What am I reading these days? Mysteries!
By necessity. Although I do very much enjoy mysteries, in spite of my reading them of necessity.
But why by necessity? Because I’ve started writing my next Magnolia Bluff mystery and if I don’t read in the same genre I’m writing in my mind starts coming up with ideas in the genre I’m reading.
Don’t know why that happens, but it does. And I don’t particularly want flying saucers in my murder mystery.
And at the moment I’m reading the delightful Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries.
The Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries were the creation of Frances and Richard Lockridge.
The novels ran from 1940 to 1963, when Frances died and Richard decided not to continue the series alone.
The setting is New York City, where Pam and Jerry North live and get involved in the murder investigations of their friend, Homicide Lieutenant Bill Weigand.
These thoroughly enjoyable mysteries are pretty much unknown today. But the series was very popular in the ‘40s and ‘50s. The books spawned a Broadway play, a movie, a radio show that ran from 1942 to 1954. And a TV series that ran for 2 seasons (1952 to 1954), totaling 57 episodes.
What’s the attraction? Colorful characters with whom you fall in love, plenty of humor, a good measure of suspense, and clever whodunit storylines.
The books are great fun. Thoroughly entertaining. A pleasant way to spend a few hours. I can see why they were so popular in the 40s and 50s.
But like all old books some of the novels contain language and attitudes that are no longer accepted as belonging to proper society today.
So if you are easily offended by how our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents may have acted or spoken — it’s probably best if you not read the books.
If you aren’t so offended, pick yourself up a few. You will be in for a rollicking good time.
Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!
CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with two bestselling novels. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.
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