Audio Book Review: Cornelia Read's Madeline Dare Novels
I like listening to detective novels of all kinds and I do enjoy investigative stories featuring the ole hardened detective with a penchant for insubordination, over drinking, smoking, drugging, and insomnia, but who is systemically brilliant in solving crimes. So when I came across a novel featuring a protagonist investigator who deviates from this mold, I get a bit leery about whether to give it a try. I'm not sure what led me to Cornelia Read's Madeline Dare novels via audio book through the Los Angeles Public Library, but I'm glad I did.
So far, I've listened to two of the novels: "Field of Darkness" and "Crazy School". The protagonist, Madeline Dare, is born into American blue blood aristocracy, but her branch of this family line has fallen into hard times and is pretty much penniless. Her mom is a free spirit married for the 4th time. Her dad retreated from the world and lives in a trailer in Malibu. Madeline has to make her own way in the world. She is married to a good blue collar man. Madeline is well educated, thanks to her aristocratic family upbringing. She makes ends meet by being an occasional local newspaper food critic, or a private school teacher. Somehow, while navigating in her limited social circles, murders always land right in her path, and being the responsible and inquisitive person that she is, she incurs great threats to her well being before solving the crimes.
Okay, the premise is not exactly believable, and Madeline, as the first person narrator, always takes a bit too long describing her sorry daily life juggling between housewife and work life before getting to the meat of each story. However, her sharp tongue and sassy way with words are quite entertaining and propel the reader towards the always fine and original mystery setups.
In "Field of Darkness," Madeline's research into a decades old murder of two young women in Syracuse, New York, the connections to a favorite childhood fairy tale book, lead her to confront the dark past of her own privileged family history.
In "Crazy School," the settings of the private school for troubled kids Madeline is teaching at reveals horrific abuses of children as well as ties to a cult from the past.
I am currently listening to the third book, "Valley of Ashes" where Madeline Dare juggles motherhood, homemaking, a distant husband, anda newspaper job where she investigate a series of arson in Boulder, Colorado, her new home.
The books are not too long, and are easy to listen to.
So far, I've listened to two of the novels: "Field of Darkness" and "Crazy School". The protagonist, Madeline Dare, is born into American blue blood aristocracy, but her branch of this family line has fallen into hard times and is pretty much penniless. Her mom is a free spirit married for the 4th time. Her dad retreated from the world and lives in a trailer in Malibu. Madeline has to make her own way in the world. She is married to a good blue collar man. Madeline is well educated, thanks to her aristocratic family upbringing. She makes ends meet by being an occasional local newspaper food critic, or a private school teacher. Somehow, while navigating in her limited social circles, murders always land right in her path, and being the responsible and inquisitive person that she is, she incurs great threats to her well being before solving the crimes.
Okay, the premise is not exactly believable, and Madeline, as the first person narrator, always takes a bit too long describing her sorry daily life juggling between housewife and work life before getting to the meat of each story. However, her sharp tongue and sassy way with words are quite entertaining and propel the reader towards the always fine and original mystery setups.
In "Field of Darkness," Madeline's research into a decades old murder of two young women in Syracuse, New York, the connections to a favorite childhood fairy tale book, lead her to confront the dark past of her own privileged family history.
In "Crazy School," the settings of the private school for troubled kids Madeline is teaching at reveals horrific abuses of children as well as ties to a cult from the past.
I am currently listening to the third book, "Valley of Ashes" where Madeline Dare juggles motherhood, homemaking, a distant husband, anda newspaper job where she investigate a series of arson in Boulder, Colorado, her new home.
The books are not too long, and are easy to listen to.
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