Sunday, November 3, 2013

R.I.P. VIII Wrap Up Post


The R.I.P. event (a non-challenge) is done. Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings reports: 

"R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VIII had nearly 200 participants this year and we read and reviewed nearly 500 books, short stories and films/tv shows. I’m sure there were many more things read and viewed that were not reviewed."

I read a lot of books for the challenge. A few were outside of my comfort zone, but mostly my standard mystery fare:
  1. Unholy Ground by John Brady
  2. Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie
  3. Seeking Whom He May Devour by Fred Vargas
  4. The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
  5. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
  6. The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss
  7. The Yard by Alex Grecian
  8. Vendetta by Michael Dibdin
  9. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
  10. Frantic by Katherine Howell
  11. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves
  12. White Nights by Ann Cleeves
  13. Dark Star by Alan Furst
  14. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
Two of my favorite books for this event were by the same author: Raven Black and White Nights by  Ann Cleeves. They were moody and slow, and focused a lot on the location and the time of year.

The Shetland Islands is a very different setting from any I have read about before. Per Wikipedia, the Shetland Islands "is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north-east of mainland Britain." The largest island is known as "Mainland." The action in both these books takes place on that island, although in different parts of it.

Raven Black involves the murder of a teenage girl in an area where a much younger girl disappeared a few years earlier. This first book takes place in the cold winter when winter fire festivals take place. The Up Helly Aa festival plays a part in the plot.

The second book in the series, White Nights, centers around the death of an outsider, a visitor to the islands who no one appears to know. That book is set at the time of year (mid-summer) when it never really gets dark, a phenomena it is hard for me to imagine.


25 comments:

Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) said...

Definitely hgetting me some Ann Cleeves - thanks TracyK!

Cath said...

You did really well! I too love the atmosphere of the Anne Cleeves books, she's a class writer. Her Vera books have been dramatised for TV and I can't recommend the series highly enough.

col2910 said...

12 books and I have only read one of these! (Temple) Furst will follow at some point but I will need to take a rain check on the others, though I may have the Vargas somewhere. Well done for completing your challenge (though I'm not too sure what the challenge is exactly!)

Anonymous said...

Tracy - I completely understand why you chose those two Ann Cleeves novels. She is expert at creating atmosphere and at building suspense. I love her characters too. So glad you've been exploring this series.

TracyK said...

Her books are definitely worth reading, Sergio.

TracyK said...

Cath, I do want to read the Vera series. Looking for the first book now.

TracyK said...

Col, the R.I.P. event is really just a challenge focusing on mysterious or spooky or scary books in the two months leading up to Halloween. I tried to branch out to more scary and halloweeny stuff, but I am a wimp and just stuck with what I usually read for the most part. A lots of people watch and review movies too, but I did all my Halloween viewing after the fact, so...

TracyK said...

Margot, I enjoyed the first two in the Shetland series so much, I hope to finish the next two in 2014.

col2910 said...

Ok thanks for explaining - probably not one for me though. I will try and push your wimp tolerance level higher with a few crime recommendations out of your comfort zone.
Talking of challenges - a long way off, but I might do the Canadian thing next year

TracyK said...

Col, I would love it if you did the Canadian challenge because you would find books I have not discovered yet. And you read so many books in a year it would not be a stretch for you. I don't read enough in the first 6 months and then have to double up in last 6 months.

col2910 said...

Tracy, you've twisted my arm then, I will do some research on potential candidates!

Peggy Ann said...

Great list Tracy! I haven't read any of them. Looking forward to Ann Cleeves though!

TracyK said...

Cleeves writes well and I know you will enjoy her books. I am looking forward to trying more of her series. She has been writing for many years.

pattinase (abbott) said...

For years I have been meaning to read Ann Cleeves.

TracyK said...

Patti, it took me a long time too. Although I did read a couple of the Inspector Ramsay series a few years ago. I have been meaning to read the Shetland series since the first one came out... Glad I finally did.

w said...

I plan to read Ann Cleeves. Soonish.

TracyK said...

Keishon, I like that word, soonish. One of my favorite words. I keep talking about what I will read in 2014, and I don't think it is all going to fit. Oh well.

Anonymous said...

Oh, gosh, I guess I'll make a New Year's resolution to read a book in the Shetland series, and also one by Reginald Hill.

I did just take out of the library one season of the Dalziel and Pascoe adventures on dvd's, so I'll get the plots and characters this way, at least for awhile. It's easier for now, while I try to catch up on books I already have (sigh).

TracyK said...

Kathy, I do know what you mean. I want to see the series and see if I like how they portrayed the detectives. Going to try it soon.

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Tracy, I'm intrigued by "The Infernal Detective" that I might get to before the two books by Ann Cleeves. Both would be new authors for me.

Clothes In Books said...

I've read about half these - and really endorse what you say about Anne Cleeves. Such a good author, and I like the fact that she has written a lot, so when I am up to date with the two current series - Vera and the Shetlands - there'll be others to catch up on.

TracyK said...

Prashant, I hope you try both of those authors.

TracyK said...

Yes, I am eager to try the two series that I have not read at all. And finish the Shetlands series. So glad I finally got to this series.

Cheryl @ Tales of the Marvelous said...

Quite the impressive list--and I love those two covers!

TracyK said...

Cheryl, I did have two good months of reading. And the covers are wonderful and reflect the mood of the novels.