MINDBENDERS: A BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP FOR LOVERS OF MYSTERY
Mindbenders by Vincent A. Munch, Librarian © 2007
Once again the Mindbenders Mystery Book Discussion returns to the Ossining Public Library.
The first book for discussion was Three Hands in the Fountain by Lindsay Davis. Davis is a British mystery writer, best known for her Falco detective series. These are classed as 'toga' mysteries since they are set in Ancient Rome. Her work has more often been compared to more modern writers such as Raymond Chandler.
Marcus Didius Falco is a Roman informer turned private investigator working for the Emperor Vespasian. With his partner, Petro, recently of the Vigiles (an equivalent of the police) they are confronted with various body parts that begin showing up in Rome’s water system, beginning with a human hand. Readers get a feel for the time through the setting, where one must solve the mystery using the 'little grey cells', made famous by Hercule Poirot! This program was on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at OPL.
Our second challenge will be Q is for Quarry by the well-known mystery writer, Sue Grafton. This continuing alphabet mystery series has been highly successful and as with most writers has also been made into an audiobook, carried by WLS. I personally check out as many of her books as I can; as a commuter, they make great listening as well as reading. Her private eye is a hard-boiled detective named Kinsey Millhone, a character smarter than Sam Spade and Magnum (TV series with Tom Selleck), rolled into one.
The third author in our series has written over fifty novels, some of which have been televised in the series, Spencer For: Hire. He has three main series featuring: Spencer /Hawk/Susan, Sunny Randall and the latest, Jesse Stone. It is this newest character, Jesse Stone, an ex-L.A. homicide detective turned local New England police chief, which we will take up. In Night Passage, we are introduced to this man of few words, who manages to solve cases thrown his way, while showing real-life compassion for the people around him. A number of these series titles are on DVD in WLS as well as audiobook form. Parker once again has given us a well-crafted work which will hold the reader’s interest and cause us to ask for more.
Please join me, Vincent Munch, for these mystery book discussions, Mindbenders, at the Ossining Public Library, in their new facility at 53 Croton Avenue. For more information, please call the Library at (914) 941-2416.