Tag Archives: mysteries

Seaside Mysteries: An Island of Suspects and Beyond Paradise Season 2

26 Feb

An Island of Suspects
by Jean-Luc Bannalec
Originally from Paris, Georges Dupin has begun to embrace his new home along the northern coast of France in Brittany. In An Island of Suspects, he heads to the nearby island of Belle-Ile after the body of Patric Provost turns up in the harbor. Provost was universally disliked so there are plenty of suspects despite the small size of the island. Having visited the area of Brittany myself, spending an August there as a teen in Dinard, I found it interesting that Bannalec included unique details about the area such as Dupin enjoying salt marsh lamb, where the lamb is said to be pre-seasoned from eating pastures with high salinity. It gave me lots of moments of nostalgia. Besides background research, Bannalec brings alive the look of the area describing the unique colors and vistas. There is no slow build like some mystery novels where the characters are first introduced before the action; the book thrusts into the case immediately and picks up speed to the dramatic end. Although there are several prior books in the series it is easy to jump in without having read past entries. It reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie novel. Hoboken resident cardholders can stream the 2014 German television adaptation of Bannalec’s Inspector Dupin series from Hoopla.

Beyond Paradise Season 2
I had written previously about Beyond Paradise and the show it spun off from Death in Paradise. In season 2 Humphrey a detective that had been previously stationed on a small French island is now settling in to life on the equal beautiful and prone to quirky crimes, Devon town of Shipton Abbott with his fiancee, cafe owner, Martha. Last season dealt with the stress of infertility possibly causing the end of their relationship, while this season has the couple eagerly looking into the possibility of becoming foster parents. You can stream the 6 episodes of Season 2 along with the the 2023 Christmas Special with your Hoboken Library Card from Kanopy. Episodes include a Murder Mystery Play on a train that becomes the real thing, a psychic whose predictions seem to be coming true, and a case of a disappearing priest. The season finale ends with Humphrey and Martha’s wedding day which of course has some bumps along the road to wedded bliss. The show is if anything even more charming then the first season as it more deeply develops the various characters and their relationships. If you love cozy dramadies than this will be your cup of tea.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Marvelous Mysteries: We Three Queens and Guilt and Ginataan

20 Nov

We Three Queens
Rhys Bowen
We Three Queens is the latest novel (the 18th) in the Royal Spyness Mystery series about Georgie, a cousin of the King of the England, who despite being part of the royal family has had to struggle financially over the years. Things seem to be going mostly well now with a new sweet baby and a loving husband and use of her godfather’s house which she is due to inherit. However, first she is asked to house the King’s fiance, an American divorcee hiding from the media. Then a movie crew decides the house would be the perfect location to film at. Add to that a kidnapping and a murder. I liked how they balanced Georgie wanting to mother in a more modern way with the antiquated view of upper class of her time period that believed children were to be kept separate from their parents. This one was a real page turner with mystery after mystery to be solved. As usual the cast of characters surrounding Georgie including her cockney former police officer granddad, actress mum, comical maid and know-it-all sister-in-law provide humor to the tale. Even if you have not read the others in the series this novel should be an enjoyable medley.

Guilt and Ginataan
by Mia P. Manasala
Another of my favorite series is Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries which is now on volume 5, Guilt and Ginataan. The series revolves around Lila Macapagal, a Filipino American living in Shady Palms a small midwestern town. Her aunt owns the Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, but Lila is now co-owner of a café with two of her friends, Adeena and Elena which provides a fusion of their Filipino, Mexican, and Pakistani heritage. Living in an area with a large number of immigrants from the Phillipines, I’ve been lucky enough to have tried several of the dishes discussed in the novel, which are delicious! The ginataan in the title refers to a variety of dishes served with coconut milk including a popular rice ball dessert. This is not a novel to be read on an empty stomach. The novel also provides a younger voice and perspective than often I find in cozy mysteries and many novels touch on contemporary social issues. As much as Lila’s family can be a source of interesting drama, I really enjoyed the latest novel which focuses on a crime pinned on one of Lila’s friends since I find the dynamic between them is always a highlight for me. This novel provides both a unique self-contained mystery while also driving the larger story of Lila’s life in Shady Palms.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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