Ah, sweet mysteries of life...
by Carola Dunn
Two reviews of my latest Daisy Dalrymple mystery, ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH, pose a mystery in themselves. "Amusing and sprightly," says Kirkus, while according to Mysterious Women it's "Gripping and fascinating." Can they be referring to the same book?
The two differing aspects are reflected in the covers of the US and UK editions.
The artwork for the US edition reflects Daisy's side of the story. In another review, Publishers Weekly describes her: "The aristocratic but very modern Daisy makes a formidable amateur sleuth." Daisy brings a light-hearted tone to her investigations, no matter how grim a subject murder must always be. In Anthem for Doomed Youth, she and her Indian friend Sakari baffle and bamboozle an incompetent and obnoxious detective.
The UK cover shows a darker aspect of the book, concerned with the lingering effects of the First World War. Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, is investigating a triple murder. To prevent further deaths, he has to discover what connects the three victims--and the connection seems to be their Army service during the war.
To compound the mystery, Daisy's investigation seems to be converging with Alec's... Or is it?
Anthem for Doomed Youth came out at the beginning of April. My dog, Trillian, and I have just returned from a signing trip, stopping at mystery bookstores all the way down the length of California (and we'll be heading north next):
Happily, my grandchildren live near San Diego, so I was able to combine business with pleasure. And that led to another mystery of sorts: What is Garden Art? Here's picture of Trillian investigating my son's "garden art." And here's a picture that appears to be a form of garden art.
But it's actually a real plant with real flowers, growing at the San Diego Botanic Gardens.
And if you'll excuse me, that reminds me—it's about time for a cup of tea...
7 comments:
Is PW claiming Alec is incompetent and obnoxious???? That sort of review doesn't say much for the book, does it?
Love your Daisy Dalrymple books, Carola! I hope many more are yet to come.
No no no, Dave!! Incompetent and obnoxious is my description of the local inspector Daisy has to deal with!
Bobbi, there's another Daisy book in the works already--Gone West, due out next January. And a contract for another after that. I'm working on the third Cornish mystery at present.
One photo of you and Trillian is in a corner niche of Mysterious Galaxy! I try to visit there when I'm in San Diego, as it is not that far from my sister's house, and across the freeway from my high school. Before the 805 was built, we'd do cross country runs in gym to one of the few stores about that far. Cross country and race walking were the only two track & field events where I came in at the top five!
Mysterious Galaxy it is. I had to sit on the floor to get in the pic with Trillian, and then I got a cramp in my leg, so I changed position and promptly cramped up in the other leg. Hope I managed to conceal my agony in the pic!
Love the photo of your grandchildren and the queen! And Trillian is an extremely handsome dog.
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