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Cerebral mysteries

G

GERBAM

New Member
Maybe it's my age but i have reached a point in reading mystery writers where i want more than ordinary fare. Perhaps i have turned into a snob and (which is not a bad thing in my world) seek more challenging works than those by 'popular' writers who tend to write the same story over and over.

I do read series, i read stand-alones, i read books in translation and am always looking for new writers. I've read almost all of the writers at least once posted on this site and understand why folks are drawn to them ... But is anyone tired of the same old same old?

Just wondering about the evolution of an individual's tatse in choosing books.
 
Careful, there! When you start saying "maybe it's my age, but" then it is your age. :lol: Take it from an expert in that department. :flowers:
But, yes, I agree with you entirely, I am sorry that I have read all of my really favorite series of detective mysteries and always have an eye open for new replacements -- or new genres. Actually, I'm also quite deliberately branching away from the usual in my general reading as well, and getting quite picky.
But I never say it is my age. :innocent:
 
Grey cell mysteries

Heteronym said:
What do you understand by a cerebral mystery and what novels would you give as examples?
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IMHO a "cerebral mystery" or for that matter any "cerebral book" is one that challenges me beyond just following the sleuth around. These books are rich in literary allusion, tightly plotted, populated with believable characters and not formulaic (although this may not be a necessary element.) They are the kinds of novels readers don't want to end and engage from the first sentence to the closing lines.

A few examples I found especially challenging are:
AN INSTANCE AT THE FINGERPOST PEARS
TURN OF THE SCREW JAMES
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS CHRISTIE
INTO THE WOOD FRENCH
TRUE CONFESSIONS DUNNE
UNDER THE SNOW EKMAN

ALL OF JOHN LeCARRE albeit he specializes in spies but I find his books to be set up like mystery/suspense/thrillers
AND
GEORGE SIMENON ... Especially his psychological thrillers

Does anyone elsle have any to add? I didn't want to make too big a list.
 
I like your examples of cerebral mysteries. I also think there are mysteries that may not quite be cerebral, but they have more literary merit and/or philosophical content than your standard "beach read" or formula mystery. I'm thinking, for example, of Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbo, Fred Vargas, Reginald Hill and the like, as compared to, say Janet Evanovich or James Patterson. I have no real objection to the latter type, but I find the former far more interesting. And I think we're in a good era for more substantive mysteries, particularly with all these Scandinavian and French authors being translated into English.

I recently finished Iain Pears' latest, STONE'S FALL. Here's what I wrote about it recently:

To describe this book as a mystery would be telling only a small part of the story. It's also a work of literature and historical fiction that plays out over locations in London, Paris, Venice and other European locations, and in three time periods (1909, 1890 and 1867).

Ostensibly, the book is about a mystery heir in the will of John Stone, Baron Ravenscliff. Stone, a fabulously wealthy industrialist who revolutionized the arms industry, has died in an apparently accidental fall from his home office window. His will leaves a large sum to a child he has not acknowledged in his lifetime and refers to other papers in his safe that will identify the child and its location. No such papers are found. Stone's beautiful younger widow, Elizabeth, hires a reporter, Matthew Braddock, to find the child.

The book is written in three parts, each of which is told in the voice of a different man: Braddock, Henry Cort (an acquaintance of Stone and a government official) and Stone. Each man's story is that of an often painful education in life and love. Braddock's story is the weakest and makes for a somewhat lackluster first one-third of the book. Though she is never given her own voice in the story, Elizabeth's story is the central thread in each of the three men's stories.

Though the mystery of the missing child gets the novel going, it stays far in the background for most of the book. You may even figure out the solution to the mystery early on in the book and it won't make much difference to your experience of the book, because Pears' strength is in storytelling. He knits together a large cast of characters all over Europe and tells a tale of financial markets, politics, diplomacy, war and espionage that is breathtaking in scope and detail.

If you enjoyed Pears' AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST, you will likely appreciate STONE'S FALL as well. Both are examinations of truth and how it shifts in the perspective of different characters. Both show the reader these perspectives in an atmosphere of rich historic detail and compelling ideas.
 
Cerebral or literary or philosophical yessss!

Maine Colonial said:
I like your examples of cerebral mysteries. I also think there are mysteries that may not quite be cerebral, but they have more literary merit and/or philosophical content than your standard "beach read" or formula mystery. I'm thinking, for example, of Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbo, Fred Vargas, Reginald Hill and the like, as compared to, say Janet Evanovich or James Patterson. I have no real objection to the latter type, but I find the former far more interesting. And I think we're in a good era for more substantive mysteries, particularly with all these Scandinavian and French authors being translated into English.

MAINE I AGREE 100% WITH YOU. I LOST PATIENCE YEARS AGO WITH THE FORMULAIC, OR COOKING, OR SILLY, OR JUST PLAIN BORING MYSTERIES. I DO BELIEVE (AS I DO ABOUT ROMANCE NOVELS) THESE BEACH READS HAVE THEIR PLACE AND FOR A FAST CHANGE OF PACE SERVE THEIR PURPOST. BUT IF ONE ENJOYS HAVING HIS/HER BRAIN CELLS CHALLENGED THE PATTERSONS OR PARKERS JUST DON'T DO IT. AND WHILE AGATHA CHRISTIE OR P. D. JAMES MAY NOT TIP LITERARY SCALES THEIR WRITING AND FASHIIONING OF A MYSTERY NOVEL IS BRAIN CELL FOOD, TOO. OTHERS LIKE ELIZABETH GEORGE, OF DENNIS LEHANE AND A FULL CAST OF WRITERS FIT THE SAME BILL IMHO.

I recently finished Iain Pears' latest, STONE'S FALL. If you enjoyed Pears' AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST, you will likely appreciate STONE'S FALL as well. Both are examinations of truth and how it shifts in the perspective of different characters. Both show the reader these perspectives in an atmosphere of rich historic detail and compelling ideas.
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I LOVED INSTANCE AT THE FINGERPOST AND THINK YOU DID A FINE JOB OF REVIEWING STONES' FALL. THAT WILL GO ONTO MY TBR LIST FOR SURE. I HAD BEEN OF 2 MINDS ABOUT IT WHEN IT CAME OUT BUT I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT IT. THANK YOU :flowers:
 
What about Ruth Rendell? I'd classify her mysteries as cerebral. Her plots are unpredictable, and her characters are fascinating.
 
I agree! Ruth Rendell aka Barbara Vine writes sophisticated suspsenseful mysteries especially as Barbara Vine. He novels are gritty, on the edge and highly challenging.
Good choice imo Beaumont Hardy
 
Hi Gerbam.

If you're looking for an unpredictable trip with fantastical characters, try Gentlemen by Klas Östergren a swedish writer. I have read his novel not long ago. (( It was published in 1981 when I was one years old, so now I am enjoying with the old best-sellers... ))
Gentlemen is the story of two brothers, Henry and Leo Morgan. One brother is a happy-go-lucky musician/part-time extra and the other is a drug-addicted, despairing poet. They reluctantly get mixed up in a plot to uncover something rotten in the state of Sweden.. And a third character Klas Ostergren, their chronicler, who shares his name with the author.
Behind each adventure lurks a bigger theme--of international scheming and intrigue, politics and business. It's light-hearted and dark at the same time - and completely unpredictable...:)
 
I'd second Gentlemen, though I'm not sure I'd count it as a mystery exactly. But yes, a very very good book. Just avoid the sequel.
 
Cosimah2o and beer good
thank you both for the recommendation of 'GENTLEMEN' I just put it on my list of books to find and read. it's a new title and writer to me ... always an interesting quest.

:))
 
I would mention The Untouchable by John Banville, which reads like anything but mystery, but might keep you wondering until the end. And might get you into reading Banville. :flowers:
 
GERBAM said:
A few examples I found especially challenging are:
AN INSTANCE AT THE FINGERPOST PEARS


ALL OF JOHN LeCARRE albeit he specializes in spies but I find his books to be set up like mystery/suspense/thrillers
AND
GEORGE SIMENON ... Especially his psychological thrillers

Does anyone elsle have any to add? I didn't want to make too big a list.
Click to expand...
I can agree with all you've said, but have to say I was a bit disappointed finally by the Pears book. The "big reveal" at the end was a let down for me.

Peder said:
I would mention The Untouchable by John Banville, which reads like anything but mystery, but might keep you wondering until the end. And might get you into reading Banville. :flowers:
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Yes, plus the "Freddie Trilogy" consisting of The Book of Evidence, Ghosts, and Athena fall somewhat into that category.
 
I'll stick it here but i'm not so sure cerebral or other bodily fonction are used while read Larry Brown.
Our friend Gerbam seem to be the ultimate specialist in thriller and i'm very curious about this Larry Brown,specialy Father and son.(i also own Dirty work)
Any thought chef?
 
salliotthomas, hi
omg i'm not the 'specialist' lol i just like to read alot and talk about the really good stuff i find
it's ironic that i never heard of larry brown
he's one i am going to have to check out
salliothomas what did you think of him? and have you read dirty work too?

eager for your response
thanks
gerbam
 
But i have not read Larry Brown yet.
I heard of him on a French literary forum,and when i entered his name on goodread i got a shower :star5:,both for Dirty job and Father and son.
I guess it will have to be my next.
(The guy compared him to a maupassant writing thriller,which might be a strech but still apetizing)
Take care of yourself and i'm looking forward to your next discovery Gerbam.
 
salliotthomas
lol lol lol my next 'discovery' is LUIZ ALFREDO GARCIA-ROZA a Brazillian writer who has a wonderful police procedural series.

I will keep an eye out for Larry Brown ... thank you for the recommendation

btw
your website is awesome :))
 
GERBAM said:
IMHO a "cerebral mystery" or for that matter any "cerebral book" is one that challenges me beyond just following the sleuth around. These books are rich in literary allusion, tightly plotted, populated with believable characters and not formulaic (although this may not be a necessary element.)
Click to expand...

If that's your definition of cerebral mysteries, you should try Edmund Crispin's classic The Moving Toyshop. It's set in Oxford, its characters are college students, literature teachers and poets (it's even dedicated to British poet Philip Larkin), and it's full of amusing literary allusions. The characters are funny, unpredictable and eccentric. The mystery is a bit silly but you won't even be thinking about it because it's the writing that holds the attention.

I'd also recommend any of the myriad mysteries and detective novels and short-stories G. K. Chesterton wrote: The Poet and the Lunatics, The Paradoxes of Mr. Pond, The Club of Queer Trades, The Complete Father Brown Stories, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Man Who Was Thursday. They have everything you crave: real people, amazing and unpredictable plots, literary talent and a good deal of allusions to literature in general.
 
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