General Discussion and News > Genre Impaired
Cozy or amature detective?
Kathy Wendorff:
He's the Scottish village constable protagonist in M. C. Beaton's "Death of a ..." series, which is cozy to the core. (Although she hates the term "cozy.") A current non-amateur sleuth.
As for "woo-woo," I think it means any supernatural elements. Doesn't have to be scary. I'd guess a ghost qualifies.
Kathy W.
Ingrid:
Somebody (I think it's the American author Todd) writes a British police procedural in which the protagonist is in constant (diisconcerting) company of the ghost of his former sergeant whom he had ordered shot during WWI for cowardice and refusing an order. Jim?
Ingrid
JIM DOHERTY:
Ingrid,
Re your question below:
--- Quote from: Ingrid on November 18, 2006, 01:49:36 PM ---Somebody (I think it's the American author Todd) writes a British police procedural in which the protagonist is in constant (disconcerting) company of the ghost of his former sergeant whom he had ordered shot during WWI for cowardice and refusing an order. Jim?
--- End quote ---
I think you're recalling the Inspector Rutledge mysteries by Charles Todd (who is an American, or who at least lives in the US).
I haven't read them but I've heard great things about them.
As I understand it, though, it isn't literally a case of the sergeant haunting Rutledge, so much as a symptom of the post-traumatic stress disorder (or "shell shock" as they so succinctly called it in WW1) Rutledge is still suffering from.
You can find out more about Todd and his work here:
http://www.charlestodd.com
The website has a link to an article, "Justice Long Denied," that you might find interesting, dealing with efforts to obtain pardons for British soldiers executed for cowardice during WW1.
Ingrid:
Thanks, Jim. The books are interesting. It clearly is post-traumatic stress disorder (I like that because I like realistic explanations of supernatural events), but the ghostly voice (in his head) is constantly talking to him during his cases, sometimes taking part in the investigation. A neat trick that does put the character into the "ghost" category, as a sort of incubus, not seen but heard.
Ingrid
Joyce S:
My gosh, I haven't thought of Lord Peter Wimsey for years. I have definitely got to unpack the boxes of books (still packed from my move a year ago) and refresh my memory of those fun novels.
Joyce S
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