tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post2050503917863837948..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: Golden Rain (1980) by Douglas ClarkTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-40277838119794330832021-07-24T18:25:14.069+02:002021-07-24T18:25:14.069+02:00Come to think of it (and proving that my forgetful...Come to think of it (and proving that my forgetfulness isn't limited to e-books) I actually have a couple of Pronzini's books somewhere. And I'm pretty sure that one of them is an impossible crime. I may just have to dig that out for my next read...<br /><br />I just realized that almost all of my reading form this period has been either French or Japanese works. Off the top of my head, the only English language author I've read from it is Sarah Caudwell (who does seem to fit in with the traditionalists). I really should find something by Doherty, he's the other author from this period that I've almost added to the looming pile. And I've looked for Resnicow, but his books are hard to find around here...<br /><br />"<i>But they don't create semi-sentient TBR piles!</i>"<br /><br />That is a point in their favor. (I'm beginning to think that the book buying habits of mystery readers should be counted as part of the geological process of mountain formation :) My policy is that (unless there's a good sale) I can't buy more e-books if I have too many that are unread. And I do, since I bought Byrnside's other books when they went on sale, so I'm on a temporary moratorium at the moment.Kacey Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492997736737601983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-19534605535547066992021-07-24T12:15:12.107+02:002021-07-24T12:15:12.107+02:00You bet, anon! I hope you enjoy the book and find ...You bet, anon! I hope you enjoy the book and find Clark worth your time! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-10699674212094292472021-07-24T12:13:34.544+02:002021-07-24T12:13:34.544+02:00The traditionalists of the '80s and '90s r...The traditionalists of the '80s and '90s represent a fascinating, if largely forgotten, chapter in the genre's history, but certainly worth exploring. From the hardboiled impossible crimes by Bill Pronzini and Herbert Resnicow's large-scale locked room mysteries to Clark's pharmaceutical puzzles and Roger Ormerod's blazing retro-GAD novels. Or what about Paul Doherty's historical mysteries that were littered with ciphers, dying messages and a ton of impossible crimes (a lot of them poisonings). Not to mention Paul Halter and the <i>shin honkaku</i> movement in Japan. And, if they weren't literally all over the place, it would be a lot easier to give this period a name. <br /><br /><i>Death After Evensong</i> is a personal favorite and one of the better post-GAD mysteries with a very clever and satisfying solution to the vanishing bullet. You can see the bullet vanish in your mind's eye as it's being explained. If the book had not already been reprinted, I would have recommended it to Locked Room International. Mary Monica Pulver's <i>Original Sin</i> is another '90s mystery that deserves more appreciation. A genuine retro-GAD mystery that linked the past with the present. <br /><br />"<i>...I don't buy too many e-books because of my tendency to forget to read them.</i>"<br /><br />But they don't create semi-sentient TBR piles! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-42170123560742410422021-07-24T08:58:27.852+02:002021-07-24T08:58:27.852+02:00This looks like a very interesting series. I'v...This looks like a very interesting series. I've always enjoyed scientific mysteries and impossible poisonings are a strong candidate for my favorite type of impossible crime. I've been wanting to start reading the traditionalists of the 80s and 90s and these seem like good ones to start with. I'd actually thought about trying one of Clark's books before, but I don't buy too many e-books because of my tendency to forget to read them. However, I see that <i>Death After Evensong</i> is cheaply available as a paperback, so I'll probably pick it up next time I'm ordering books. Thanks for bringing Clark's novels our attention!Kacey Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13492997736737601983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-37237140822899728512021-07-23T22:14:47.206+02:002021-07-23T22:14:47.206+02:00Great review, and I was so pleased to find that th...Great review, and I was so pleased to find that the book is available as an ebook, and also, that it is not too expensive! Many thanks, keep up the great work :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com