JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: This past Saturday, I enjoyed the opera Fedora (via the Met's international broadcast) which, as at happened, had a murder mystery at the heart. It was the first time in 25 years the Met had produced this verisimo opera, and, not knowing what was coming, I was delighted with the question of who killed Count Vladimir and, more importantly, why.
I also recently had a watch party for GLASS ONION, the sequel to Knives Out (2020.) If you haven't seen either, hie thee hence to Netflix and dive in, because both are delightful, with amazing performances and settings to (pardon the pun) die for. (Why don't I have an infinity pool?)
And here's my third navigational point: Three of the top ten podcasts in America are true crime (Crime Junkie, My Favorite Murder and Morbid.) What do these all have in common? I believe it's this: we're entering a period where traditional murder mysteries are a high-level cultural event.
Now, if you have Brit Box or Acorn, you're probably rolling your eyes at my statement. "Of course mysteries are popular, I see them all the time!" But in the USA, they're not. Not so much, at least. We love our thrillers. Action adventure is huge! And noir still has a hold on the American imagination (as well as the critics' hearts. Can you imagine Gone Girl doing as well if the noir sensibility wasn't alive and well in the US?)
But traditional whodunnits - like Knives Out, Glass Onion, Only Murders in the Building and, yes, Fedora, haven't been at the forefront of visual culture in a long, long time. Yet, it seems that those comfortable, solid mysteries are having a moment, in the modern idiom.
There's a third Knives Out movie coming, as well as a third season for Only Murders in the Building (with Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd! Eeeee!) There are more and more true crime podcasts queuing up for listeners' attention. Why? What does it mean? This form of entertainment has long been preeminent in Great Britain, but not so much on these shores, and I think there's a reason why they are suddenly making themselves known in popular, mass culture.
Murder mysteries have been the comfort food for people in difficult times - the Great Depression, world wars, the dissolution of the British Empire. It feels as if we may be living through another such turbulent age, with nationalism spreading around the world, with climate change looming large, and with questions about the long-term viability of democracy in all its settings. (I'm not even touching on the fact of a ground war in Europe!)
As the world continues to do its best impression of a Tilt-a-Whirl ride, it may be a natural response to seek refuge in the puzzle and orderliness of the classic murder mystery. What distracts us as much as matching wits with a detective (commissioned or not,) scrutinizing clues and characters, and bringing order out of chaos?
What do you think, dear readers? Is there a groundswell for the traditional mystery? And why are whodunnits having a revival in 2023?
Murder mysteries are, by their nature, engaging; they always have a predictable ending in that the murderer is revealed and justice is served. Perhaps the popularity of the genre has to do with the structure of the story: despite beginning with a horrific event, the bad things are overcome, giving the viewer/reader hope and reassurance that all will be set right . . . .
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to be the genre of choice in hard times, Joan. I'm reminded of how radio play mysteries were so popular in the US during WWII...
DeleteI think that's an excellent analysis, Julia. The rise in sales of traditional and cozy mysteries during the first couple of years of the pandemic was huge, I think for the same reason. With a scary, messy, dark world out there, who wants to read something even darker or scarier? In the traditional/cozy, justice and equilibrium are restored to the community in the end.
ReplyDeleteI read that Moonflower Murders is now being produced for PBS, following on the fabulous Magpie Murders. I can't wait.
Success does breed success in film, doesn't it? I'm also wondering if one aspect is the fact that most whodunnits must be cheaper to produce than a lot of other content: no special effects like in the Star Wars shows, no multi-million-dollar costuming and set budget like Bridgerton, no film shoots in exotic locations - I mean, Knives Out was basically shot in a few places in Massachusetts, with just the writer's office and its hallway constructed on a soundstage. That must look appealing to cash-strapped producers.
DeleteI saw the first season's Only Murders in the Building on the plane and was hooked! And recently I read Magpie Murders, which I thought was brilliant. (The whole idea of a mystery in a mystery.) I think hte appeal of mysteries is hte puzzle factor. Once the question of who did it is introduced, you really want to know.
ReplyDeleteOnly Murders in the Building is SUCH a gem, and I suspect its runaway popularity is part of the reason we're seeing more traditional mysteries produced in the US.
DeleteElizabeth again: Thanks for mentioning the opera, Fedora. I love opera, but had never heard of this opera. An opera with a mystery at the center. Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a great piece of art, Elizabeth - but it was clearly created to be a best-seller with audiences in the 1890s, complete with scenic, exotic settings, a funny subplot, and, of course, the mystery. Unlike most operas, if you get a chance to see the Met's production (we see the Live in HD broadcasts, but I think they may rebroadcast) DON'T read anything about it.
DeleteThanks for the info about Fedora, Julia. It still is intriguing enough that I want to know more about it. Partly for the time period as well as theme. Have a great afternoon.
DeleteIt is all part of escaping from the reality that is our world. Watching, reading whodunit puts us in the middle of the action as we figure out the puzzle where justice will prevail.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Dru Ann. I'm also wondering if the "new" way most of us consume movies and TV - by streaming - has a booster effect in reviving the genre. If you missed something, if you want to go back and check what the suspect said, you can! (I can't be the only person who flips back to reread possible clues, right?)
DeleteI love to listen to the opera on the radio. I’ve been to several in NYC and found it to be be very moving especially being there. —Reen Carter
ReplyDeleteOpera on the radio was my entry drug, Reen! :-)
DeleteAs others have said, the puzzle factor and the solving of the mystery is what draws viewers to traditional mysteries. I enjoyed watching Knives Out but will have to wait for Glass Onion to be available outside of Netflix to see it. And I will temporarily reactivate my cancelled Disney+ subscription to watch OMITB season 3.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Grace!
DeleteDiana
It will be well worth the money, Grace!
DeleteHave murder mysteries ever gone out of style in the UK? Because there are dozens of them on Acorn and Britbox, some--like Midsomer Murders--that have run for as many as 24 seasons. Or am I missing a distinction here?
ReplyDeleteI had also never heard of Fedora. What lush music, judging from the trailer!
We started watching Glass Onion in Nairobi, and I finished watching it this past weekend, so I'm not sure if I followed the story wholly. A LOT of plot twists, and great fun ogling the sets and seeing such glorious costumes. Can we talk about Benoit's travel wardrobe?
I watched Glass Onion on Christmas night when I was half asleep. I think I need a rewatch!
DeleteKaren in Ohio,
DeleteBig Fan of Midsomer Murders here. Did anyone notice the last episode? There was a Deaf actress who played the mother of a teenage boy with an illness. In the entire show, there was no reference to the mother's deafness. However, I noticed that all of the scenes had the Deaf actress looking at the people she spoke to. And Barnaby always looked at her face to face while talking to her.
Interesting...
Diana
Karen, murder mysteries (as TV, streaming, movies, etc) don't seem to ever have gone out of style in the UK, but they were pretty much wiped out in the US by thrillers, action-adventure, and cop shows (which are really workplace dramas, not mysteries.) The last BIG traditional mystery movie I can think of is DEATHTRAP, which came out in '82, and the last TV show that leaned into the territory was CASTLE (2006-2016) and that latter eventually segued into something more like suspense.
DeletePersonally, I don't think whodunnits are suited to the traditional American-style TV season of 13 to 20-some shows. They work much better self contained, in movies, or in the shorter British-style series of 6 episodes. Which is the style most streaming productions have adopted, so maybe the change in form is partly responsible for the change in genre.
More likely, reality shows, Julia. They are dirt cheap to produce, and since human beings are inherently nosy, they have a guaranteed audience.
DeleteMurder on the Orient Express comes to mind, and that was just a couple years ago, right? And there was also a Fletch movie with Jon Hamm recently. But I take your point. We used to watch Columbo, Hart to Hart, Moonlighting, Murder She Wrote, Remington Steele, Monk, Bronson, Rockford Files, et al. It's good to see that kind of show coming back here in the States.
In today's NYT, I read an article on pop culture detectives.
ReplyDeleteYes, we're emerging from a collision of cozies and domestic suspense in favor of more traditional mysteries. I'm starting a new book paying homage to Helen MacInnes. Remember her amateur sleuth fights the Iron Curtain bad guys?
Margaret, diehard Helen MacInnes fangirl here--please dish on this new book!
DeleteAh, Helen MacInnes! My husband and I were both fans of her writing and looked for every mystery we could find.
DeleteI was also a fan of the Helen MacInnes books. Miss them.
DeleteLoved Helen MacInnes! And, Margaret, can you share the link to the Times piece?
DeleteHelen MacInnes fans, Ellen Crosby's latest Sophie Medina book, BLOW UP, will be out in May.
Deletehttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/t-magazine/easter-eggs-taylor-swift.html?searchResultPosition=1
DeleteJust got the Helen McInnes novels, which were special orders from the local bookshop.
DeleteDiana
Oh, my gosh, all you have to do is say Helen MacInnes and I can instantly picture those book covers at my local library!
DeleteYes, I didn't see that in the Times today! Is there a link? ((I guess I could look it up myself...) :-)
DeleteTrue Crime is not for me (that horrid stuff actually happened!), but a mystery, thriller or cozy between the covers is safe. I just need to read along to learn how others solve the crime. And solve it they do; unlike in my own life where mysteries remain unsolved: Why does the cat wake me so early? Where do the crumbs in the cutlery drawer come from? Etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to read or listen to true crime, either, Amanda.
DeleteI'm not a true crime fan either, but I feel it's close enough in what it delivers to the audience to be a part of the trend - and I know a lot of people who consume both true crime and mystery fiction.
DeleteI don't know why, but I'm loving it. Glass Onion was terrific and I cannot wait for th 3rd season of Only Murders.
ReplyDeleteLiz, I got genuinely, ridiculously excited when I saw a little video yesterday from the cast of Only Murders - on the set and filming season 3.
DeleteInteresting! I liked Knives Out, Glass Onion seemed rather stupid and contrived!
DeleteOoo! Julie, I'll have to look for that online!
DeleteNot a Knives Out fan, I hesitate to say. But whoo hoo for Only Murders! And it would be interesting to discuss why one works so perfectly for me, and one is cringey.
DeleteJust read on Rolling Stone where Rian Johnson also has a TV series "Poker Face" on Peacock. He's patterned his female sleuth after Columbo. I haven't watched it yet, but I did see the trailer, and it has distinct retro vibes. Looks like late '70s, early '80s.
ReplyDeleteOoh, we have Peacock. Have to check this out!
DeleteRhonda, I saw a trailer for this - it stars Natasha Lyon, who herself is a walking 70s vibe!
DeleteI've seen the trailer for Poker Face, too, and I'm planning on watching it. And, Julia, I agree with you about Natasha Lyon.
DeleteOops. I forgot to put click the drop-down, who-the-heck-are-you menu, that it's me. Rhonda Lane. More caffeine--stat!
ReplyDeleteI think mysteries cycle in and out of popularity, like most other genres--westerns, for example. And if traditional mysteries are having a moment, I'm all for it.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you may be right, Flora, and if they crowd out some of the endless superhero content I see in movies and streaming, I'm all for it!
DeleteI would also appreciate less cozy content. The publishing establishment has ruined the genre with all the mediocre formulary series.
DeleteYea for traditional mysteries! They've never gone out of style on my bookshelf and I'm glad to see the genre returning. I think with so much uncertainty and craziness in the world, it's nice to settle down with a book or move that has a puzzle that will be unraveled with a satisfying ending. May life imitate art!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, yes, Kait. I wonder if the pleasure the puzzle gives the viewer/listener is a big part of the attraction.
DeleteTraditional mysteries never faded out of fashion in my world, but if they're taking a turn in the spotlight, I'm all for it! We all want to live in a world where good wins out over evil, bad deeds are punished, law and order rules the day, and the smart girls and guys get the last word. Don't we?
ReplyDeleteGigi,
DeleteAlways liked the concept of good triumphing over evil. That happens in books.
Diana
Gigi, we do. What I'm wondering is why, here and now, are traditional whodunnits making a splash across mediums? Because all those movies with muscular guys fighting baddies also end with good triumphant..mostly.
DeleteJulia, your questions made me think.
ReplyDeleteThough I am not sure I know the answers to your questions, I can share my personal experiences.
How did I become interested in mysteries? I was in the 6th grade when my teacher brought my class to the city library. The school library closed their doors and our teacher wanted us to have the experience of going to the library. She was talking about different genres, including mysteries. I remember learning the Sign for "Mystery", which is similar to the sign for "hiding" with the facial expression of Question/ Puzzled. I'll have to see if there is a video on YouTube with a Deaf person signing the word "mystery".
And my attorney grandfather sent me a monthly subscription of the Nancy Drew mysteries. I got a book every month.
My grandfather died the summer of the Royal Wedding in 1981. His widow (the wicked step) was the stereotypical American that Agatha Christie novels poke fun at. Because of my interest in the Royal Wedding and Lady Diana Spencer, I became very interested in everything British, including BBC shows on our local public TV. Started watching mysteries like the Mystery! programmes with Vincent Price. Love the Edward Gorey cartoon introduction to Mystery!
And I think my way of rebelling against the gauche Reagan years (nouveau riche vibes) was to become more British. LOL. My grandfather was stationed in England during the First World War and finally returned to the States in 1920! I think I already mentioned in another post /comment months ago about his ship being attacked off the coast of England ? and being rescued by a British Navy ship. I read his WWI diaries.
Need to figure out how to get Netflix on my computer. Yes, I watched Knives Out! And Hulu has too many ads for my taste. Otherwise, I would love to see Murders in the Building.
Can get AcornTV on my iPad, not laptop. Can get Britbox on my laptop. I LOVE the Agatha Christie mysteries, At the age of 12, I started reading Agatha Christie novels and it was quite a challenge because there were NO illustrations in the books like the Nancy Drew mysteries. And I learned a lot of new words!
In brief, I think mysteries are like puzzles. I loved puzzles when I was a child. Trying to figure out whodunnit is part of the fun in reading mystery novels for me.
Despite my American birth, I always felt very British, considering that I am 1/4 British (Scottish). When I lived in England in the summer of 1990, people actually thought I was British.
Diana
Diana, I love learning the sign for "mystery" is a face partly hidden with a puzzled expression! If there's a better description of the traditional mystery, I can't think of it.
DeleteMy husband watched Netflix all the time on his laptop, all you need to do is go to the web site and log in.
DeleteYay for the revival of traditional mysteries which invest more in character than in the choreography of action!
ReplyDeletePriscilla,
DeleteAgreed that mysteries invest more in character than in the choreography of action!
Diana
Yes! And that's what got me noticing it - so much of what passes as mystery and crime fiction in American productions is really just an action adventure with a few questions thrown in.
DeleteIs there a groundswell for traditional mysteries? Perhaps.
ReplyDeleteWhy are whodunnits having a revival? As others have said it is likely a combination of people looking for the escape from the real world that is dark, depressing and filled with any number of evil SOBs masquerading as "the good guys" and just being intrigued with trying to solve the puzzle that is being laid out for you in either a book or televised format.
At least in the books, the bad guy generally gets their just desserts in the end. In the real world, they get elected or re-elected. I know which end result I prefer.
But for me, mysteries (and thrillers, of course) have been my prime format for reading enjoyment for a long time now. I take detours into science fiction, comics and the occasional biography of a sports or music figure but it's mysteries that always hold my heart first and foremost.
Jay, yes!
DeleteThe baddies get their just desserts in books, especially mystery novels. Perhaps that is the attraction to mysteries?
Diana
Agreed, Jay. I suppose since the written mystery has and continues to be very popular, it was bound to make it to the screen at one time or another - and we all know, when one genre is a success, Hollywood will make more of it.
DeleteI have always loved traditional murder mysteries and cozy mysteries. I think they are comforting, especially in tumultuous times. Yes, a bad thing happens, someone is killed, but you know the mystery will be solved by the end of the book and all will be right with the world. In a world of seemingly insurmountable problems, reading a good mystery gives the reader some sense of control, if only temporarily.
ReplyDeleteI love that, Anon. "In a world of seemingly insurmountable problems..." Yes, it does generate a feeling of control in us.
DeleteJulia, I loved Glass Onion, as I did Knives Out. What really surprised me is that my husband really enjoyed both of them, too. He (and I) like Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. Again, I was surprised that Philip commented on liking this character, as he never singles out an actor/character he likes. And, as you noted, I think we need to do a re-watch of Glass Onion. We've watched Knives Out multiple times. Glad to know there is a third movie in the works.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Only Murders in the Building, too. I'm so excited about Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd being in season three. I love how, in addition to the wonderful cast of the three main characters, the show has such talents as Shirley MacLaine, Nathan Lane (who I hope continues as a regular), Jane Lynch, Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, and others. Now, with Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, I know it's going to be another great season.
And to comment on the return of people in this country to traditional mysteries, I think your assessment is right on target, Julia. I'll only add what some others have noted, that there is lots of satisfaction in reading or watching these mysteries where the bad guys are exposed, found guilty, and put away. With so much deceit and people getting away with wrong-doing these days, the mysteries serve as a comfort that justice can prevail.
ReplyDeleteMysteries have been my favorite for quite a while, thanks to Masterpiece Mystery and Elaine Viets, who was once a columnist for the St. Louis P-D. She led me to other authors, who led to others in a widening circle of reading pleasure. The appeal is partly that things do get sorted, which doesn't always happen IRL, so it's therapeutic in these troubled times. Thanks for the help. <3
About freaking time. Also, I heard from a little bird that publishers are actively seeking mysteries in three categories - 1. The Only Murders sort of tale, meaning community based 2. Millennial driven mystery, so young, hip, and socially conscious, and 3. Dark psychological suspense with a professional sleuth. FWIW.
ReplyDeleteSO late ,SO late! And this is fascinating! And I think there's another category--the meta melding of author and sleuth and real life communications--elegant and intriguing structure, BUT keeping the umbrella of a traditional mystery. Magpie Murders. The Woman in the Library. The Appeal. They're smart, and rely on smart readers. I just got Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone (is that the title? Something like that.) They rely on readers knowing the bones.
ReplyDeleteLOVE BritBox!! However, PBS Masterpiece has been airing a delightful Victorian-era series to DIE for = Miss Scarlett and The Duke. 3rd season has just begun. (Oh just KISS, for crying out loud!)
ReplyDeleteAnyone else addicted to "Vera", on BritBox? LOVE her!!
ReplyDelete