"How many neighbors and friends and family members have left because of the draconian laws here?"

In “Still Life” by Louise Penny



The very best “Cosy Crime Fiction novel that I have ever read is probably “They Came to Baghdad” by Agatha Christie. It’s got the lot, one of the most engaging and lovable heroines in fiction, Victoria, the sarcastic, and useless typist. She sparkles from the page, never to be forgotten. Its a Boys Own adventure tale of derring-do, exotic locations, charismatic villains, its just one of Christie’s best books. Its a pity Victoria didn't have her own series or pop up in other Christie books she is so vivid and alive. If you only ever read one Christie, let this be the one you choose. Victoria is brilliant- lackadaisical, socially confident, barrelling through life with no plans. Almost like the opposite of Christie herself.

But does "Cosy Crime Fiction" really mean things like seedy but quirky characters, an ear for low-rent dialogue, a leavening of humour and perfect pacing? We're used to hearing about Christie as a slightly cranky old lady. But in her younger years, there's plenty of evidence of someone who loved adventure and travel, who thought life was for living - and not for spending in Surrey. And even later, she took off to the Middle East on her own, spent seasons with her archaeologist husband writing books in the middle of nowhere, and described frequently waking up with mice in her hair on digs as unpleasant but a price worth paying. She wrote vivacious young women often and with every appearance of enjoyment - I don't think they were her opposite at all.

I’ve read elsewhere that Louise Penny is considered a Cosy Crime Fiction novelist which seems an odd choice for a cosy read. I quote from her book above: meaning the laws to protect the survival of French in Quebec. Using crime novels to voice one's on narrow minded racism does make for a cosy read.

After 12 novels, I give up after “The Great Reckoning”, the last one of this edition: repetitive, preachy and Gamache has developed into some kind of saint. ( )