I haven’t read The Safekeep but I recently visited Holland and purchased a mystery set there. A Cold Death in Amsterdam by Anja de Jager (2015) introduces detective, Lotte Meerman, who is practically suicidal when the story begins ― having had an affair with a suspect, she is terrified this will be revealed. It is really hard to imagine being attracted to a possible murderer and difficult to be sympathetic as she tries to carry on with her work, but I did enjoy the wintry setting.
My next link is another series launch, The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill (2004). I found this series very intriguing, particularly due to the familial relationships of Detective Simon Serrallier, and I have read eight since June 2024. I had to take a break and save the last few as it appears she has stopped writing them. My review.
Susan Hill is best known for a ghost story called A Woman in Black. I found a copy of The Ghosts by Antonia Barber (UK title: The Amazing Mr. Blunden) (1969) at the Brighton Public Library when I about ten and checked it out repeatedly over the years. It’s about a family that become caretakers of a mysterious old house and includes a dramatic fire.
The infamous Chicago fire of 1871 is the backdrop of Young and Fair (1963), which is Rosamond du Jardin’s only historical novel. There are several appealing elements: the heroine is an orphan, making her own way in the world, and she secures a job at a prominent department store. I need to order my own copy from Image Cascade!
Fire is also my link to The Library Book by Susan Orlean (2018). My book group read this in June 2019 and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that about six weeks later I had enrolled in a graduate library degree program! While the book is about a massive fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, Orlean's focus is how this vast library system works and I found it quite fascinating.
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream.
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (2022) is a mystery within a mystery about four strangers, who happened to sit at the same table at MY library as a murder takes place. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning―it just happens that one is a murderer. My review.
Next month (September 6, 2025), Kate will start with Ghost Cities by Siang Lu. Did you have to remind me there is only one more month of summer?
9 comments:
What a great chain! I have A Cold Winter in Amsterdam on my TBR list. I will be adding a few other books in your chain to it.
Great start. I thought about going with Dutch books of which I have read a few but then opted for Women's Prize for fiction books in the end.
https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/six-degrees-of-separation-safekeep.html
I like the first book in your chain, I may try to find a copy of it. I only read 7 books in Susan Hill's Simon Serrallier series; at that point I got tired of it. I have not read The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill yet, but the book is on my shelves and I will read it someday.
As always, these paths you create are so interesting to follow.
For the record, I couldn't finish The Library Book--the first bit was interesting, but then it dragged on interminably (imo) and I finally felt that I got the story and quit. I liked her The Orchid Thief much better, though I loathed Adaptation.
I agree the middle dragged. I got tired of the sections about the fire but I was entranced by the insider look at the library (the one I work at is very efficient but as a solo institution it is not as interesting - although there is a banned book challenge going on).
I liked it but mostly for the setting. I am not sure I'd put it high on your list.
I agree the Booker winners have been disappointing lately! And I think it is a shame they no longer restrict it to British authors.
It's always fun to read a book set in a city one has visited! Thanks for visiting my blog.
I have never been a huge fan. Only some of them are good for me.
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