Sarah Kelling Mysteries by Charlotte MacLeod

1. The Family Vault (1979)
2. The Withdrawing Room (1980)
3. The Palace Guard (1981)
4. The Bilbao Looking Glass (1983)
5. The Convivial Codfish (1984)
6. The Plain Old Man (1985)
7. The Recycled Citizen (1987)
8. The Silver Ghost (1987)
9. The Gladstone Bag (1989)
10. The Resurrection Man (1992)
11. The Odd Job (1995)
12. The Balloon Man (1998)


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This blog is updated every TUESDAY and THURSDAY

Peter Shandy Mysteries by Charlotte MacLeod

1. Rest You Merry (1978)
2. The Luck Runs Out (1979)
3. Wrack and Rune (1981)
4. Something the Cat Dragged In (1983)
5. The Curse of the Giant Hogweed (1985)
6. The Corpse in Oozak's Pond (1986)
7. Vane Pursuit (1989)
8. An Owl Too Many 1991)
9. Something in the Water (1994)
10. Exit the Milkman (1996)

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This blog is updated every TUESDAY and THURSDAY

Miss Danforth Mysteries, by Marian J. A. Jackson

Official website: http://www.marianjackson.net/

"1900 had just begun when Miss Abigail Patience Danforth turned 18 and made her debut...as the world's first female consulting detective...and romance invaded the infant science of detection."

The Punjat Ruby (1990) guest-starring Conan Doyle
The Arabian Pearl (1990) guest-starring Marshall Bill Tighlman
The Cat's Eye (1991) guest-starring Jack London
Diamond Head (1992)
The Sunken Treasure (1994) guest-starring Harry Houdini

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This blog is updated every TUESDAY and THURSDAY

Paul Temple and the Van Dyke Affair, episode 6

I'm working on a website for the Paul Temple radio programs starring Peter Coke (pronounced Cook) and Marjorie Westbury. (There used to be one, but it was on the Geocities free side, and when they closed that a couple of years, the website disappeared.

Rather than put cast lists on notebook paper where I will probably lose them, I'll put them in this blog.

Never heard of Paul Temple? Check him out on Wikipedia. Truth to tell, I don't really care for the mysteries - they are all formulaic, but I like the two leads and it is amusing to listen to all the incredibly convoluted twists and turns in the plots.

1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 1 of 8 - The Sitter-in
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 2 of 8 - The Marlow Incident
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 3 of 8 - Introducing Mr. Droste
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 4 of 8 - Boulevard Seminaire
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 5 of 8 - Roger Shelly Makes a Suggestion
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 6 of 8 - Suspect Number One
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 7 of 8 - Steve Entertains
1959 - Paul Temple and the Vandyke Affair - 8 of 8 - Presenting Mr. Vandyke

Paul Temple and the Lawrence Affair, pt 6 - the first time some of the cast have been identified by name instead of as "part of the BBC drama repertory company."

Britishisms - a babysitter is a "sitter-in"

Paul Temple - Peter Coke
Steve - Marjorie Westbury
Charlie - James Beattie
Sir Graham Forbes - Lester Mudditt [according to BBC Audio Crime CD release. But according to BBC Radio 7, it was Roger Williams)
Inspector Eden - Frederick Treves
Terry Palmer - Peter Wilde
Mary Desmond - June Tobin
Queenie Edwards - Armine Sandford
Madame Flaubert - Catherine Salkeld
Bert Walters - Haydn Jones
Roger Shelly - Richard Hurndall
Bill McCall - John Scott
Sergeant Digby - David Spenser
Philip Droste - Simon Lack
Vanessa Droste - Grizelda Hervey
Charles Marett - John Bryning
Newsvendor (Louis Franz) - Rolf Lefebyre
Luke - Jon Farrell
Telephone Operator - Betty Baskcomb
Receptionist - Beatrice Ormonde
Waiter - David March
Dr Foy - John Graham
Marian Faber - Betty Hardy
other parts played by members of the BBC Drama Repertory Company

Produced by Martyn C. Webster



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This blog is updated every TUESDAY and THURSDAY

Ministry is Murder series

The Ministry is Murder series is written by Emilie Richards. Aggie-Sloan Wilcox is the wife of a minister. She has an eccentric mother who has had many husbands. She has two half-sisters, each from a different father, each one also eccentric, and two girl children ust moving into their teens, with all the problems that implies.

Blessed is the Busybody (2005)
When the naked body of a murdered woman turns up on Aggie's front porch--and suspicion falls on Aggie's husband--she doesn't have a prayer of clearing his name unless she can uncover the truth in a town not known for confessing its sins.

Let There Be Suspects (topic: Christmas) (2006)
With the chalk outline gone from their front porch, Aggie Sloan-Wilcox and her minister husband think they can resume their lives. But when Ginger, Aggie's despised former foster sister, comes for Christmas, and turns up dead as a drumstick, Aggie's sister is suspected. Now it's up to Aggie to find the real murderer-who's decided there's a loophole in thou shalt not kill.

Beware False Profits (2007)
Joe Wagner, president of Emerald Springs's food bank, disappears, and Aggie discovers his secret life-as a female impersonator. Meanwhile, the murder of the mayor's wife at the annual food bank fundraiser puts Joe on top of the suspect list. If Aggie doesn't get to the bottom of things fast, she'll be leading a choir singing the blues.

A Lie for a Lie (2009)
When the ex-wife of a local celebrity is charged with his murder, minister’s wife Aggie Sloan-Wilcox seeks divine inspiration to help clear her name.

A Truth for a Truth (2010)
After a former minister dies suddenly upon his return to Emerald Springs, his memorial service is cut just as short. Aggie Sloan-Wilcox, wide of the current minister, knows why. The poor old guy was murdered. But who in this bucolic village could be capable of such a crime?

Aaron Elkins and his creation, Gideon Oliver

I downloaded and read Skull Duggery last night, and while I enjoyed it, it must be admitted that he was just regurgitating the plot from another book. Or perhaps I should say... plot device.

He's done this at least twice now that I can think of - encompassing four books.

Spoilers
In Skull Duggery, the plot device is that a relative has gone off to seek his own life, and then comes back to take over a valuable piece of property. The relative who returns is an imposter, but for 30 years lives the life of Riley. He uses the same plot device in Old Bones.

Then there is the case of the archaeologist digging up a certain site, who is tricked by a fake bone being planted. The first time this happened was in Murder in the Queene's Armes. It takes place in England. Skeleton Dance has almost the exact same plot.

This is not to say that the books aren't fun. But they are formulaic.

Skull Duggery, by Aaron Elkins

Just downloaded this for my Kindle today, and am about to start reading it.

But I thought... skullduggery - just where does that name come from?

Here's what Dictionary.com has to say:
1. dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery: bribery, graft, and other such skulduggery.
2. an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick.
Also, skullduggery, sculduggery, scullduggery.

Origin:
1705–15, Americanism ; var. of sculduddery, orig. Scots: fornication, obscenity < ?

So it has nothing to do with digging up and faking skulls. ; )