When Dead People Write

The way publishing works these days, being dead is no impediment to being published. New books featuring established characters by dead authors are published on a regular basis. A sample list of these dead authors includes V.C. Andrews, Robert Ludlum, Robert B. Parker, and Margaret Truman. Some readers don't care who's actually writing the book as long as they're getting their "fix" with new installments in the lives of favorite series characters. Other readers refuse to try them.

I've recently read "continuations" of series by writers who were not the original creators of the characters -- characters who happen to be among the most iconic in the genre. Here's my take on them.

Jill Paton Walsh, a distinguished and award-winning writer in her own right, was asked by the estate of Dorothy L. Sayers to complete a fragment of a novel called Thrones, Dominations, and this was published in 1998. Three more novels featuring Lord Peter Whimsy and Harriet Vane have followed, with the most recent, The Late Scholar, published in June of this year. I have to say I loved this latest one, which takes Lord Peter and Harriet, alive and well in 1953, back to Oxford, the setting for Sayers' most beloved novel, Gaudy Night. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Lord Peter and Harriet, and I hope there will be more to come.

Margery Allingham, creator of Albert Campion, is my all-time favorite crime writer, so it was with some trepidation that I approached Mr. Campion's Farewell by Mike Ripley. Based on a fragment left by Allingham's husband and collaborator, Philip Youngman Carter, and set in 1969, Mr. Campion's Farewell turned out to be thoroughly delightful. Ripley, author of numerous mysteries, is a devout fan of Margery Allingham, and he has captured the spirit and the zest of Allingham in this wonderful continuation. What was supposed to be a one-off, however, won't be, because Ripley has been asked to write at least one more. I look forward to it eagerly.

Back in 2005, I collaborated with my friend Elizabeth Foxwell on The Robert B. Parker Companion, a reference to the works of the late writer who created Spenser, the Boston-based PI. Spenser is a modern icon of the crime genre, and I was curious when I heard that Parker's wife picked Ace Atkins to continue the series. Ace has won kudos for his own work, and he is a fervent fan of Spenser. Over the summer I read Lullaby and Wonderland, his first two Spenser novels, and I have to say he has done Parker proud. He has captured the spirit of the characters, the witty dialogue, and the setting beautifully. His plots are also complex and engaging.

In September we will see The Monogram Murders hit the shelves. This is the first original Hercule Poirot novel written by someone other than Agatha Christie to be published since Curtain in 1975. British crime writer Sophie Hannah was selected by the estate. I have not read any of her own work, but I am eagerly anticipating this new book. If this is a success, I wonder if the estate will find someone to write a new Miss Marple novel?

Whatever you think about authors continuing the characters of other writers, I have to say that, in the examples I've mentioned today, the end result has been wonderfully entertaining. It's a daunting task for any writer to accept, but fortunately for readers, these particular writers have risen to the challenge and succeeded.

Comments

[Elaine Viets]

I've read some of these books, Dean, and don't want to embarrass the living authors, but I believe a series should die with its creator. The "contributions" are either pale imitations or charicatures of the orignals.

[betti]

I haven't read these but I would be interested in a "new" Marple book.
I think is an interesting question and it is similar to "planned take overs" of beloved series. I am thinking of Dick Francis and his son - originally the books were just written by Dick Francis, then his son started co-writing and I'm sure will be continuing the books. John Clement worked with his mother Blaize Clement and now writes the series after her death.

[catriona]

Woohoo! I didn't know about Ripley's Allingham. I thought Thrones, Dominations was solid but I thought Testament of Death (the second - all Walsh and no Sayers) was tremendous.

[Dean (Miranda) James]

Betti, Felix Francis has now published two or three books on his own. A new one is due out in October.

[krisneri]

I've read some, and found some of them better than others, but I've never thought any of them fully captured what the original author -- the real author -- brought to them. I think series should die with their creators.

[Bob Giddings]

I've yet to read the Ace Atkins' Spencer's, but was not impressed with the new Jesse Stone books. They lack Parker's depth in character insight.I can see the Sunny Randall sereis extended. There is a lot of room for growth of the Sunny character.

On another note, I did enjoy Judi McCoy's dog walker series and would not mind seeing someone else carry on those characters, just for fun.

[Kate Cunningham]

Some are good- Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler books- and some not so much- Hamilton Crane's Miss Seeton books. I'd love to see a good author write a follow-up to Brother Cadfael's Penance, but the potential pitfalls are worrying.

[Ruth Nixon]

I've read some and enjoyed some but also closed some of the book unread. But so glad John Clement is keeping the series that his mom wrote going. I also enjoyed Ann Hillerman's book with Leaphorn and Chee.