11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guilty pleasures in Snupperton-Mumsley, April 21, 2006
This review is from: Posted To Death: A Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery (Paperback)
The cozy mystery is a rigid form, in that respect rather like a sonnet. The sub-class of English country village cozy mystery, then, might be likened to a Shakespearean sonnet or, in its more baroque form, a Spenserian sonnet. Rigidity of form, however, does not necessarily imply limitation or restriction. In the right hands, the sonnet and the cozy offer springboards for art, even genius.
In this series by Dean James, four published novels as I write, the author is plainly aware of the requirements of his chosen form and is amused by them. While offering them full obeisance, from time to time he is happy to give them a swift kick.
Cozies have tended in recent years to fall into niches: murder-solving caterers, booksellers, hoteliers, florists, undertakers, hairdressers, coffee shop owners, drycleaners, wedding planners, home handy women, even cozy bounty hunters. James gives us the niche to end all niches: the gay, partially closeted, southern, academic, expatriate, romance writing, English country village, reformed vampire, cozy mystery.
Judging by the reactions of previous reviewers of this novel and the others of the series, one either delightedly swallows this stuff whole or strains mightily at the smallest fragment. One reviewer snarls that, "the characters have the depth (but not the appeal) of graham crackers; the stereotypical British-isms are painful; the plot is so bad it should be staked through the heart". Another, in a frenzy of disdain says, "It is poorly executed and too clever by half." Now that, when you think about it, is a pretty good trick.
As for myself, I know full well that James's quaint English village of Snupperton-Mumsley exists on no portion of this mundane, sub-lunar world and his characters, from the appalling but oddly attractive Lady Prunella Blitherington down to the busy-body post mistress bear only the most casual resemblance to anyone who has ever drawn a breath of real air or grumbled at a tax bill. Nevertheless, I am entangled in their spell and have every intention of wolfing down every Snupperton-Mumsley tale that Dean James chooses to deliver.
Five stars for the guilty pleasure of it all.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Nearly Traditional Cozy Mystery With An Original Twist, October 28, 2002
Dame Agatha would have been right at home in the quaint but cozy English village of Snupperton Mumsley, but I don't know how she would have reacted to the village's latest resident, Simon Kirby-Jones. You see he's a little different. He's an American, but not your typical "ugly" American. He's a delightful Southern gentleman and renowned historian and biographer, who actually earns his keep by secretly churning out historical romances as Daphne Deepwood and hard-boiled female P.I. adventures as Dorinda Darington.
He's also gay, and to complicate matters even more, he just happens to be a vampire. Actually, he's far removed from the cliché "I vant to bite your neck" vampires of the typical horror film. It seems that medical science has finally discovered a cure for vampirism. It's a wonder drug that while it doesn't bring you back to life it does eliminate the rather unsavory aspects of being a vampire - the bloodsucking and becoming a crispy critter when exposed to sunlight. The only real drawback with the drug is the fact that drinking a cup of tea laced with garlic will usually prove fatal. And in this charming English village, that's a real possibility.
That's because all the inhabitants of Snupperton Mumsley have guilty little secrets. So when the village snoop and postmistress reveals that she has a play for the village church restoration affair that will reveal all the hidden secrets of the villagers, it comes as no surprise when she is discovered murdered. That's when Simon decides to use his vampire capabilities and mystery writing skills to solve the murder. That is if the murderer doesn't discover his hidden little secret.
Simon Kirby-Jones is a refreshing twist to the traditional English cozy, cup-of-tea murder mystery sleuth. Dean James has created a witty and totally original concept for a mystery series. I found it totally enjoyable, and since I do believe in vampires and things that go bump in the night I'm looking forward to Simon's next odyssey in Snupperton Mumsley.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A cozy with teeth!, February 18, 2007
Posted to Death is a both send-up and an homage to the traditional English cozy. Your first clues that James is having you on are the names of the people and places used - Lady Blitherington and Colonel Athelstan Clitheroe are just two of the characters who live in the quaint little town of Snupperton Mumsley. Your next clue is that our hero, Simon Kirby-Jones, is a gay vampire. Sounds fun, doesn't it? But it is an homage to the cozy because James has included the requisite elements of a cozy and has written a good mystery instead of just a spoof.
Posted to Death is set in modern day, and vampires like Kirby-Jones are now able to walk secretly among us during the day due to the miracles of modern medicine. So Kirby-Jones is following his dream and has relocated from the U.S. to Snupperton Mumsley, where he is trying to become a member of the close-knit community. When the snoopy postmistress is murdered, our hero decides that, due to his more-than-human attributes, he is the logical choice to investigate the crime. Our hero proceeds to do what every amateur detective does - he snoops, he encourages gossip, he goes to dinners and teas to meet the locals, and he slowly gathers enough information about the locals to solve the crime.
He also swoons over the dishy vicar and tries not to smile so broadly that his fangs are visible. This book is interesting because it is intelligent, catty, campy, and fun, all at the same time. It is such a funny premise and I am interested to see where James takes it in the books that follow.
Favorite character? Kirby-Jones. Did I guess it? He got me! I followed a lovely red herring right up to the big unmasking before realizing I was on the wrong horse. It was beautiful. Will I read another? Yes.
Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at [...]
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