A Mystery To Me

While most of my reading dwells on history, I do love a good mystery. I got hooked on Agatha Christie ages ago, but ultimately found her stories a bit too similar and her characters too one-dimensional. She did know how to create a great puzzle, though. I periodically pick up my Complete Sherlock Holmes and spend a few evenings perusing his cases. Holmes is an enduring, fascinating character and his most exciting cases are among Conan-Doyle’s best work, even if the author often played down the Holmes stories. Edgar Allan Poe remains a great favorite and I’m sure to re-read some of his more celebrated tales and poems, especially around Halloween. What’s Halloween without a spirited reading of “The Raven?” Much of Poe’s work, of course, lies more in the field of the macabre, or just plain weird, than in traditional mystery, but he did, after all, create the detective story, and Holmes was, in part, modeled on Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin. I think the reason I enjoy Dickens is that his plots often play out like mysteries. There’s always more to the back story of Oliver Twist or David Copperfield than meets the eye and we know that all will be revealed eventually. Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse, and his long-suffering assistant, Sgt. Lewis, are as memorable as Holmes and Watson, but that is due in large measure to the actors John Thaw and Kevin Whately, who brought them to life on television.

In fact, television has brought new and lasting life to many fictional detectives. Thaw and Whately may lead the pack, but Jeremy Brett nailed Holmes so well that it is unlikely any other actor will be found credible in the role, notwithstanding the iconic Basil Rathbone and despite modernized renditions on the popular TV series Sherlock and Elementary. Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple have been fleshed out on TV far more than they were on paper by the author. David Suchet diminished images of Poirot created by Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov and the unlikely Tony Randall, while Joan Hickson came closest to the original Miss Marple, while breathing a good deal more life into the character than the books gave her. Nonetheless, I’ll always have a soft spot in my head for Margaret Rutherford’s comical take on Miss Marple in four films released in the 1960s. 

For pure enjoyment I turn to John Mortimer’s Rumpole of the Bailey, both in print and on television. Leo McKern placed his lasting imprint on the character during the 14-year run of the Rumpole television series and in his recorded readings of Mortimer’s original stories. Mortimer’s writing is fluid and charming, and he has a unique talent for dry, understated wit, which McKern captured perfectly. These are not great “mysteries” in the strict sense, but great fun and sly observations on life at the bar—or anywhere else.

Most recently I've also become absorbed in The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, both from Australia.  The charming Miss Fisher series is set in 1920's Melbourne and the authentic costumes, sets, automobiles and other visuals alone are worth watching for.  But, the real appeal is in Essie Davis' delightful portrayal of Phryne Fisher and her tantalizing romantic pas de deux with detective Jack Robinson, underplayed beautifully by Nathan Page.  Set in 1959 Ballarat, The Doctor Blake Mysteries follows Doctor Lucien Blake, played by Craig McLachian, as he attempts to take over his late father's medical practice, while also serving as Ballarat's official  police surgeon, which inevitably leads him into investigating crimes in ways beyond his official duties, often to the consternation of Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson, played by Joel Tobeck.  A war veteran and former POW, he has a cloudy past that is only revealed gradually and includes the loss of his wife and daughter in the Far East during the war and his search for them.  

There are other entries from the U.K., some of which have ended, but which have me tuning in regularly on the PBS UK channel, including New Tricks, Waking the Dead, DCI Banks, George Gently, and Vera.  And, despite the cast changes over the years, I still enjoy an occasional visit to Midsomer Murders.

Allen J. Wiener's books can be found on Amazon.com at this link:  http://tinyurl.com/po638bd