Posted to Death

Although offbeat (and that is a plus in my book), Dean James' mysteries are well-plotted, with consistent characterizations from book to book. Enjoyable and challenging, with characters you can care about.

The cozy mystery is a rigid form, in that respect rather like a sonnet. The sub-class of English country village cozy mystery, then, might be likened to a Shakespearean sonnet or, in its more baroque form, a Spenserian sonnet. Rigidity of form, however, does not necessarily imply limitation or restriction. In the right hands, the sonnet and the cozy offer springboards for art, even genius. In this series by Dean James, four published novels as I write, the author is plainly aware of the requirements of his chosen form and is amused by them. While offering them full obeisance, from time to time he is happy to give them a swift kick. Cozies have tended in recent years to fall into niches: murder-solving caterers, booksellers, hoteliers, florists, undertakers, hairdressers, coffee shop owners, drycleaners, wedding planners, home handy women, even cozy bounty hunters. James gives us the niche to end all niches: the gay, partially closeted, southern, academic, expatriate, romance writing, English country village, reformed vampire, cozy mystery. Judging by the reactions of previous reviewers of this novel and the others of the series, one either delightedly swallows this stuff whole or strains mightily at the smallest fragment. One reviewer snarls that, "the characters have the depth (but not the appeal) of graham crackers; the stereotypical British-isms are painful; the plot is so bad it should be staked through the heart". Another, in a frenzy of disdain says, "It is poorly executed and too clever by half." Now that, when you think about it, is a pretty good trick. As for myself, I know full well that James's quaint English village of Snupperton-Mumsley exists on no portion of this mundane, sub-lunar world and his characters, from the appalling but oddly attractive Lady Prunella Blitherington down to the busy-body post mistress bear only the most casual resemblance to anyone who has ever drawn a breath of real air or grumbled at a tax bill. Nevertheless, I am entangled in their spell and have every intention of wolfing down every Snupperton-Mumsley tale that Dean James chooses to deliver. Five stars for the guilty pleasure of it all.

Dame Agatha would have been right at home in the quaint but cozy English village of Snupperton Mumsley, but I don't know how she would have reacted to the village's latest resident, Simon Kirby-Jones. You see he's a little different. He's an American, but not your typical "ugly" American. He's a delightful Southern gentleman and renowned historian and biographer, who actually earns his keep by secretly churning out historical romances as Daphne Deepwood and hard-boiled female P.I. adventures as Dorinda Darington. He's also gay, and to complicate matters even more, he just happens to be a vampire. Actually, he's far removed from the cliché "I vant to bite your neck" vampires of the typical horror film. It seems that medical science has finally discovered a cure for vampirism. It's a wonder drug that while it doesn't bring you back to life it does eliminate the rather unsavory aspects of being a vampire - the bloodsucking and becoming a crispy critter when exposed to sunlight. The only real drawback with the drug is the fact that drinking a cup of tea laced with garlic will usually prove fatal. And in this charming English village, that's a real possibility.That's because all the inhabitants of Snupperton Mumsley have guilty little secrets. So when the village snoop and postmistress reveals that she has a play for the village church restoration affair that will reveal all the hidden secrets of the villagers, it comes as no surprise when she is discovered murdered. That's when Simon decides to use his vampire capabilities and mystery writing skills to solve the murder. That is if the murderer doesn't discover his hidden little secret.Simon Kirby-Jones is a refreshing twist to the traditional English cozy, cup-of-tea murder mystery sleuth. Dean James has created a witty and totally original concept for a mystery series. I found it totally enjoyable, and since I do believe in vampires and things that go bump in the night I'm looking forward to Simon's next odyssey in Snupperton Mumsley.

After moving to a small English village, novelist Simon Kirby-Jones is asked to join the Church Restoration Fund Committee. During the committee meeting he discovers that there are disturbing undercurrents and rumors of a tell-all play. When the author of the play, Abigail Winterton, is found strangled he decides to investigate. I thought this was a charming novel with a good solid mystery to back it up. Simon is one of the most original characters to hit the mystery scene. He is witty, clever and debonair, and oh yes...he is a vampire. The only unbelievable part of this book was that he met not one but three gorgeous, single available men within days of moving to Snupperton:)

The newest member of the quirky English village of Snupperton Mumsley is Simon Kirby-Jones, an American author of bodice rippers and mysteries (under pseudonyms). Simon is also gay and a vampire but thanks to advances in modern medicine, he is able to hide his condition from the rest of humanity. By taking two pills daily, he can walk in sunlight, eat and drink food, and has no need for human blood. Simon takes immediately to village life and is delighted to discover another vampire, Jane Hardwick, living in the village. The two bond immediately and when the local postmistress is murdered, the pair embarks on their own investigation to uncover the culprit. They find that everyone had a reason to hate the gossipy women who threatened to expose their secrets via a play that she wrote for a local dramatic society production. As Simon closes in on the killer, he finds his own "undead" life in jeopardy. POSTED TO DEATH is a cozy mystery that puts down home Lone Star charm (Simon is a Texan) in an old-fashioned English village within a realistic slight bite sleuth tale. Dean James has captured the essence of village life in such a manner that readers can enjoy the story line without taking it overly seriously. The hero is admirable, lovable and as eccentric as the rest of the locals, which is the main reason he and Snupperton Mumsley are made for each other and the audience.Harriet Klausner