by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
Here are the Charlie Muffin mysteries by Brian Freemantle listed in order.
If you like British espionage books, I think you’ll enjoy the Charlie Muffin mysteries by Brian Freemantle. Many reviewers call Brian Freemantle one of the top espionage writers today… possibly one of the best of all time. Some say he’s on a par with John LeCarre. I’d tend to agree. I just finished the latest in the Charlie Muffin series and I’m so glad Freemantle “revived” the Muffin books, which seemed doomed after the cold war ended.
The first book in the Charlie Muffin series – Charlie M – was published in 1977. The 10th in the series just after the end of the cold war, in 1993. Freemantle added three more books to the series between 1996-2002 and then… nothing… until 2010, when Red Star Rising came out.
The newest in the series is Red Star Falling and veteran MI5 agent Muffin is back in form, thwarting the higher-ups, staying alert to dangers from all comers, including those who should be protecting his back and, as always, doing what he thinks is right. You don’t think of a spy as limping around with hammertoes in hush puppy shoes, but that’s the charm of Charlie Muffin. He’s “everyman” with an trapdoor memory and a bag of old-school tricks that keep him safe and the country secure.
The plots can get pretty intricate (which I love) and there’s not much shoot-em-up activity (which I also appreciate)… just a story you can immerse yourself in and a character you easily learn to love. Muffin’s kind of special that way.
Red Star Burning was a major cliff-hanger. I just finished Red Star Falling and it’s the kind of book I love. The intricacies of espionage are highlighted with three groups of spymasters trying to best one another. No one was shot in this book… but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. And the ending left another loose thread to be tied up by Charlie Muffin… this time a highly personal one.
Charlie Muffin Mysteries in Order:
The early Charlie Muffin books are getting to be collectors’ items. But, luckily they’re available for Kindle e-readers.
My library had them all, so you might look there, too. I’d start with the first book Charlie M because you’ll want some of the cold war history… especially if you’re under 40 and don’t have a feel for that particular political climate.
- Charlie M [Start with this book]
- Here Comes Charlie M
- The Inscrutable Charlie M
- Charlie Muffin USA
- Madrigal for Charlie Muffin
- The Blind Run
- See Charlie Run
- The Run Around
- Comrade Charlie
- Charlie’s Apprentice
- Bomb Grade
- Dead Men Living
- King of Many Castles
- Red Star Rising
- Red Star Burning
- Red Star Falling (Released June 11, 2013 – it resolved the cliffhanger from Red Star Burning… sort of.)
by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
John Burdett’s Bangkok Mystery Series – Featuring Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep
Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a police detective… a devout Buddhist and son of a Bangkok bar owner and an American G.I.
In fact, Sonchai is regarded by all – including his fellow police officers – as the only honest policeman in Bangkok. Even though he’s part owner with his mother of their red-light-district bar.
Much of the action in the books takes place in the underbelly of Bangkok, but Sonchai’s spiritual beliefs give the novels a contemplative tone that lifts them above the typical mystery series.
John Burdett’s excellent series features terrific writing, amazing plots and something new to LEARN! I look forward to each new book in the series.
Sonchai Jitpleecheep Bangkok series in order:
First book first, but after that you can pick and choose.
- Bangkok 8 [Definitely start here]
- Bangkok Tattoo
- Bangkok Haunts
- The Godfather of Kathmandu
- Vulture Peak
- The Bangkok Asset
by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache novels (Three Pines Mysteries) are best read in order
This is one of my all-time favorite mystery series and a heartfelt entry on my Uncommonly Good Mysteries list.
If you haven’t tried the Three Pines/Chief Inspector Armand Gamache detective fiction series yet, you’re in for a treat. The characters become old friends and the village of Three Pines feels like home (a place I’d love to live in).
If you choose to come along for the ride, you’ll meet Quebec Provincial Police Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie, Gamache’s police side-kick Jean-Luc Beauvoir, and the cast of characters who somehow found the tiny village of Three Pines… an enchanting place that doesn’t appear on any map.
Each book adds to the characters’ stories and makes you feel like you’re living “real life” with them. Get to know artists Clara and Peter Morrow, Myrna, the psychologist-turned-bookstore-owner, Ruth the famous (but cranky) poet, and Bistro owners Gabri and Olivier. Each has a story, each evolves or regresses, as Louise tells their tales.
And somewhere in there, crimes are solved, music is made, art is created and people are fed. The place is magical; the people are like family. I want to move there.
Chief Inspector Gamache books listed in order:
You could read the Gamache series out of order if you wished, but the location of Three Pines grows on you with each reading and it’s kind of nice to follow the events of your friends there as they happen.
- Still Life [Read this one first]
- A Fatal Grace
- The Cruelest Month
- A Rule Against Murder
- The Brutal Telling
- Bury Your Dead
- A Trick of the Light
- The Beautiful Mystery
- How the Light Gets In
- The Long Way Home – Read my in-depth review here
- The Nature of the Beast
- A Great Reckoning
- Glass Houses
- Kingdom of the Blind
- A Better Man
- All the Devils Are Here
- The Madness of Crowds (release date 8/24/2021)
by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
Kate Shugak Novels by Dana Stabenow: Set in Alaska, this is an uncommonly good mystery series by an Edgar Award-winning author
Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak novels feature well-developed, interesting characters, a locale known to few (an Alaskan national park) and lifestyles even fewer of us could handle.
This is one of the handsdown best mystery series I’m following. It’s on my “Uncommonly Good Mysteries” list, it’s that good.
I love the way Dana Stabenow immerses me in the culture of native Alaskans. The ancient traditions and modern technology go hand-in-hand here, with snowmobiles the main winter-time vehicle for getting around.
The plots are always good… and I LEARN so much in every book. I keep up with Dana’s new offerings via Facebook. This is one series I never want to miss a beat on.
NOTE: At this writing, there are 20 books in the Kate Shugak series, which I’ve listed in order below. It may be a while until the next Kate Shugak novel appears, as the author has launched another book series – the Silk and Song trilogy. If you’re a Dana Stabenow fan, you might want to check out her new series, which starts with “Everything Under the Heavens.” It’s not a mystery; it’s book 1 of a trilogy featuring the granddaughter of Marco Polo. I’ve been enjoying the books so far.
Kate Shugak novels in order:
- A Cold Day for Murder [Read this book first. The Kindle version is FREE.]
- A Fatal Thaw
- Dead In The Water
- A Cold-Blooded Business
- Play With Fire
- Blood Will Tell
- Breakup
- Killing Grounds
- Hunter’s Moon
- Midnight Come Again
- A Singing of the Dead
- A Fine and Bitter Snow
- A Grave Denied
- A Taint in the Blood
- A Deeper Sleep
- Whisper to the Blood
- A Night Too Dark
- Though Not Dead
- Restless in the Grave
- Bad Blood
- Less Than A Treason
- No Fixed Line (release date 1/1/20)
by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
The Inspector Shan series begins with The Skull Mantra, which won Eliot Pattison the 2001 Edgar Award for Best First Novel
In fact, it was The Skull Mantra that inspired my “Uncommonly Good Mysteries” list, which I first started in 2011. I had just read Eliot Pattison’s newest book Ashes of the Earth: A Mystery of Post-Apocalyptic America and was impressed enough to look for his other novels. I started with “The Skull Mantra” and was hooked.
Since 2011 the 10 uncommonly good mystery series on my list grew in length as new books were added… and became so unwieldy that, in 2015, I separated the various lists into individual series posts for easier lookup. You’ll see the Inspector Shan books listed in order below.
Buddhist monks, a disgraced, anti-establishment detective and the mysterious mountains of Tibet
The “Inspector Shan Tao Yun” mystery series has not only an interesting character (a disgraced Chinese detective), but also an intriguing locale (remote mountainous areas of Tibet) plus multi-layered plots that both surprise and enrich, starting with The Skull Mantra.
Incarcerated in a Chinese “gulag” in the mountains of Tibet, former police inspector Shan Tao Yun is pulled into solving a crime involving a body found near the prison camp – a body that was missing its head and dressed in expensive American-style clothes.
Shan gets help from unexpected quarters… namely the Tibetan monks who have been imprisoned because they represent too great a threat to the Chinese establishment. The treatment of the prisoners, including the holy men is beyond dreadful. Torture is common. So it is somewhat of a relief for Shan to be offered a slight respite from daily camp drudgery. Even so, he has to watch his back.
The story is intricate, the names a bit unwieldy to those of us not used to them… but The Skull Mantra is one of the most satisfying, thought-provoking books I have read.
While each book in the series involves a mystery to be solved, equally engrossing is Shan’s relationships with the Buddhist lamas… and the country itself. These are not stories that cover surface interests. I find myself slowing my thoughts and breathing whenever the monks enter the picture. My heart soars with theirs when they rise above horrid events and circumstances and just… allow… life to be as it is. As Shan allows his to follow suit, eventually.
The Inspector Shan Tao Yun books in order:
I would definitely read The Skull Mantra first, though it’s not as crucial to read the rest in absolute order.
- The Skull Mantra [Start here]
- Water Touching Stone
- Bone Mountain
- Beautiful Ghosts
- Prayer of the Dragon
- Lord of Death
- Mandarin Gate
- Soul of the Fire
- Skeleton God
- Bones of the Earth (Final in the series)
by Barbara Casey | Sep 22, 2015 | Book Reviews, Fiction, Uncommonly Good Mysteries
DI Marjory Fleming… a character I’ve learned to love
Aline Templeton’s DI Marjory Fleming mystery series has been on my radar for four years, ever since one of my favorite mystery writers, Louise Penny, recommended it on her blog.
Alas, my library didn’t carry the books, so I placed a sticky note in my “authors to read” file to remind myself about this new author to try… someday.
Well, I was between books last year… slowly climbing up the library’s reserve list for Deborah Harkness‘ new novel, and went browsing through my to-read file looking for ideas.
And there was the sticky note saying “Aline Templeton – good author- per Louise Penny – DI Marjory Fleming.”
My library still didn’t have the books so I checked on Amazon and found ALL of the DI Fleming thrillers just waiting to be downloaded to my Kindle. Of course, I started with book 1 – Cold in the Earth – and I’m so glad I did. What a terrific introduction to a mystery series that is already a cut above most others in the field.
Here’s my review of the first book… and I know already that I’ll be following DI Marjory Fleming for the long run.
The main character, Detective Inspector Marjory Fleming, is a tall, athletic woman who is married to a sheep farmer in the Galloway, Scotland area. Fleming’s staff call her “Big Marge” when she’s not in hearing distance. Marjory and Bill have what appears to be a very strong marriage… until an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease threatens their way of life.
Bill follows the slaughtering of his neighbors’ cattle and sheep as officials attempt to halt the spread of this dreaded animal virus. And the disease keeps coming closer and closer until Marjory and the kids must leave the farm or face an indefinite quarantine keeping them away from job and school. Bill is left on his own to cope with angry neighbors and his own fears about their livelihood… not to mention the possible killing of his beloved sheep.
At the same time that the future of their farm is in jeopardy, DI Fleming finds herself heading up her first murder investigation. It appears that the body of a young woman found on the Mason farm has been gored to death… through the heart. And the Masons happened to own a bull called “Satan,” wild, uncontrollable and a possible murder suspect.
![[Image of Pamplona statue by Xauxa HÃ¥kan Svensson via Wikimedia Commons]](https://barbaracasey.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PamplonaStatueCrop-227x300.jpg)
Image of Pamplona statue by Xauxa Hakan Svensson
A murder mystery with twists and turns
As Marjory begins to unravel the intricate threads of the murder mystery, we learn firsthand about the highly bizarre behaviors of the Mason family. Central to the plot is a psychologist named Laura who has arrived in Galloway to learn more about the whereabouts of her missing sister. Laura’s counseling experience helps us, as readers, get a glimpse into the dysfunctional minds of the Mason family.
The book doesn’t skimp on details, either. I liked the way the story line wove “tough” and somewhat offbeat subjects into a murder mystery. The story begins with a reminiscence of running-the-bulls in Pamplona, then ties in Laura’s sister, foot-and-mouth disease, the plight of animal farmers and “bull” psychology very neatly into the eventual outcome. In fact, the photo of the Pamplona statue that I use in the post depicts the powerful energy of the bulls in the story.
Templeton’s writing is superb. Her ability to bring characters alive on the page is masterful. And I love stories where I learn new things. The whole bull theme is very cool. Foot-and-mouth I experienced firsthand, when I spent the winter of 1967-68 in England. I wasn’t a vegetarian then, but I might as well have been for the absence of meat on the table and in the markets.
If you are a mystery book fan like I am and enjoy a “meaty” read (no serial killers, thank goodness), I think you’ll enjoy DI Marjory Fleming and her crew. The first few Kindle books in the series are only $2.99 each. I’m hooked and already waiting for book 10.
DI Marjory Fleming Books Listed in Order
- Cold in the Earth
- The Darkness and the Deep
The fishing industry is going belly-up, causing local fishermen to move into drugs transport via the waterways. Aline Templeton puts you inside the mind of DI Fleming and also the community in which the crime takes place. You feel the anguish of the people involved and get a good understanding of the complex situation which the police are trying to unravel.
- Lying Dead
In book 3 of the series, Marjory’s investigative team is stretched to the limits, there are so many possible villains. It turns out that a woman found bludgeoned on a mountainside had prior relationships with many of the locals, including one of DI Fleming’s own detectives. What I especially like about these mysteries is Templeton’s method of letting the reader follow each detective’s logic (and intuition). We can “hear” Marjory mentally weigh the pros and cons of the possibilities. I’ve got sucked in to every story so far.
- Lamb to the Slaughter
- Dead in the Water
- Cradle to Grave
- Evil for Evil
- Bad Blood
- The Third Sin
![[Image of Pamplona statue by Xauxa HÃ¥kan Svensson via Wikimedia Commons]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pamplona_Statue_group_of_Encierro.jpg)