It’s winter in Vermont, so the perfect time to watch Midsomer Murders, one episode a night. My husband assured me recently that he thought he’d never want to go to an English village. Another time he said that if I ever planned to “do him in,” I should be at least as creative, or better, than the inhabitants of Causton and the other villages of Midsomer.
I have no plans on doing in “my best mate,” but I’m curious why so many English mysteries are based in these quaint villages. Truly, if I lived somewhere murders were happening in threes, I would have moved after the second one. If you read Louise Penny’s series about life in Three Pines, that’s another place I’d avoid. Just knowing Chief Inspector Gamache seems to put the odds pretty high you’ll end up being involved in a murder one way or the other.
Still mysteries are fun to curl up with by the wood stove on cold winter nights. So back to figuring out why so many English murder mysteries happen in villages.
Oh I should mention there is such a thing as a “British cozy mystery. According to Murder & Mayhem Cozy mysteries are usually defined by having sex and violence happen off-camera, featuring an amateur sleuth, and being set in a small community where everyone knows each other. They include the following, “Cozy” series:
• Rosemary and Thyme: Amateur sleuths who are also gardeners
• Pie in the Sky: Semi Retired policeman and chef (Acorn)
• Agatha Raisin: Based on the books by M. C. Beaton. Takes place in the Cotswolds (Acorn)
• Father Brown: A priest who is also a detective. (PBS)
• Grantchester: Another clergy sleuth (PBS)
• Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: Stars Patricia Routledge of “Keeping Up Appearances.”
• Queens of Mystery: A young detective assisted by her aunts (Acorn)
• Hamish Macbeth: Based in Scotland and also written by M. C. Beaton
There are lots of Agatha Christie films and books to watch and read. In fact, you can download a number of her books for free at Project Gutenberg
It seems Agatha Christie, with her character Jane Marple and her fictional town of St. Mary’s Mead kicked off the English Village and “cozy” mystery, which became very popular
As Jane Marple is fond of observing: ‘Human nature is much the same everywhere, and of course, one has opportunities of observing it at closer quarters in a village.’
Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.
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