know them, but solving the crime is still the most important part. You love their detective skills but you also try and become a detective. It's just a better way and more enjoyable way of reading a mystery.
So, thoughts?
7
Posted on 4/22/22 at 8:43 am to iwyLSUiwy
I think that's spot on, I never thought about it that way. I've also become disenchanted with mysteries of late and that used to be my favorite genre. Thanks for posting this.
Posted on 4/22/22 at 2:30 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I agree. One modern mystery writer do enjoy is Elizabeth George. The Thomas Lynley series is IMO very good. I’m currently reading Something to Hide and finished A Traitor to Memory a few days ago.
Posted on 4/23/22 at 2:36 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Tana French strikes the perfect balance.
What you’re describing makes sense though. It’s the same reason why military history is no longer valued. No one cares about maneuvers and strategy any longer. To do so is to be old and white. How war affects people is all that really matters. The Social is in vogue.
What you’re describing makes sense though. It’s the same reason why military history is no longer valued. No one cares about maneuvers and strategy any longer. To do so is to be old and white. How war affects people is all that really matters. The Social is in vogue.
Posted on 4/24/22 at 5:31 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
Modern Mystery Novels
Yeah, I think that you can drop "Mystery" from the title. We are living in a time of cultural fads that aren't interesting.
Posted on 4/25/22 at 4:13 pm to glassman
quote:
The Thomas Lynley series is IMO very good
Hadn't heard of those, I'll have to give them a shot. Just looking it up, sounds pretty good.
I will say I do like Tony Hillerman. He's got a nice balance with his writing style and easy to read. Typically has a pretty good puzzle to solve in each and it's different having them all on an Indian reservation.
Posted on 4/25/22 at 4:16 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
It’s the same reason why military history is no longer valued. No one cares about maneuvers and strategy any longer. To do so is to be old and white. How war affects people is all that really matters. The Social is in vogue.
Hmm. Never thought of that.
I struggle reading military history though so I haven't read much of it. But I've watched Band of Brothers and The Pacific countless times though
Posted on 4/25/22 at 4:50 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Just out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite authors of the mystery genre? My to-read list is growing thin these days and I need some fresh titles to find at the library. TIA 
Posted on 4/26/22 at 2:14 pm to Horsemeat
quote:
Just out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite authors of the mystery genre? My to-read list is growing thin these days and I need some fresh titles to find at the library. TIA
I'm pretty predictable because I like the classics. I read modern novels, they are just normally Sci Fi and Fantasy.
Conan Doyle is a top 3 author of all time for me, alongside Twain and Tolkien. I just love Sherlock Holmes so much. I love Doyle's writing style and his characters. I re-read Sherlock all the time.
I also love Agatha Christie. I'm not just a big Poirot fan in general but almost all of her books are fun to read and have a decent mystery. Everybody should at least read The Mysterious Affair at Styles and And Then There Were None.
I think Daphne Du Maurier is an underrated classic mystery writer. The Hitchcock movies The Birds and Rebecca were based off her books. Jamaica Inn, The House on the Strand and The Scapegoat. But she wrote a ton of books so I havent read most of hers really but I do love those 5.
I love the Hannibal Lector series. The movie Red Dragon movie wasn't that great but a lot of people think the book is better than Silence of the Lambs.
I'm not sure what really is the most modern thing I have enjoyed the most. I like the Dragon Tattoo series but I honestly don't know when they were written
I read Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Mystic River by Dennis Lehane and enjoyed all three. But I read those because I enjoyed the movies and figured I'd like the books as well. I definitely did. I do know that I don't like Gillian Flynn. Gone Girl drove me nuts. I gave Sharp Objects a shot and couldn't finish it.
Some other books that are my favorites are The Alienist, The Big Sleep and The 39 Steps.
I'm not the guy to give great recommendations on any really new stuff that no one has ever heard of
But those are some of my favorites and I would recommend any of the ones mentioned to anybody really. Also, if you're into fantasy books at all, I tell anybody I can to give The First Law trilogy a shot. The books aren't extremely long and have 10 in the series like so many fantasy series do, you could read the first book and know if you'll be hooked or not. But those aren't exactly under the radar books either. This post was edited on 4/28/22 at 2:05 pm
Posted on 4/26/22 at 7:31 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
Tana French strikes the perfect balance.
She is the epitome of the character driven mystery. In the woods was at much or more about the two detectives, their relationship and the one guy's backstory than the current case. someone mentioned Tony Hillerman. He is great and manages to have intracate mysteries and police work despite all the Navajo culture stuff. I've probably read 10+ books and they have all been great.
Posted on 4/27/22 at 8:42 am to iwyLSUiwy
I've thought about your post some more. I prefer mysteries that follow the "Law and Order" formula: you see the crime first, and then solve it. Who had means and motive? I didn't realize how far some novels had strayed from the basics, but that sure explains some of the frustration I've had with modern mysteries lately.
Posted on 4/27/22 at 5:57 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
But still, if you were to read them as stand alone books like Hounds of Baskerville or The Mysterious Affair at Styles, you would enjoy the characters and get to know them, but solving the crime is still the most important part
I was a big fan of Lawrence Sanders back in the 70's and 80's. He wrote a short series of 4 or 5 books about a retired NYC police chief, Edward X Delaney.
They weren't whodunit's because you knew from the first couple of chapters who committed the murders, but he did a great job of giving the background of the killers while also going into great detail about the detective work involved in solving the crime. I thought they were great.
He also wrote a series of books about this young guy in south Florida (Archie McNally) who worked as an investigator for his father's law firm. They pretty much copied the writing style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels but I found them enjoyable easy reads.
Posted on 4/28/22 at 2:12 pm to MissTiger91
quote:
I prefer mysteries that follow the "Law and Order" formula: you see the crime first, and then solve it. Who had means and motive?
Never heard it call the Law and Order format but that is a good way to look at it. The murder isn't an after thought and the importance and ways they solve the crime are more important than the main characters day dreams, favorite color of shoes, details about how a mother in law drives them crazy, or what the interior of their car looks like. Tell the dang story.
quote:
but that sure explains some of the frustration I've had with modern mysteries lately.
Glad it peaked your interest. That critic mentioning the character driven aspect really made it click with me too. I thought about it and thought about it, and was like, dang, my favorite mystery novels are completely different than what is being written now.
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News