I love mysteries, I was raised on them. Tana French is a genius, I've only read four I believe but The Likeness is an all time favorite because like you said its bonkers. I recently started reading Louise Penny mysteries and they were shockingly well written and interesting. I also found Kate Atkinson's Case Histories to be a snob-adjacent mystery. I just picked up The Decagon House Murders at a used bookstore so excited for that one, I think im going to try to get to it before the end of the year...
Laurel I was ecstatic to see this come into my inbox because I also am a big time book snob. ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ is on my October tbr as my spooky classic so this further endorsement from you is perfect. Equally, I have had my eye on ‘The Decagon House Murders’ for sometime, intrigued bc it’s translated but unsure if I’d like - so appreciate this review from you. I think I might have to pick up. Also LOVE the sound of O Caledonia, adding to the list fr!
Laughed at the inclusion of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I started watching recently because I was in the mood for some brain rot tv. I am deeply fascinated by it and also let’s be honest really enjoying the atheist viewing perspective of ‘this is all ridiculous’. Humanity’s ability to make drama out of thin air, among 8 women look like carbon copies of each other, is wild.
Decagon House is an interesting one because the writing is dry and not really doing much beyond moving players around the board, but it's very clever and well constructed. O Caledonia is alllll the pleasure of the writing and some plot, so basically the opposite.
As always, I balance book snobbery with brain rot tv.... I cannot turn my brain off while watching Mormon Wives because every single decision and motivation is a mystery to unpack, such as: Why? What? Who? When???? Learning from another show that the only way for women to get into "mormon celestial heaven," where god and jesus are, is to be married, did help solve some of those mysteries.
I want to like mystery, but I always mistrust the genre for the reason you pointed out — it’s easy for them to become formulaic and consequently mediocre. All of these recommendations sound amazing and I’m so excited to add them to my TBR!
I love mysteries, I was raised on them. Tana French is a genius, I've only read four I believe but The Likeness is an all time favorite because like you said its bonkers. I recently started reading Louise Penny mysteries and they were shockingly well written and interesting. I also found Kate Atkinson's Case Histories to be a snob-adjacent mystery. I just picked up The Decagon House Murders at a used bookstore so excited for that one, I think im going to try to get to it before the end of the year...
Laurel I was ecstatic to see this come into my inbox because I also am a big time book snob. ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ is on my October tbr as my spooky classic so this further endorsement from you is perfect. Equally, I have had my eye on ‘The Decagon House Murders’ for sometime, intrigued bc it’s translated but unsure if I’d like - so appreciate this review from you. I think I might have to pick up. Also LOVE the sound of O Caledonia, adding to the list fr!
Laughed at the inclusion of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I started watching recently because I was in the mood for some brain rot tv. I am deeply fascinated by it and also let’s be honest really enjoying the atheist viewing perspective of ‘this is all ridiculous’. Humanity’s ability to make drama out of thin air, among 8 women look like carbon copies of each other, is wild.
Decagon House is an interesting one because the writing is dry and not really doing much beyond moving players around the board, but it's very clever and well constructed. O Caledonia is alllll the pleasure of the writing and some plot, so basically the opposite.
As always, I balance book snobbery with brain rot tv.... I cannot turn my brain off while watching Mormon Wives because every single decision and motivation is a mystery to unpack, such as: Why? What? Who? When???? Learning from another show that the only way for women to get into "mormon celestial heaven," where god and jesus are, is to be married, did help solve some of those mysteries.
I want to like mystery, but I always mistrust the genre for the reason you pointed out — it’s easy for them to become formulaic and consequently mediocre. All of these recommendations sound amazing and I’m so excited to add them to my TBR!
I always trust a Molly Young review ! and with your recommendation too, adding O Caledonia to the top of my tbr
I’m selfishly glad she’s back sharing recommendations!
Re:4 Agreed.
I can’t wait to check out your recommendations! Also, I grew up Mormon. Happy to talk about its mysteries anytime 😂
Literally the exact post I’ve been looking for!