Bluestocking Catalogue #6
A catalogue of my favorite mystery series to watch & read, along with a reminder to vote & my favorite outfit that is not pajamas.
Mostly, today’s letter is chock-full of mysteries: why I love them, along with my favorite series to watch & read.
Before we get there, though, I’d be remiss to not ask you if you’re registered to vote and have a voting plan. In addition to all the reasons we know about why voting matters, I will add this one: if #45 is re-elected, this may well be the last free election the US has for a long time. Here’s an excerpt from an Independent article:
"The United States looks to be moving in the direction of Hungary or Poland, with the justice system starting to become a tool under the power of the executive branch that is being used for partisan ends," said Jason Stanley, a Yale University philosophy professor who studies authoritarian politics …
"It's one party rule, and one party rule is a form of authoritarianism. Trump is a symptom of that," he said. "We're so far beyond democratic practice when people are talking about purely partisan judges, and when the Justice Department is being run by the President of the United States, we're talking about a monarchy or something like it."
Check out the article for more context and a compelling argument. The stakes are high. Check on your registration status & request an absentee ballot here. And check that 3 friends are registered to vote, too.
Now that we’re all awake, let’s make a hard swerve to jumpsuits & pumpkin goodness & mysteries.
Favorite Non-Pajama Outfit
This jumpsuit from Amazon feels like pajamas, but is nice enough for work. I’ve worn it at least twice a week since purchasing it a few weeks ago. I am 5’7” and typically wear a XXL, and the sizing seems right to me with the exception that the pants are slightly long. If you have qualms about purchasing from Amazon, I get it. But I really love this jumpsuit.
Pumpkin Bars
These pumpkin bars are simple to throw together and would be perfect for a party (sigh), since they make a whole jellyroll pan of bars. Don’t skip on the icing - it makes them.
I made them Friday night (baking on Friday nights seems to be my new thing - it’s a nice way to mark the beginning of the weekend), and they are *tasty.* Pair with a fall playlist & some hot tea for maximum coziness.
Mysteries
Mystery is my favorite genre-specific lit. I love watching it and reading it and always have - I devoured mystery novels as a kid. I started with the original Boxcar Children series, then graduated to the Mandie books (which I would not, by the way, recommend.) My aunt loaned me her classic Bobbsey Twins and Cherry Ames collections; my neighbor shared her old Trixie Belden books; and I read some Nancy Drew, although I liked Trixie much better. She was closer to my age, had a gang of best friends with a secret club house, and seemed to care about more than romance. I wanted to be smart and brave and solve problems and help people, just like the heroines in these series did.
Reading has always been a comfort to me. As a kid, I used it to escape, to broaden my horizons, and, sometimes, to rebel (reading to rebel is a whole other essay, though.) In a household seeping with stress and unpredictability, books were constant - and reading was an “approved” activity. If you’re reading for comfort and familiarity, series give you the best bang for your buck. You already know what to expect. Often the setting and characters are familiar, as are the basic plot contours - although, in a good mystery, the ending surprises.
Favorite mystery series: The Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny
I don’t remember if Sarah Bessey or Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy turned me onto these. I rarely collect a series, especially one I’ve already read, but I’m collecting this series when I find a used book in good condition; I have about half of them (they’re hard to find used.)
This series is set in the cozy, remote town of “Three Pines” in Canada; the main character, Inspector Gamache, is the type of person you want to be your adopted grandpa. His capacity of for understanding the nuances of human nature without becoming jaded makes him a refreshing character. I like to describe these books as being novels about what it means to be human that also happen to have a compelling mystery. They are not gory or violent, and include gorgeous food descriptions and an idyllic setting.
You should read them in order, preferably with snow outside and a cup of hot cocoa in hand. My friend Dana says the audio versions are phenomenal - apparently the reader doesn’t read the books ahead of time, and so the audio retains the authenticity of surprise you would experience if you were reading the page.
Mary Russell Mysteries
Listen, I’ve loved Sherlock Holmes since I was twelve and devoured the original mysteries. (BBC Sherlock over the movies, all the way. As any devoted Conan Doyle reader knows, SHERLOCK WOULD NEVER CARRY A GUN. That’s all. If you haven’t watched the BBC’s Sherlock, please do yourself a favor & check it out. Not only is the series excellent, it starts my beloved Benedict Cumberbatch.)
On to Mary Russell. In this artful re-imagining, Holmes’ beekeeping retirement is interrupted by Mary Russell, a precocious teenager who’s unhappy living with her aunt after her parents’ death. Hijinks ensue. Holmes’ character reads very authentically to me, a Sherlock purist, and the banter between him and (feminist!) Mary is smart, snappy and sassy in the vein of Darcy/ Lizzy or Benedick/ Beatrice. Unlike Dr. Watson, Mary is truly Sherlock’s equal and their adventures range from Oxford and London to Jerusalem and Paris. The first one is called The Beekeeper’s Apprentice; Or, on the Segregation of the Queen by Laurie R. King.
Once you’ve read one, you’ll want to read them all. Do read them in order, although each does hold its own without the context of the others. The audio versions (I’ve listened to several, not all) are excellent. My husband Noah enjoyed listening to one with me during a road trip last summer.
Favorite mystery shows: Father Brown & Veronica Mars
Sadly, Father Brown is no longer on Netflix - it’s on the BBC streaming platform now, which I haven’t subscribed to - yet. Based on G. K. Chesterton’s series, it’s the TV equivalent of the Louise Penny series, except it’s set in a small English village instead of a quaint Canadian village. Father Brown’s collar renders him almost invisible and leads people to discount him. But his understanding of human nature, capacity to notice small details, and deep listening skills keep him hilariously outwitting the police in this series. It’s very well written & produced. I have my friend Danielle to thank for this recommendation. :)
I’ve been watching Veronica Mars on and off for a number of years. It’s currently on Hulu. Veronica’s relationship with her father, who runs a PI business after being fired as sheriff, is the linchpin of the show. Veronica, played by Kristen Bell, has a confidence and sass that aggravates her opponents and wins her unexpected allies. While she’s answering the phone for her dad, Veronica is often working a mystery of her own on the side within the complicated world of her California public high school.
I’ve finally gotten to the newest season, which Kristen Bell made a year or so ago, and they definitely have a more mature feel - which seems fitting, since Veronica is now a full-grown adult. I like how this most recent season leans into Veronica’s character flaws and explores her vulnerabilities. It includes all the things that kept me captivated in earlier seasons, although I can understand how die-hard fans might have been disappointed. After I finished the most recent series (I have FEELINGS about the ending & want to hear about yours), I wanted to read about it and enjoyed this article’s analysis (which does have spoilers.)
That’s it for now, friends! I’d love to hear what YOUR favorite mysteries are - feel free to simply respond to this email, or leave a comment below. I’m off to respond to the 55+ emails I’ve received in my work account since I logged out on Friday night…
Thanks for reading.