I’m just back from a
quick trip to – of all places – Africa. Morrocco, to be specific, and Marrakech
to be even more precise. It was really an impulse decision to go off for a long
week-end in search of a bit of sun before the run-in to Christmas, and very
enjoyable it was too. I’ve never been to Africa before, but I was very taken
with what I found.
I can’t recall ever
reading a crime story set in Marrakech, though I’m sure there must be some;
perhaps my memory is at fault. Any suggestions of titles? I’d really like to
try a book set there. And there are surely bound to be plenty of thrillers set in
Morocco. Certainly, it’s an atmospheric city; the souks are amazing, and I also
saw my very first snake charmer. Not that I took a photo of the snakes, mind;
you never know how they might react!
I read two contrasting
books on the trip. I’ll be reviewing both The Players and the Game by
Julian Symons and Tour De Force by Christianna Brand shortly. I’d read the
Symons before but admired it all over again. Both books were highly ingenious –
but Symons’ cleverness at plotting is sometimes overlooked by those who focus
mainly on his criticisms of some classic detective novelists.
As for Brand – my feelings
are mixed, in that I admire her work a good deal, yet find some of her writing
rather frustrating. She and Symons were friends and contemporaries, but she was
hurt when he gave one of her books a less than glowing review. He described her approach as “hectic”, which
isn’t the adjective I’d use, but there are, I think, reasons why she is much
less well remembered today than her talents would have justified. More of this
another day.
11 comments:
Wish I could dash off for a weekend to Morrocco, or to anywhere, for that matter....! Love the pictures of the camels and hope you were able to ride one!
Here is my review of a mystery set in Morrocco - Lulu in Marrakech
I loved Marrakech too Martin when I visited some years ago. The only ctime-y book I ever found set there was a so-so thriller called FLASBACK by Jenny Stiller (or siller) about a woman who hides in a convent until her past catches up with her. OK but not terrific reading and no strong sense of place. I stuck to travel writers after that
Martin - Thanks for sharing those lovely 'photos! And I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. It sounds lovely. I look forward to your reviews of Symons' and Brand's novels.
A title for a book set in Marrakech? It has to be something along the lines of 'The last straw that broke the camel's back' ...
Try this one. Haven't read it myself, but it's supposed to be the first Arab piece of crime fiction to be translated into English. It is set generally in Morocco, I am not sure about Marrakech. http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/maroc/hamdoua.htm
Harvee, great to hear from you, and many thanks for the interesting link.
Hi Bernadette. I've come across Jenny Siler, but never read any of her work.
Margot, it certainly was lovely!
Hi Roz, I really liked the dromedaries. As for book titles, I did wonder about The Man in the Brown Souk...but then again...
Christos, that's really interesting - thanks for telling me about it.
Yes, Agatha Christie certainly got around the Middle East - but not Marrakech! There's a line from Murder She Wrote from an ageing seducer "Didn't we meet in Marrakekkkkkh?". Green for Danger is good but I struggled with another Brand set in a hat shop (too much tedious stuff about a silly detective, not enough about girls and hats).
Martin, I've just discovered the novels of Ann Bridge. Not really detective novels, more adventure or suspense with a resourceful heroine, Julia Probyn & some help or interference from the British Secret Service. A Lighthearted Quest is set in Morocco, partly in Marrakesh. here's my review of you'd like more details.
http://tinyurl.com/3g25juk
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