VM BURNS: I can trace my obsession with mysteries back to one author and one book. I grew up three blocks from my branch library and it became my home away from home. My best friend and I visited that small library at least twice every week. It’s there that I discovered my first Agatha Christie, The Murder of Roger Akroyd. That book blew my mind. When I got to the end, I can honestly say, “I didn’t see that coming.” The next day, I rushed back to the library and looked for another book by the same author. My librarian gave me, And, Then There Were None. I read the back cover, and I wasn’t sure this book would be as thrilling. I mean, ten people are on an island and they are each murdered. Obviously, the last one left standing would be the killer, right? Oh well, I had the book and decided to give it a try. HOLY COW! SPOILER ALERT, she kills them all!!! I should have known from the title, “And, Then There Were None,” but that little detail escaped me. Who was this woman with the diabolical mind who had twisted my twelve-year-old brain? The next day I went back to the library and grabbed every Agatha Christie book I could find. Thus, started my love of mysteries and my obsession/fascination with the Queen of Crime Fiction.
Agatha Christie is the bestselling author of sixty-six crime fiction books and 14 short stories. Her play, The Mousetrap, set a record for the longest-running play in London, running from November 25, 1952, until the theatre was closed due to the pandemic on March 16, 2020.
Christie’s style of manor house mysteries featuring nosy old spinsters or finicky Belgian private detectives may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Twenty-first-century readers may struggle not only with her sleuths but also with her prose. However, her plots are IMO brilliant. I re-read these books regularly. Each time, I see a clue or a red herring I missed previously. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is my twenty-first mystery. They say you never forget your first love, and that’s especially true in my case.
Do you remember the book/author that got you hooked on mysteries?
Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha, Anthony, and Edgar Award-nominated author. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. As Kallie E. Benjamin, Valerie writes the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series. She is an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia. Connect with Valerie at vmburns.com.
I wonder, Valerie, if you might tell us a bit about "A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death"?
ReplyDeleteI've always loved mysteries . . . Nancy Drew probably started it . . . but books like Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain" and John le Carre's "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" cemented my love of the genre . . . .
Joan, sorry I didn't add the book blurb! I'll let Valerie answer since she wrote it:)
DeleteHi Joan, A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is the 3rd book in my Baker Street Mystery. Here's the summary.
DeleteThanks to Maddy’s social media savvy, Baby Cakes Bakery is becoming a huge success—so much so that she’s attracted the attention of her former nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Brandy Denton. When Brandy blows into New Bison like an ill wind and disrupts a vlog Maddy’s filming, their argument goes viral. After Brandy’s body is found in the freezer at Baby Cakes, Maddy instantly goes from viral sensation to murder suspect.
As Maddy is still reeling from the murder, a stranger shows up in the bakery claiming to have been a friend of Octavia. He believes Maddy is in danger. When a second body washes up on the lake shore, it seems clear someone’s out to kill to keep a secret—and it may have to do with her great aunt.
Maddy rallies her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars; Sheriff April Johnson; and her veterinarian boyfriend Michael—not to mention her English mastiff Baby—to do some digging and root out whoever’s behind the killings . . .
That sounds deliciously intriguing, Valerie . . . I'm looking forward to reading it.
DeleteVALERIE: Congratulations on your new book!
ReplyDeleteChristie's THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD was also my first adult mystery book I borrowed from the Toronto public library.
I read it at age 11, and like you, I didn't see that ending coming! I then wanted to read more Poirot books.
That was also the gateway to the other Golden Age or mystery authors; Allingham, Layers, Tey and Ngaio Marsh. Also Ellery Queen and Arthur Conan Doyle.
Geez, autocorrect strikes again.
DeleteSayers not Layers!
It's funny to me that we've ended up in the same community and yet I read very few of those golden age mysteries...
DeleteWell, these books have been on my bookshelves for almost 50 years but unlike others, I do not re-read them.
DeleteGrace, thank you. I love all of those authors. I have even have the entire Ellery Queen DVDs (the ones with Jim Hutton). I also have the entire Nero Wolfe DVDs with Timothy Hutton. Love all of those books. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteVALERIE:
DeleteI was an Anglophile and read mostly British mysteries until my late teens. I then found a whole bunch of American mysteries, including the Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin books. I wish I could eat his gourmand meals & see his orchid collection.
Re: DVDs, I had no idea the Hutton father & son were in different TV series. I should check if the Ottawa public library has them in their collection.
GRACE: Yes, I read all my mom’s Nero Wolfes and learned about orchids long before I ever saw one.
DeleteWhen I was much younger, it was Nancy Drew Mysteries. I discovered Helen MacInnes when I was in college. The intrigue was so different from what I was used to, I couldn't get enough. I need her again. The books were written and set in the 1960's. I need to see if they have held up over time. I hope so, her books gave me so much enjoyment.
ReplyDeletePatricia, that is so awesome. I haven't read Helen MacInnes, but I just downloaded the first book to my Kindle. Thanks for the recommendation.
DeleteWaving hi to Valerie! Nancy Drew got me hooked, but my mother had an extensive mystery library, including Christie, and I read most of them. I especially remember reading all of Poe and the Sherlock Holmes stories and being terrified that the speckled band would come down through the grate in the ceiling - even though my bedroom ceiling had no grate!
ReplyDeleteWaving back, Edith. LOL I remember the speckled band. I am still frightened of Poe. I think The Tell-Tale Heart had me sleeping with the lights on for a couple of weeks.
DeleteHi Valerie! First mystery book was Encyclopedia Brown and then Nancy Drew.
ReplyDeleteHey Dru Ann, I LOVED Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. Still do. :-)
DeleteI am a huge fan of all your books and love this reminder of Agatha Christie, whom I have not re-read for a long time. I realize my own writing has grown self-indulgent on character development and skimpy on plot finesse. Oh, and early reads included Patricia Wentworth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maren. I LOVE Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver Mysteries. I reread them often, too.
DeleteNancy Drew passed me by, so I got a late start in my mid-20s with Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series. Then I found Sara Paretsky, Marcia Muller and Sue Grafton. And I'm still reading mysteries...
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I LOVE Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series. Have you watched the movies? There's one with Angela Lansbury and Rosalind Russell. If you don't expect it to resemble the book, then you'll find them enjoyable. Love Sue Grafton, too. I wish she had been able to finish the alphabet.
DeleteHi Valerie! I am looking forward to the audiobook of A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH. I have loved the first books in this series.
ReplyDeleteI did read Nancy Drew as a youngster and loved those books. She was so brave and cool. I wanted to be like her in so many ways. Then I read Poe. Talk about the line between mystery and horror! Then I read Holmes. I may have read an Agatha Christie, but I never looked for mysteries although I certainly read them from time to time.
I didn't really look for mysteries nor seek out this society of mystery writers until I found Deborah Crombie's books about 8 years ago. I had already been reading James Benn's Billy Boyle series for a few years. Already retired, I found myself with a new obsession. Better late than never.
We're glad you did, Judy!
DeleteI'll say we're glad--I had forgotten that Debs was your gateway drug:)
DeleteDitto! So glad you're an enthusiastic reader of mysteries, JUDY.
DeleteXXOO
DeleteLove V M Burns' books - and her newsletters - can't wait to read the new book!
ReplyDeleteThough I didn't discover Agatha Christie until college (and immediately got hooked), growing up I read all the children's mystery series I could get my hands on at the library. My cousin had shelves of them at her house, can you imagine?
I love your books, Valerie, and can’t wait to read the new one! I have always loved mysteries! I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but my favorite teenage sleuth was Trixie Belden. I read a few Agatha Christie books, but my gateway was Charlotte Armstrong, Lilian Jackson Braun, and Hazel Holt (the Mrs. Mallory series).
ReplyDeleteChristi, Thank you so much. I am glad to hear you enjoyed the Hardy Boys, too. What a great introduction to mysteries. Thanks.
DeleteCHRISTI: Count me in as a fellow honorary member of the Bob Whites of the Glen!
DeleteIn second grade, Nancy Drew in The Secret of the Old Clock was my gateway mystery. When I finished all the NDs the school library had, I moved on to the Hardy Boys. Never looked back.
ReplyDeleteValerie, I'm so pleased with your success. You sent me one of your books for my Little Free Library in Cincinnati, and it got borrowed instantly! It came back on e, and was borrowed again, but it has not been returned, so I hope it is making the rounds of new fans.
Aww. Karen that warms my heart. Thank you so much for letting me know that folks are reading my book. Shoot me an email (author@vmburns.com) with an address and I'll send a few more books as soon as life slows down a mite.
DeleteI love all of Valerie Burns' wonderful series/books. In fact, yesterday I pulled her book off of my bookcase to re-read it (A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death) and noticed again that she had personally signed it. Why? Well in another book, the publisher mentioned the killer by name on the back of another one of her hardbound books! I called and spoke to someone at the publishing house and they blamed it on Valerie...ahh right. So somehow I got her email address and explained the situation. She personally responded & was beyond gracious (of course, she had nothing to with giving away the killer). She sent me an advanced copy of A Cup of Flour signed. So thanks again Valerie.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we should mention here that she has written three other series. The Samantha Washington & her grandma and her pals are a hoot. I hope to read more of Sam's adventurers? Valerie?
Anyway, yes to Agatha Christie - have read all the Miss Marple books.
My start was of course Nancy Drew, then Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey - "as my Wimsy takes me"), Janet Evanovich, Lilian Jackson Braun (love her intuitive cats).
Me again from above. How could I forget the book with the best twist at the end that I never saw coming was Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca which has been made in a great murder mystery movie.
DeleteValerie my mistake, the book wasn't A cup of Flour, A Pinch of Salt, but Murder is A Piece of Cake. I am happy to now realize that A Cup of Flour A Pinch of Salt is your newest book and comes out next week. I am going to my local bookstore to order! Sorry for the confusion. I was up much too early and hadn't had my coffee. That's dangerous!!
DeleteNo worries. I've made a ton of mistakes while uncaffeinated. :-)
DeleteValerie, I do indeed remember what got me hooked on the mystery/thriller genre. I mentioned them when I was one of the participants on the Bolo Books Youtube series WE ARE WHAT WE READ, but I never shy away from the chance to talk about it.
ReplyDeleteThe first three book series were when I was a kid and they were definitely more aimed at the young or at least younger age range. It was Encyclopedia Brown, The Three Investigators and those blue hardcover editions of The Hardy Boys (The Shattered Helmet remains my favorite from that series). But the first "adult" mystery that got me hooked and served as the bridge to everything that has happened to and/or for me as an adult lover of books was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. I love the story, wore out the first copy of the book I ever owned to the point it fell apart on me and have seen so many filmed versions of the story as well.
That's what got me hooked on the mystery/thriller genre and will continue evermore.
Jay, that is so cool. I have also read a book until it fell apart and I was FORCED to buy another copy. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was amazing. I still reread them. What a wonderful gift those books are.
DeleteLoved the Three Investigators and so badly wanted a junkyard hangout with a secret entrance.
DeleteValerie, anyone who loves The Canon is A-OK in my book!
DeleteLisa, same here I would've loved to have had that kind of hangout / hideout.
Hi Valerie! Congratulations on the new novel!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Agatha Christie when we were living in England when I was 15. I really enjoyed them, but didn't continue reading mysteries when we came home (my dad read mysteries, so not cool). I didn't really fall in love with mysteries until I was an adult and a friend gave me a present of a variety of mysteries--including Sarah Caudwell's Thus was Adonis Murdered, Frances Fyfield's A Question of Guilt, Tony Hillerman, Dick Francis and many others--14 books in all. Then I was hooked.
Gillian, I don't know what happened to my first reply, but I remember writing how amazing it would be to discover Agatha Christie while living in England. I used to fantasize about reading Christie while sipping tea and eating scones with clotted cream. That had to be amazing. Also, you were fortunate to have such a great friend to gift you such great stories.
DeleteWaves to Val and the poodles from Cincinnati. It was great to finally meet you last December at Books on the Banks. My mystery-reading progression was Nancy Drew and friends to Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt before I hit the big time with Christie and Sayers, with Ngaio Marsh, Earle Stanley Gardner, and John Dickson Carr from my grandfather's bookcase.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, it was great meeting you at Books on the Banks, too. Oh, I love all of those. Ngaio Marsh and Earle Stanley Gardner were great friends. In fact, my nightly routine involves watching the old black and white episodes of Perry Mason on TV. Thanks for sharing. Your grandfather's bookshelf sounds like it holds a lot of great memories.
DeleteOh, this is so great! Yes, yes, yes, I had essentially the same experience — with MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. I could not believe how good and clever it was, and yes, I bet I was about 12 years old. It started me passionately reading, all of the Agatha Christies and all the wonderful golden age mysteries next. Totally life-changing! And so amazing to think about. I love that we had parallel lives! And congratulations on your new book… Wow, 21 books— incredible!
ReplyDeleteHi Hank, I am still amazed by Christie's cleverness. Each time I read her books, I find some little nugget that I didn't see before. Thank you for being such a great supporter. I still remember the first time I met you at Malice. You were so kind and I was awestruck (still am). Thank you!
DeleteAw, what a kind thing to say! xooxoo And I am awestruck by YOU! xxx ANd now I am off to re-read an Agatha Christie..you have inspired me!
DeleteFrom Diana: Welcome to Jungle Reds, Valerie and congratulations on the new novel. Love the title.
ReplyDeleteGot hooked on mysteries when I started reading the Nancy Drew Mysteries, then Sherlock Holmes mysteries and Agatha Christie mysteries.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I wish I could take credit for the title, but that was my editor. It started out as Another Slice of Murder. At the last minute, he changed it. It looks like we shared a lot of the same favorites, too. Christie, Holmes, and Nancy Drew. Such great books. Thanks for the warm welcome.
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ReplyDeleteMy grandmother, a daughter of immigrants, who was born in the 1800's into a family with 13 children, had a 3rd grade education. She was an avid reader of mysteries, books with titillating covers and familiar authors. She would have fit right in here!
ReplyDeleteGood memory!
Judy, your grandmother sounds like she might have some interesting stories (1 of 13 kids). The beauty about crime fiction IMO is that there's something for everyone. Noir, cozy, P.I., traditional, etc. there's a mystery for everybody.
DeleteI really don't remember! I know I read all of the Nancy Drew books some twice because I was reading them when the underwent their first modernization, but I'm sure they weren't the first mysteries I read. The puzzle aspects always intrigued me.
ReplyDeleteKait, the puzzles are my favorite part of any mystery, too.
DeleteOkay, let's try this again. When I was a child my mother's extended family would go up to a small cabin next to a little creek on a windy, twisty road between Santa Rosa and Calistoga. We would sleep old mattresses under the trees. Wander the little creek with her uncles trying to fight finds crawdads for dinner, and avoid the poison oak and have a great time.One year my cousin Lynda started reading Nancy Drew book to me while we were trying to go to sleep. My cousin was 2 1⁄2 years older than me and quite grown up. That's I got started with mysteries. I still I don't remember the title but it was Nancy Drew. Years later, as a teenager, that same cousin or maybe her brother, got me my very 1st Helen McInness book Prelude to Terror. I loved it. I still have it. I haven't reread in years. I should.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, that is a great memory. I LOVE rereading books (especially mysteries). The first time, I just want to enjoy the mystery. The second, third, or hundredth time I enjoy looking for clues I hadn't caught the first time. So many of those in Christie. I'm looking forward to trying the Helen MacInness books. Thanks again for the recommendation.
DeleteDEANA: what an idyllic experience. That is such a wonderful area. I’ve been dreaming of a home on the Russian River.
DeleteI'm excited for your new book, Valerie! I always enjoy your writing. The origin of your love of mysteries sounds almost identical to mine. I was about the same age when I checked out my first Agatha Christie from the library and I've been hooked since!
ReplyDeleteKate, thank you. It looks like Agatha Christie got a lot of started on this Mystery journey.
DeleteI don’t remember when I started reading mysteries. It feels like they’ve always been part of my life. It’s hard for me to read a novel that doesn’t have some element of a mystery in it!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Deb, I have to admit that I feel the same. When I was working on my MFA I took a romance class. The problem was, that I kept wanting to kill off people. It's hard to get to your Happily Ever After if you kill off the love interest. I guess I'll stick to mystery.
DeleteValerie, I read your interview on Dru Ann’s blog recently (or was it Maddy’s interview?) and immediately read the first book in the Baker Street Mystery series. I finished it and am now on book two! Love the characters and your style.
ReplyDeleteI read Encyclopedia Brown as a kid and suspense novels like Seven Days in May (which my dad introduced me to when I was in high school). I was in my twenties when my mom told me about Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton and it was all mysteries all of the time since then.
Maybe I will get the chance to meet you this year at Bouchercon, Valerie? — Pat S
Pat, Thank you for the kind words. I'm so glad you are enjoying the Baker Street Mystery series. That makes my heart happy. LOVE Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky, too. Oh, and Encyclopedia Brown, too. YES, I'm coming to Bouchercon. I'm getting excited. It'll be here soon.
DeleteI just realized yesterday that it’s only about six weeks away! Getting excited, too. I will definitely look for you there (in a non-stalkery way, of course)! — Pat
DeleteLove your books and am excited to read the latest one. My love affair with mysteries started with the Trixie Belden books, the Donna Parker, eased into Victoria Holt and then discovered Agatha Christie and absorbed all of those, since then I've been all over the place with mysteries, adventure and thrillers. Too many cozy authors to mention, Vince Flynn, Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, Robert Tanenbaum, Brian Freeman, James Grippando, Preston and Child, Brad Taylor, Brad Thor, Robert Ludlum and so many more. Love them all for different reasons, depending upon the mood I'm in. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteVictoria, I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying my books. Thank you so much. Oh I completely understand reading different books for different moods. Thankfully, there are lots of choices.
DeleteAs a child, I read a lot, but not much in the mystery area. I read Vicky Barr Flight Stewardess, some Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys and an Ellery Queen series written for children.
ReplyDeleteMy interest in mysteries evolved from babysitting for one of my aunts who subscribed to a mystery book club and she had shelves of books which included a number which were anthologies of short stories written by mystery writers. Many of them featured continuing characters. When I found some that I particularly liked, I went to the library and looked for those authors. They included Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, R Austin Freeman, Elizabeth Daly, John Dickson Carr. As I got more interested in the genre I discovered many others from the golden age of mystery and the times before and after such as Rex Stout, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Phoebe Atwood Taylor, Edmund Crispin. Leslie Charteris. Frances and Richard Lockridge There are many others who don’t immediately come to mind but were equally enjoyable. Of course Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in a class by himself.
Some of them are somewhat dated in respect to certain attitudes they may have had such as S.S Van Dine, but even he provides an insight into how some people thought during that time period.
I particularly like writers who have ongoing series
I have read all the Agatha Christie with the exception of the last Poirot and Miss Marple.I just couldn’t read them.
Valerie, I will conclude this lengthy post by telling you how much I enjoy and look forward to all your books, particularly Samantha Washington and her cohorts
I am currently waiting for your newest book.
I am so pleased to hear that you are enjoying my books. It looks like we have a lot of authors in common. I don't often hear about people who read Phoebe Atwood Taylor. Love the Asey Mayo series. You have included some names that I don't know. I'll look forward to adding some of these to my list. Thank you for sharing!
DeleteI love all your books, Valerie!!! I just posted a 5-star review of your latest mystery. As with you, Agatha Christie got me started reading mysteries when I was youg(er) 😎, but I can’t remember which specific book. I still love reading all of her books, and watch every movie or TV show based on her works. Thank you for blessing us readers with so many hours of fun! JOY! Luis at ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteLuis, Aww. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate the review and the support. I reread and rewatch each Agatha Christie. Such good reads. Thank you!
DeleteWhen I was five or six I would swipe my big brother's Hardy Boys books to read. He complained to my parents about it so they started getting me Nancy Drew books to read. I ate those up while still swiping my brother's books. My taste for mysteries grew from there. Congratulations Valerie on your latest!
ReplyDeletePat, Thank you so much. I enjoyed Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, too. Good for you for being persistent.
DeleteI haunted the library as a kid, started my love of mysteries with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden and Cherry Ames. Moved onto Brother Cadfael, Jill Churchill, and Diane Mott Davidson. While I have watched tons of Miss Marple and Poirot movies and shows, I have (hanging my head) never read the books. I do so need to remedy that. There are just so many books I want to read, I need to live another 1000 years and you all need to pause writing until I catch up! NOOOOO, I really hope you all keep writing forever! Thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteMarcia, my To-Be-Read pile is huge, too. I love reading older mysteries and new mysteries. In fact, I recently reread Jill Churchill. Thank you so much for the kind words.
DeleteValerie, first I want to say how I love your gray hair. You've always been beautiful, but the gray hair on you is stunning. Now, an apology because I have wanted to read your Mystery Bookshop series for some time. Timing is everything, and I think this year would be a great time for me to start these. I won't go into why I haven't been able to read for a year, as I've talked about it so much here, but I have a lot of catching up to do now that I am beginning to read again, and I already have your first Mystery Bookshop (maybe more) here ready and waiting.
ReplyDeleteMy first mysteries were Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. The first few Nancy Drew books were The Whispering Statue, The Hidden Staircase, and The Mystery of the Old Clock. The first Trixie Belden was The Mysterious Code. But, I really got hooked on mysteries in my 20s when I read all the Agatha Christies.
Kathy, thank you so much. Your kind words are great for my ego. You're right. Timing is everything. Life is short, so read the books that speak to your soul. Thanks so much for sharing.
Delete“Where Are The Children” Mary Higgins Clark was the mystery writer that really got me hooked on this genre as I had just graduated from college and was beginning my new adventure as an Engineer for New England Telephone. She really helped me to escape in my off hours! Alicia Kullas
ReplyDelete