This book is the 25th in Jane Haddam's Gregor Demarkian series. Gregor Demarkian is a retired FBI profiler who spent many years tracking down serial killers. When he settles down in his old Armenian-American neighborhood in Philadelphia, he ends up doing consulting jobs for various police departments. The crimes he investigates are interesting but less gruesome than serial killers. The books were initially described as a cozy mystery series but over time I think it has developed more of an edge.
In Wanting Sheila Dead, Gregor reluctantly gets involved with two cases (one set in his neighborhood, the other related to the filming of a reality show), but he is not officially working on either one. Sheila Dunham is the famous but loud and offensive host of the reality show. The first crime that occurs is an attempt on Sheila's life, during the judging of the contestants on the show.
Usually Gregor works as a consultant to the police, and they are very pleased to have his help. In both of these cases he has no standing with the police, and some of the detectives resent his interference. Plus he has just (finally) gotten married and he is adjusting to the changes. His new wife Bennis has been a part of the series from the beginning, but she is more in the background this time. I find it interesting that the author shares so much of Gregor's thoughts about what is happening in his life: not just about his marriage, but about getting older, his confusion about not being an official part of the investigations, even about his dreams.
I like this series because the books have engaging, sometimes quirky, characters and the stories are often centered around interesting issues. I usually find that the author presents the issues from both sides, although it may be clear which side she favors. Each book begins with a few chapters at the beginning setting up some of the characters that will be involved in the events, providing some idea of where they fit in. I have always liked this approach and it is one of my favorite aspects of Haddam's books. This time, the vignettes of the characters were less successful because there were so many of them.
From the beginning of the series, Gregor is often described as the Armenian-American Hercule Poirot in newspapers and on TV news shows. This irritates him to no end, even though he has never read any books about Poirot. In this book, for the first time Gregor has read some mysteries by Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie and he contrasts the two authors and philosophizes on Christie's approach to detecting. I found that part especially interesting and amusing.
Although I am a big fan of this series, I am not really recommending this book or the series; it would not be everyone's cup of tea. Having said that, the first book in the series (Not a Creature was Stirring) would be on my top favorites list of books read, across all genres. I have read all the previous books in the series and plan to read the remaining five books. The earlier books in the series are my favorites and I have reread several of them.
Jane Haddam is a pseudonym for Orania Papazoglou. She was the wife of William L. Deandrea, author of mysteries and Encyclopedia Mysteriosa, a mystery reference book.
I like what I've read of this series, Tracy (haven't gotten nearly as far as this one). I think you're right about the characters, and that's part of what appeals to me about Haddam's work. And there definitely are series like this one where I think the earlier books are better.
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to go back to the beginning as I am quite sure the first book is the only one I read, long ago, but 25 books does seem quite daunting and I hate skipping. It is interesting that the series has developed more of an edge as she went along; that is also true of Deborah Crombie's books too and she is one of my favorite mystery writers. Kate Miciak, who I think was the original editor of the Haddad series (or at least in charge of mysteries at Bantam at the time) once told me (I was trying to ingratiate myself) that she only took on a new author if she had the manuscript for the first book and a second. I don't recall if it had to be a sequel or just proof that the author had the capability of writing a second book. Bantam didn't want to make the effort on an author unless she had long term potential. So you would *think* the tone of a series would be somewhat consistent - and yet authors evolve as their characters do.
ReplyDeleteMargot, Her main characters and her secondary characters are always well done. I read an interview from 2014 where she said that she always started with the characters and then works on the plot.
ReplyDeleteConstance, I would not be so far along in the series if I had not read 20 of the books in 2008 and 2009. Back then, if I found a new-to-me author I would binge read their books as I could find them.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information from that editor. Haddam's earlier books are sometimes hard to find because they came out as paperback originals. I read a quote from Jane Haddam that her writing got darker after her husband died in 1996, very young, at 44.
I love the sound of this series! Thirty books is a bit hefty but I'll see if the library has any... answer 'no' but I will keep an eye out, you never know how lucky you can be sometimes.
ReplyDeleteCath, it is definitely a good series to try out. Except for some of the personal relationships of continuing characters, I don't think reading in order makes any difference. Some of the books that addressed social issues got a little preachy, for me and some other readers, but the mystery part was still good. That is why I recommend some of the earlier books over the later ones. But this one worked fine for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the series at all, and I'm not much of a cozy mystery fan. But now I'm wondering how it would work if I just jumped into one of the later, edgier, books in the series. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteSam, when Haddam was questioned in an interview about whether her books were cozy, she said she did not do "cute" and she did not do graphic violence. She also said: "So--is Martha Grimes cozy? Anne Perry? Louise Penney? Because if they are, then I probably am, because I think that's basically the kind of thing I do."
ReplyDeleteI think you could jump into a later book, and it would not matter. Some references to previous books would not make sense (especially in the one I just read) but then I read some of the series so long ago I don't remember many things. She does have a different style of writing and it doesn't work for some readers.
25 books in one series is pretty impressive. It's not one that I'm familiar with.
ReplyDeleteLark, the series ended up having 30 books. I agree, pretty amazing. Under her real name she also wrote a series of 5 books about Patience McKenna, a romance novelist, and a couple of standalone books. I have never tried those but I hope to, someday.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy, The first book in the series is available on kindle unlimited. I might check it out. Been my experience that to get hooked on a mystery/detective series you have to bond with the lead detective and Gregor sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteKathy, I did see that it was on Kindle Unlimited. I currently have a three months free trial for Kindle Unlimited and I need to start making use of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, really liking the detective in a mystery series makes a big difference. For me, Gregor is the best part of the series. There are some good continuing characters, such as Father Tibor, an Armenian priest.
I'm so glad you have reminded me of this series, Tracy, and I think we have discussed it before. Not many people seem to know it - shown in your comments too - but I loved the books, though have not kept up with more recent ones. I loved all the regular characters, the Armenian neighbourhood and the old Priest and the church (that makes it sound cozier than they really are). Now I don't know whether to pick up the series where I left off, or start again at the beginning with Gregor and Bennis.... They gave me such pleasure over the years.
ReplyDeleteI also read a standalone set in a convent, Charisma by Orania Papazoglou, which was very different but very good.
Moira, I do remember that you and I have both liked the series. There are so few people who are even familiar with it at all. And many people see them as cozies although they don't seem that way at all to me.
ReplyDeleteI want to go back and read some of the early ones because I remember especially liking the ones that nuns as characters, such as Murder Superior and True Believers. And I did recently check your blog to see which nonseries book you had reviewed. I do have a copy of Charisma on the Kindle.
Tracy, I looked at my records because I was interested to see how few of her books I had on the blog: and according to my notes, I really wasn't enjoying the later ones so much, I have criticisms. And the early ones were before I was doing the blog.
ReplyDeleteso I have decided to reread some of the early ones rather than carrying on with the series...
Moira, I definitely think the best books in the Gregor Demarkian series are the early ones, although on rereads some of those are not as enjoyable for me as the first time. The early books address issues less pointedly. Her series for me is like reading Louise Penny. There are a lot of good points but I always have some quibbles. Yet I am in with the Louise Penny books for the long haul, and probably the Haddam books also.
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