Supper SleuthsThese mysteries involve foreign sleuths who operate in the countries of Europe and Africa. In some cases, American or British sleuths are visiting the countries on these continents. There are private eyes (Alexander McCall Smith) and amateurs (Gilman & King); however, the police procedural abounds. If you truly want a classic immersion in the foreign experience, meet Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano; Dibdin’s Aurelio Zen; Freeling’s Henri Castang; Jeffries’ Inspector Alvarez; Kaminsky’s Inspector Rostnikov; Leon’s Guido Brunetti or Smith’s Arkady Renko.
Some are historicals (Akunin, Hebden, Linscott, Simenon), some are cozier (Christie, Gilman, King, Linscott) than others; however, they all are detail rich in the element of place and the languages and customs of the countries add to the complexities and texture of the experience. Travel to Israel, the Congo, Spain, France, old Russia and the USSR, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and Egypt and figure out the murderous plots that our sleuths untangle.
The following is a list of authors who fit into this category. The titles in each series is given. Please read one or more of these authors and/or titles, and come prepared to discuss your impressions of them with the group.
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