Welcome to Murder by the Book's blog about what we've read recently. You can find our website at www.mbtb.com.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Latest Newsletter

For years we resisted any nod to Christmas until afterThanksgiving. But as we have seen more and more customers looking for gifts and holiday mysteries before that date, we have slowly inched our way forward with our holiday catalogue. So though you will still not see any decorations at MBTB till November 23, you can now browse our current newsletter for holiday inspiration.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Andrew Nugent

Nugent has written two mysteries, published here only in hardback but available at MBTB in UK paperback editions. Both are wonderful, but in surprisingly different ways.

The Four Courts Murder is written in the wry, elegant style of Cyril Hare or Edmund Crispin. It is a classic cozy investigation into the murder of a distinctly unpleasant judge with some distinctly unseemly secrets. The characters are interesting, if not deep, the puzzle nicely drawn, and the plot moves along at a satisfying clip.

Second Burial of an African Prince is a much more serious and affecting work, exploring the murder of a member of London's Nigerian community with sensitivity and power. The characters are unforgettable, the insight into a little-known culture astonishing, and the plot development intense and sometimes terrifying or heart-breaking.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed some clever publisher will pick this series up for US paperback publication.