Doug Johnstone's Living is a Problem (2024)

Doug Johnstone's Living is a Problem (2024)

In this episode, we'll be dropping into the Skelf detective and undertaking series by taking a look at 'Living is a Problem' by Doug Johnstone. This is the sixth book in a (soon to be) seven book series following the lives and work of Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah, three generations of women who run a private investigation and funeral business. In this episode we'll be looking at what stands out and possibly complicates reading this out of order. Does it help or hinder an 'out of order' reader if characters are processing a lot of trauma from previous novels? How does an 'out of order' reader deal with the shifting perspectives? We'll be taking a closer look at the undertaking business with some fascinating research on that. I'll also be comparing this reading experience to 'The Archive of the Forgotten' when we read like a writer. You are also invited to wonder why I manage to pronounce Doug Johnstone's name three different ways - Johnson, Johnston and Johnstone. I don't have a clue why! Suggestions welcome! Apologies to the author. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Website/Blog: outoforderbookclub.com [https://outoforderbookclub.wpcomstaging.com/] Useful sources and helpful links: Doug Johnstone website [https://dougjohnstone.com/] Scots Whay Hae Podcast Interview [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnzE3GdIc5w]: This is a great 90 minute interview looking at Johnstone's books over the last 20 years, it's worth watching/listening to if you are an aspiring writer because it covers the practicalities and development of a published author. What you learn is that it is all learning process, or at least that is what I took from it! Portobello Festival Interview: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JT3kouftZs] This is one I dipped into if only because I wanted to keep myself blissfully ignorant with regards to the Skelfs (as much as I could, anyway!) However, as mentioned in the episode this is fascinating if only because at this point Johnstone thought the Skelfs would be a trilogy. Failing Writers Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vKHdE9s58c]: This is connected, again, to Johnstone's celebration of 20 books in 20 years. I used this for biographical details but it is about being a writer, and the presenters often take time to point out useful things to learn from Johnstone's career. Mysteryfile.com [https://mysteryfile.com/FuneralHomes.html]: This is the list (as of 2006) of undertakers/detective fiction. If you take a look at the list, you'll see a lot of the series were fairly shortlived or the narrative was one novel that appeared in a series. However, none of the characters have an amazing name like 'Mortimer Death'! Kami Fletcher's Black Women Undertakers of the Early Twentieth Century Were Hidden in Plain Sight (2023): [https://read.dukeupress.edu/meridians/article-abstract/22/2/478/382317/Black-Women-Undertakers-of-the-Early-Twentieth?redirectedFrom=fulltext] A genuinely fascinating essay about a hidden history. It challenged many of my preconceptions about women in the death care business. In addition to that there is a powerful point made about how these women undertakers were continuing a line of resistance that emerged during slavery, so it is doubly powerful that these women have disappeared from history. Nosi, D'Agostino, Ceccotti and Sfodera's Green funerals: Technological innovations and societal shifts toward sustainable death care practices (2024): [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040162524004426] This gave me a great deal of context and insight into why the Skelf women have gone in the green funeral direction. I genuinely had no idea that funerals had such negative effects on the environment. Wegge, Goerdeler and Dörfel's 'Dead bodies as a daily business': Affective work events, emotions and emotion regulation in the work of undertakers (2021): [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354751105_'Dead_Bodies_as_a_Daily_Business'_-Affective_Work_Events_Emotions_and_Emotion_Regulation_in_the_Work_of_Undertakers] Although the results of this research shouldn't be surprising in that allowing space for undertakers to experience positive emotions is beneficial, it challenges our expectations of what they should be like at least before we need their services. I should add that I describe their aims and results very broadly in the episode, their research obviously was far more detailed and focused than I described by summarising a tiny bit of the results. That being said, clearly the Skelfs don't need this research as they allow for positive emotions in their business!

(A not very) Bitesize: Antonia Fraser's The Wild Island (1978)

This was intended to be a bitesize episode, half the size of our usual episode, but it hasn't turned out that way. In bitesize episodes, I take a look at one area of a book, a prequel or anything else that breaks the normal structure of an Out of Order Book Club episode. This (surprisingly long!) Bitesize episode just asks one question about 'The Wild Island' by (Lady) Antonia Fraser. The novel 'The Wild Island' is part of the Jemima Shore series, she is a fictional investigative journalist, who has her own TV show called 'Jemima Shore, Investigator'. My copy of the novel has 'A Jemima Shore Investigation' at the top. So, after reading this novel, I had just one question about this series - Is Jemima Shore really an investigator? I thought this would be a quick episode, I was wrong. If you listen to this episode, you'll hear me talk about being bamboozled, befuddled and I'll call a character a 'tit'. I definitely ramble a bit, but my bitesize episodes are a bit more self-indulgent, so please excuse me. Content warning: Contains swearing, mentions suicide. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com New website: outoforderbookclub.com - This is where you can read my blog and listen to my podcast. Useful Sources and Helpful links: Maureen T. Reddy's 'She done it' article: [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4019896?origin=crossref] This 1986 article is worth reading if, as I say in the episode, you're a fan of crime fictions and/or female detectives. It's a whistle-stop tour no doubt, and you may disagree with her point of view in some cases, but I'd strongly recommend it. Erika Munk's 'Deadly Delights' article: [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4021220] This 1992 article may be about a particular short story collection, but it has the same historical perspective as Reddy's article. Once again, you may not agree with her review, especially if you have read these short stories, but it is worth engaging with it. It has certainly introduced me to a lot of authors that I didn't know about, and they are going on 'the list'. Larry Horton's 'The Enduring Animal Issue': [https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article-abstract/81/10/736/891736?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false]OK, so this one is used because it illustrates my argument rather than connects to fiction. However, it is a fascinating late 80s argument that animal activism is doing irreparable harm to the biomedical community.

A. J. Hackwith's The Archive of the Forgotten (2020)

In this week's episode, Mal takes a journey into hell with 'The Archive of the Forgotten' by A. J. Hackwith; it's a fantasy tale about the so-called Library of the Unwritten in Hell. Yes, that Hell. It's a challenging episode as I'm working out that fantasy novels, in particular, are quite challenging to read out of order. It's all about the world building, so join me as I tell you about my reading experience of this novel (the second in a trilogy) . In this episode, I may ramble on a bit too much about whether the four key characters are in hell or purgatory, while being a lot more concise when taking a look at how libraries are a fantastic places to put a fantasy or mystery novel. In addition, we'll take the usual look at the author and series while also considering how to improve my creative writing by being braver with using multiple viewpoints when telling a story. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Content: A bit of swearing Helpful links and useful sources A. J. Hackwith's website [https://ajhackwith.com/]: You can explore many of the author's previous work here. It hasn't been updated recently, but it is worth visiting if you are intrigued by the 'Hell's Library' trilogy. Interview with A. J. Hackwith (by Sarah Campsall) in The Daily Nerd [https://thenerddaily.com/aj-hackwith-author-interview/]: This 2020 interview was really useful in getting background information on the trilogy, since it happened when 'The Archive of the Forgotten' had been released, and Hackwith was working on the upcoming final part of the trilogy. To be honest, it is also just a nice interview to read as an aspiring writer. Interview with A. J. Hackwith in Jean Book Nerd [https://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2020/10/aj-hackwith-interview-archive-of.html]: This is another 2020 interview that I used in the episode, this one focuses more on what Hackwith was doing at that moment and future projects. I'm always curious about the lives of authors! Interview with A. J. Hackwith (by Robert Lee Brewer) in Writer's Digest [https://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2020/10/aj-hackwith-interview-archive-of.html]: This interview from 2024 focuses on Hackwith's novel 'Toto' which is the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' from the dog's perspective. It's an interesting article about how you develop original ideas and put them into practice. Emma Darwin's 10 Tips for Reading like a Writer [https://emmadarwin.substack.com/p/ten-tips-for-reading-like-a-writer]: This Substack article was written in 2024, and I had no idea about it until it was shared on Bluesky. I used it in this episode and I'll certainly use ideas from this article in future episodes. Darwin provides a writers' 'toolkit' on their Substack, so it's definitely worth exploring. Camilo Peralta's Timeless Moments: Russell Kirk, Charles Williams and Stephen King on the Afterlife (2024) [https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol42/iss2/7/]: This article explores the works of three authors and the depictions of heaven and hell (plus, purgatory) in their works. It's a fascinating article that looks at them and how they hold very different religious views but seem to have a similar perspective on the afterlife, and it was one that certainly reflected some of the ideas I had about 'The Archive of the Forgotten' while I was reading it. Karen Attar and Andrew Nash's Introduction to Books, Reading and Libraries in Fiction (2025) [Karen Attar and Andrew Nash's Introduction to Books, Reading and Libraries in Fiction]: I'll admit I haven't read this whole study of reading, books and libraires but it is on my long term to-do list, however, even the introduction really gives you an insight into how reading is perceived in books not necessarily as a polite activity, but sometimes as a dangerous one especially for women if they weren't reading 'the right kind of books' whatever they are! The initial description of books as a source of freedom and intellectual activity for Jane Eyre vs. other characters considering libraries a sign of social standing is fascinating.

Robert Arthur Jnr's Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators: The Mystery of The Fiery Eye (1967)

In this week's epsiode, we take a look at 'Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators - The Mystery of the Fiery Eye' by Robert Arthur Jnr.. This was an interesting one for Mal if only because she'd never heard of this series before and the book cover didn't have an author on it, so Mal only discovered the author was Robert Arthur Jnr. after she had finished it and started planning this episode. What she discovered were a lot of fansites and by extension a lot of fans - she's looking at you Germany! In this week's episode, we'll take a look at deception and work ethic as two stand out themes as an 'out of order' reader. We'll look at what you could learn from series novels like the 'Three Investigators' and ask whether 'The Fiery Eye' can standalone or if the practicalities of the three investigators' business and contacts issues throws up more questions than answers. We'll also suggest that Jupiter Jones has a real smugness issue. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Note: I am sorry to the creators of the fan sites below, as I gave the url names rather the website names in some cases during the episode. These sites were tremendously useful in showing me how well-loved and committed fans of the Three Investigators are, so for anybody interested in the Three Investigators I would recommend exploring these sites. I mention four websites in the episode, but I have included those and a couple more that I discovered after I completed recording. Useful links and sources: Here are five sites that seem to have been created by US fans and appear to be solo efforts, but the amount of detail and enthusiasm in the sites speak to their devotion to Robert Arthur Jnr's creation: The Original Three Investigators Series [https://www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com/originalseries.html] The Three Investigators Readers' website [http://www.3investigators.com/] The Three Investigators [https://www.threeinvestigators.net/] TunnelTwo.com [https://www.tunneltwo.com/ghost/forums.html] 3Investigators.com [http://www.3investigators.com/files/t3ihome.htm] Rocky-Beach.com [https://www.rocky-beach.com/php/wordpress/]: This is the German site that I speak about in the episode. The black background and multicoloured lettering may not be the easiest format to deal with but it is definitely worth exploring. A Brief History of the Juvenile Mysteries you check out of the library eight at a time by Keith Roysdon [https://crimereads.com/a-brief-history-of-the-juvenile-mysteries-you-checked-out-of-the-library-eight-at-a-time/]: I really enjoyed this 2020 article, and not just because I struggled to find people writing about this series outside of fansites! I think it puts into context how important young adult series are in building future adult mystery fans, plus it doesn't just focus on novels from the mid-20th century but brings the topic up to the present day.

Steph Cha's Beware, Beware (2014)

In the second episode of season 3, Mal will be taking a look at 'Beware, Beware' by Steph Cha. This is the second book in the Juniper Song novel trilogy. This was an interesting one for me, since I'd never heard of Steph Cha or the Juniper Song series before. This isn't necessarily weird, there are plenty of novel series out in the world I'm unaware of, but the Juniper Song trilogy is a feminist 21st Century Korean American take on Raymond Chandler and noir(ish) 'private eye' novels. As a fan, but not an afficionado, of Chandler this definitely got my attention! In this episode we'll be taking a long look at Juniper Song and how, as an 'out of order' reader, her motivation and feelings may throw up more questions than answers. We'll take a look at how she might reflect standard feelings of despair, at least 'standard' in noir detective fiction. In addition, we'll ask whether this novel can standalone or should you start with the first novel in the trilogy in order to know what is going on? Content Warning: Mention, but no description, of rape and sexual assault. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Useful Links and Helpful sources Steph Cha's website [http://stephcha.com/home/]: You can find all her novels here, plus the list of awards and nominations Cha received for her fourth novel 'Your House Will Pay'. Michael Caleb Tucker's article [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/4-Clu421-Tasker.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopXuDDCqDUZ5lO1LtD-78lZG7iiRyD7TxTKdo2O-Eb3fFsAv8ll]: This is called 'Despair and the Noir Character' and can be found in Clues - A Journal of Dectection (Volume 42/Number 1). It was published in 2024. I can't say I understood all of it, I'm no philosopher, but the links to Juniper Song as a 'private eye' were striking. The Writing Disorder Interview with Steph Cha: [https://writingdisorder.com/steph-cha-interview/] This interview is from 2013 when 'Follow Her Home', the first novel in the Juniper Song trilogy, was published. It is quite a wide ranging and light-hearted interview which takes in Cha's motivation for writing the novel and her background as well. The Outliers Writing University Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b7UHnvJeqI]: This is a 20 minute interview where Cha talks about where she is now in her writing as she spent the last few years working on the TV series 'Butterfly' and her role as series editor of 'The Best American Mystery and Suspense'. This was the most recent interviews with Cha I listened to, so it was useful for finding out what she has been doing since her last novel which was published in 2019. The Wendy Kendall Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG5jnx58iMQ]: This interiew is about 8 years old and Cha talks about her writing process and in more detail about her motivations about writing the Juniper Song series and updating Chandler. This is a source I dipped in and out of, I didn't know about this YouTube Channel and I'll definitely be revisiting it. The Young Lions Award Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCRj5BNTeVQ]: This interview happened in 2020 and is part of a series of interviews for the Young Lions Award. Cha talks in detail about her ideas and the process behind her 2019 novel, 'Your House Will Pay'. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this because it was a flashback to 2020 and watching so many interviews conducted online! The LitHub Article by Steph Cha [https://lithub.com/steph-cha-on-choosing-the-best-of-mystery-and-suspense-during-an-unprecedented-and-harrowing-year/]: In this article from 2021, Cha writes about the importance of crime fiction in the 21st century and how she sees her role, and the role of crime fiction, in 'The Best American Mystery and Suspense'. It is a fascinating read, as it makes a clear argument for the importance of crime fiction in addressing the world we live in.