Cozy???

[bondo_ba]

The cozy mystery is of course the province of Agatha Christie and her countless imitators.  A party of upper-class people is united for some revelry somewhere, when the host unexpectedly appears in a locked room with a large salad fork in his back.  We then get to follow the reasoning of the detective until he manages to show us how the only

Comments

[karen_w_newton]

I consider Christie a master of her genre; you could even say she invented the cozy when she made up Miss Marple. But I do think the Poirot stories are fundamentally different from the Marple stories, and not really cozies, in that Poirot is a pro who works (most of the time) in an urban environment. Certainly he's not a tough guy/Sam Spade kind of detective but he is a pro nonetheless.

I also found it interesting that while Christie did eventually write Poirot's death, she never did so for Miss Marple, and I think that was because she saw too much of herself in that character.

[bondo_ba]

Probably true. I really can't give an opinion about the Miss Marple ones because I haven't read any, but I understand your point about Poirot being half way between the tough guy detectives and a character like Miss Marple. I would say he comes closer to cosy because there is little personal danger to Poirot; one knows that, once the initial crime happens, the detective will not have to face the possiblility of violent death.

[karen_w_newton]

Most Christie murderers-- in fact most British murder mystery murderers-- are much too polite to threaten the detective! Look at how many British mysteries wind up with the detective giving the murderer a tip-off that he will be arrested and then he quietly commits suicide after writing a note explaining himself. In an American murder mystery there is more likely to be a confrontation with the murderer caught, gun in hand, by the detective.

If you want some well written British mysteries, you could also read Dorothy L. Sayers or Josephine Tey. Both are excellent writers as well as good mystery plotters. Brat Farrar is probably my favorite Tey. Now there's a twist ending!

[bondo_ba]

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep my eyes peeled (current ecnomic climate means I have to scour used book stores as opposed to making lavish Amazon purchases!).

You're right about the British mysteries and their genteel leanings. They do seem to reflect the different attitudes and social climates prevalent on each side of the pond, that's for sure!

[deliabarry]

I was in high school when I read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for the first time. It colored my view of novels for a long time - I haven't trusted a mystery author since. ;)

[bondo_ba]

Wise choice. They are sneaky and tricksy!!