Interesting. I loved the concept of these, but couldn't get past the first two chapters - style and themes just weren't my thing. Which is odd, since I do love noir - though now that I think of it, I don't actually like any literary noir (which I would actually call "hardboiled detective fiction," though since it's a novel written after the golden age of hardboiled, it's quite possible that "noir" is the correct term). Filmed noir seems to be more what I appreciate - the stylized angles, stark visuals, and slanted dialogue work together better for me than the curiously unemotional prose style that seems to be the main equivalent in hardboiled novels.
That being said...not sure how into alternate Regency you are - is that a thing for you, or was it more the mysteries?
I love noir novels and hard boiled detective fiction! It's one of my favorite genres. I mean, I also enjoy the English cozies, which is what I thought these would be, but I was really pleased when they turned out to be darker.
.not sure how into alternate Regency you are - is that a thing for you, or was it more the mysteries?
I picked these up for the lady detective with the sword. Regencies are the only category romances I enjoy, but I have no real attachment to the period otherwise.
So fantasy Regency isn't in your area of interest? I was doing a self-study project on Regency fantasy AU, which is how I bumped into these, but since they weren't fantasy and I wasn't getting into them, I gave them a pass.
Query: does "English cozy" include what I'd call "Golden Age British" - Sayers, Tey, Marsh, with modern equivalent James?
So fantasy Regency isn't in your area of interest?
No, not really. I tried Sorcery & Cecilia, and couldn't get into it and haven't seen much else with that combination.
does "English cozy" include what I'd call "Golden Age British" - Sayers, Tey, Marsh, with modern equivalent James?
I don't know? To me, English cozy is stuff like Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher - I haven't read any of the authors you reference, so I don't know if they fit, but the main characteristics are that the detective is an amateur, likely a busybody, the setting is a small town or village where the busybody detective lives, and it never gets too bloody or violent onscreen.
Okay - thanks for clarifying. Sayers could possibly be conceived as that, though Tey, Marsh, and definitely James are definitely more in the procedural type. Except for my favorite of Tey's, "The Daughter of Time," which stars a detective laid up and being a busybody in the historical mystery of Richard III (awesome stuff). Christie definitely fits into the Golden Age, but clearly there's a subcatagory I wasn't incompletely aware of
( ... )
That being said...not sure how into alternate Regency you are - is that a thing for you, or was it more the mysteries?
Reply
.not sure how into alternate Regency you are - is that a thing for you, or was it more the mysteries?
I picked these up for the lady detective with the sword. Regencies are the only category romances I enjoy, but I have no real attachment to the period otherwise.
Reply
Query: does "English cozy" include what I'd call "Golden Age British" - Sayers, Tey, Marsh, with modern equivalent James?
Reply
No, not really. I tried Sorcery & Cecilia, and couldn't get into it and haven't seen much else with that combination.
does "English cozy" include what I'd call "Golden Age British" - Sayers, Tey, Marsh, with modern equivalent James?
I don't know? To me, English cozy is stuff like Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher - I haven't read any of the authors you reference, so I don't know if they fit, but the main characteristics are that the detective is an amateur, likely a busybody, the setting is a small town or village where the busybody detective lives, and it never gets too bloody or violent onscreen.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment