I hope it was clear that I also like it! I haven't read The Woman in White so I can't comment on it, but I think it's a prime example of the thing French does so well: invoking some folkloric elements of unbelievability, in the structure of a mostly straightforward gritty modern police novel.
I recommend reading The Women in White and The Moonstone. Wilkie Collins was one of the first writers to have a detective. His books were considered sensational during the Victorian era. Avoid the screen adaptations. They are, of all things, boring. Oh, and please give me a French novel incorporating an unbelievable folkloric elements to read. Thanks.
Just ordered O Caledonia based on your rec; thank you! (For anyone open to the notion: I’d recommend my debut novel as one that would fit on this list, a sort of Immigrant Gothic that Kirkus said is “gothic in tone, epic in ambition, & creepy in spades,” & genius of creepiness Carmen Maria Machado called it “an extraordinary literary and gothic novel of the highest order.” It also got me on the decennial Granta Best of Young American Novelists list. Title: The Border of Paradise.) ❤️
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.
The Alperton Angels was quite weak. The Appeal, her first published work, was very good, though, and The Twyford Code also. I generally love the story told through documents approach, but I think her unwillingness (or inability) to write any kind of story but that kind is giving diminishing returns.
I've read both of those! Agree 100% that the form has diminishing returns as I thought both the earlier books were charming and clever enough. Alperton Angels strained the format's credulity (too many things conveniently written down) that it made the overly complex ending even worse.
hahaha -- this would make "mormon spectacle content" very different i imagine! for me (raised jewish, current atheist) the show and religion are both a subject of held-at-arm's-length fascination.
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!
Love this! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
You should all read - translated from the Spanish - the excellent Silence of the White City Trilogy by Basque optometrist turned awarded writer Eva García Saénz de Urturi. I'm reading/listening to Book 2 The Water Rituals Can't put it down.
Funny, The Likeness, for all its unbelievable premise is my favorite Tana French. I found it evocative of The Women in White.
I hope it was clear that I also like it! I haven't read The Woman in White so I can't comment on it, but I think it's a prime example of the thing French does so well: invoking some folkloric elements of unbelievability, in the structure of a mostly straightforward gritty modern police novel.
I recommend reading The Women in White and The Moonstone. Wilkie Collins was one of the first writers to have a detective. His books were considered sensational during the Victorian era. Avoid the screen adaptations. They are, of all things, boring. Oh, and please give me a French novel incorporating an unbelievable folkloric elements to read. Thanks.
Just ordered O Caledonia based on your rec; thank you! (For anyone open to the notion: I’d recommend my debut novel as one that would fit on this list, a sort of Immigrant Gothic that Kirkus said is “gothic in tone, epic in ambition, & creepy in spades,” & genius of creepiness Carmen Maria Machado called it “an extraordinary literary and gothic novel of the highest order.” It also got me on the decennial Granta Best of Young American Novelists list. Title: The Border of Paradise.) ❤️
I will check it out, thanks for the recommendation!!
Will read
❤️❤️❤️
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.
The Alperton Angels was quite weak. The Appeal, her first published work, was very good, though, and The Twyford Code also. I generally love the story told through documents approach, but I think her unwillingness (or inability) to write any kind of story but that kind is giving diminishing returns.
I've read both of those! Agree 100% that the form has diminishing returns as I thought both the earlier books were charming and clever enough. Alperton Angels strained the format's credulity (too many things conveniently written down) that it made the overly complex ending even worse.
Re:4 Agreed.
I can’t wait to check out your recommendations! Also, I grew up Mormon. Happy to talk about its mysteries anytime 😂
hahaha -- this would make "mormon spectacle content" very different i imagine! for me (raised jewish, current atheist) the show and religion are both a subject of held-at-arm's-length fascination.
hope you find some good mysteries amongst these!
Literally the exact post I’ve been looking for!
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!
Love this! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
check us out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com
Love this. If you haven't read Fred Vargas, you must.
You should all read - translated from the Spanish - the excellent Silence of the White City Trilogy by Basque optometrist turned awarded writer Eva García Saénz de Urturi. I'm reading/listening to Book 2 The Water Rituals Can't put it down.
oooh! intrigued about oooh caledonia
I am insane for We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Never heard of The Listeners but adding it to my tbr list - thank you for the recommendations!