Into the Grey by Clea Simon

Reviewed by Jeanne

At long last, Dulcie Schwartz seems on the verge of finishing her dissertation:  she’s polishing the penultimate chapter, one she thinks might be good enough to submit to a prestigious journal, and has been encouraged by her advisor to add material based on one of her recent discoveries.  Then a professor who has just joined her thesis committee writes a scathing critique of her work, and her chances of finally graduating in a few months dwindle.  To top it off, he has restricted access to the very documents she needs to finish! No wonder Dulcie is angry enough to threaten to kill Dr. Fenderby—and no wonder that the police see her as a person of interest when the professor in question turns up dead.

Even worse, Dulcie finds herself on disciplinary probation, meaning she has to stop work on her degree, loses her teaching assignment, and is cut off from most of the university.

But there were others who would have had reason to wish Fenderby ill—or do more than wish. After all, someone did beat him to death with a book…. 

I always have a bit of difficulty deciding how to describe this series and do it justice. It’s not a Gothic, though that is Dulcie’s field of study; it is indeed an academic mystery, but some would take that to mean “dry and dusty,” which it isn’t.  There are supernatural overtones—Dulcie feels a psychic connection to the eighteenth century author she’s researching, and she often “hears” her dearly departed cat, Mr. Grey—but again, this isn’t a supernatural mystery. There are cats (almost always a plus for me) but it’s not a cat mystery in the vein of “The Cat Who” by Lilian Jackson Braun or the Joe Grey series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.  For me, a new Dulcie is like coming home and slipping into a pair of old jeans and a comfy t-shirt.  It’s time to relax and enjoy a visit.

So why do I like this series?  First off, I like Dulcie Schwartz, our heroine.  I like character-driven stories in general, and Simon has done a wonderful job of creating a character who has grown and changed over the course of the series.  Dulcie is a graduate student who is working her way through her dissertation but who tends to get a bit sidetracked—well, okay, more than a bit.  This dissertation has morphed into work that may rival the Encyclopedia Britannica unless Dulcie can bring herself to stop researching and start writing. She also sees herself as an eminently sensible and practical when in fact she has much more in common with the Gothic heroines she studies, giving in to impulsive behavior and jumping to unwarranted conclusions—and don’t forget, she believes she’s in contact with the spirit of her late cat.  The impression is heightened by the snippets of (to us) wildly overwritten passages from the pages (“Goblets o’erbrimmed with Blood, the noble Ichor…”) but which often contain little clues concealed in the wording that either will reflect Dulcie’s mood or draw attention to a circumstance.  Dulcie comes by her tendencies honestly:  her mother, a long time commune member, calls to deliver cryptic messages from the ether, all of which Dulcie dismisses without a hint of irony as being too fanciful.  The fact that I find Dulcie so appealing is a real testament to Simon’s skill at characterization. I usually have very little patience with heroes or heroines who go off half-cocked, but with Dulcie I just imagine Mr. Grey and I are sitting on the couch, watching indulgently and bemusedly as she rushes in where angels fear to tread.

I like the whole atmosphere of the books: going down deep into the stacks of the library and the almost claustrophobic feel, like going through catacombs, to pan for literary treasure in the scraps of manuscripts. I like the supporting cast, folks I’ve come to know over the books and some of whom, unlike our Dulcie, have actually gone ahead and, um, graduated. It’s no surprise that I like Thomas Griddlehouse, the librarian, who understands and shares Dulcie’s passion for older literature, even though his demeanor is strictly old school professional. Finally, there’s the long-suffering Detective Rogovoy who has a soft spot for Dulcie even when she’s trying to convince him of her latest theory.  What a patient man…

I loved that when Dulcie hears that the murder weapon was a book she immediately wonders which title it might have been… because that was my reaction, too. I also love Dulcie’s shock and indignation when she discovers a book is shelved incorrectly, which is only heightened by the lack of reaction of outrage from the police.  Don’t they understand the implications?

At this point, I’ll beg indulgence for a story. A long time ago, the library had work study students who came in for some months and did things like shelve books.  Many were quite good, but a few were, shall we say, a bit less dedicated. One such young lady came to me to help her find a book she badly needed for a class.  I remembered the book.  I had seen it on a truck she had been shelving a couple of days before.  It was not in its correct spot and in fact I didn’t find it until about two months later.  I am quite the fan of poetic justice.

In short, Into the Grey is a bit like a trip down memory lane for me.  I get to wander the halls of academe, hang out with friends in my department, solve a mystery, and play with cats.  Best of all, there’s no homework and no exams!

"My favorite character is Esme." ~Contessa, Empress in training

Code Grey by Clea Simon

Reviewed by Jeanne

It’s spring break, though it’s a bit hard to believe with the chill in the air.  With Dulcie’s boyfriend Chris away visiting his mother, it seems a perfect time for Dulcie to put in some serious work on her dissertation.  Some have begun to wonder if she’s become so attached to her subject that she actually doesn’t want to finish it, which Dulcie finds to be nonsense.  She’s ready to make progress just to prove them all wrong.  Then parts of the library are closed due to water issues, and former student Jeremy Mumbleigh is found injured, clutching a rare library book under his coat.  Even though Jeremy is homeless and battling mental health issues, Dulcie can’t believe that he would steal from the library he loves.  So where did he get the book?  And more importantly, were his injuries due to an accident—or was he attacked?  Jeremy is in no condition to answer, so Dulcie recruits Mr. Griddlehaus, her librarian friend, to help find the answers before someone else is hurt.

The Dulcie Schwartz mysteries are perfect for those who love a good academic mystery.  Simon’s vivid descriptions almost make the college and its environs into characters themselves.  Dulcie’s long term (long, long, long term!) dissertation deals with the unknown author of eighteenth century Gothic romances, so the themes of literature and history loom large.  Code Grey in particular is a love song to those who treasure the physical book.  Part of the story deals with the history of publishing, the value of manuscript, and novels that are much more than they seem.  There’s a reverence that will warm the heart of any bibliophile, those who appreciate the physicality of a book: feeling the story flow almost through one’s fingers as the pages turn, appreciating the appearance of the fonts, the margins, the texture of the paper.  It was easy for me to feel a kinship to Dulcie, Jeremy, and the others who appreciate books as valuable physical objects—like gold or jewels-- in their own right. Just ask anyone standing in line at Trinity College, hoping for a glimpse of The Book of Kells.

Of course, no Dulcie tale would be complete without the cats. Esme is ever the willful young diva; she's perfected the feline version of a flounce.  The departed Mr. Grey still manages to dispense love and wisdom (sometimes couched in  enigmatic expressions) to his favorite human kitten.   Dulcie’s delightfully ditsy mother calls with difficult to interpret warnings from the psychic world. (“Ditsy” is not exactly the right word, but I do love alliteration in moderation.) Simon indulges in some wordplay as well, but let me hasten to add on a much more sophisticated level. For example, the passages from the Unknown Author’s work are affectionate satires of the classic gothic genre while reflecting Dulcie’s psyche. However, the supernatural elements are more for atmosphere than intervention:  the mysteries are solved through human means.  

For fans of the series, we learn much more about Mr. Griddlehaus’ background. The librarian has played an increasingly large role the books and this time out he actively helps Dulcie investigate.  He finally comes into his own as a fully fleshed out character, one it’s a pleasure to get to know better. 

If you’re looking for blood ‘n’ gore or car chases, look elsewhere.  But if you want to feel as if you’re walking the halls of the Milhorn Library or grab a bean burger at Lala’s while trying to sift through clues, then prepare yourself for a real treat. You may want to have a hot beverage at hand against the chilly Cambridge winds and don’t be surprised if you fancy you hear a wolf howl or see some fog drifting in.

Full disclosure:  I was sent an advance copy of the book for review, but this did not influence my opinion any more than does my love of literary felines.

BeeGee appears smitten by the cover's kitten.

Stages of Grey by Clea Simon

Elmer is not happy at having his reading disturbed by a photographer.

 Reviewed by Jeanne

Graduate student Dulcie Schwartz is preoccupied as usual.  She’s still trying to solve the mystery of the identity of the anonymous author of The Ravages of Umbra, work on her thesis, teach her sections, and find out if her boyfriend Chris is a werewolf.  Her mentor, the ghost of her beloved cat Mr. Grey, has remained silent on the subject, though he does offer occasional life advice. It’s also a blustery winter in Boston (is there any other kind?) and the ice and snow make travel difficult, but it’s certainly a great atmosphere to be studying a gothic novel.  

Maybe a bit too perfect, as Dulcie is taken in by a bit of theatrics that has her believing she’s seen a man being dragged away by wolves. It’s a promotion for a new production of Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” which features some rather unconventional staging—think Roman deities and a disco beat. Under the circumstances, Dulcie isn’t inclined to go see the play, not even with free tickets but her friends finally convince her to go. In addition to strobe lights, the production includes a gorgeous Russian Blue cat who walks a tightrope as well as a bit of unexpected sleight of hand when Chris discovers his wallet is missing and ends up as part of the performance. It turns out to be a lot more fun than any of them had expected—until one of the performers is found dead, her throat slashed.

Dulcie being Dulcie, she soon finds herself involved in the investigation and discovers that nothing is what it seems.

This is a fun entry in the series and, because the focus is on the mystery at hand, it’s particularly accessible one for newcomers.  Longtime fans won’t be disappointed either, as some progress is made on continuing storylines.  Dulcie likes to think that she’s very practical and realistic, unlike her mother who still lives in a commune and calls her daughter with vague warnings from the spirit world, but she has her share of imagination and a tender heart for those in trouble, especially those of the feline persuasion.  Like Don Quixote, she wants to save the world but tends to run into a lot of windmills. (I don't think it's coincidence that her real name is Dulcinea.) She gets some guidance from Mr. Grey and kitten Esme (when her little feline nose isn’t out of joint) and is ably supported by Chris and her other friends. The academic setting brings back fond memories, especially to those of us who belong to Garrison Keillor’s POEM (Professional Organization of English Majors). As usual, Simon strikes a nice balance between the supernatural (talking ghost cats) and the realistic, always taking care to see that the solutions are dependent on real world clues and not messages from beyond.  I of course am always interested in the scenes with the cats, and Gus the Russian Blue makes a nice addition.  

I always enjoy Simon’s work and Stages of Grey is no exception.  As with many of Simon’s heroines, Dulcie struggles to overcome the past and a fear of abandonment while moving ahead with her life.  At times, she also has a charming naivety and behaves impulsively—much like the heroines of the gothic literature she studies. Another thing I enjoy is the way the books effortlessly juxtapose the past (18^th century literature, with samples of the overwrought style appearing at times) with the present (computers and electronics usually play a role in the plot somewhere). The mysteries are well done, appropriate clues presented, and there’s a sense of fun in the books.  Finally, these are all books I can recommend to those folks who don’t like a lot of explicitness in their stories, be it excessive gore, sex or language, but these aren’t fluffy, sugary tales either. 

 In short these are entertaining mysteries with solid plots and characters which are fun without being silly.  If you like to read in order, start with Shades of Grey and don’t put a “50” in front of it or you’ll get something else entirely.

Full disclosure:  I was sent a review copy of this book but that did not influence my review except in timing:  the book won't be generally available until October.

"MY book! Go away!"

Grey Howl by Clea Simon

Reviewed by Jeanne

Note:  I was given a copy of this book by the author, with no stipulations attached. It did not affect my review.

Graduate student Dulcie Schwartz has even more on her plate than usual.  She’s the university liaison for the ELLA conference, in which the Big Names in English Literature will be gathering to present their papers.  Dulcie will be presenting one too, albeit in a decidedly more humble setting. The big problem is managing all the visiting scholars, all of whom seem to have their own agendas. At least some of them are in the running for the job as department head, a position now occupied by Dulcie’s advisor, Dr. Thorpe – and one he would like to keep.  Things get off to a rocky start as various prickly personalities start showing up, often bringing a lot of old grudges along with them.  Then one of the star academics has her presentation stolen, accusations are thrown, threats are made, an untimely death occurs, and the unearthly howl that sounded in the previous book is back to slice through the night.
 
At least things seem to be looking up in Dulcie’s personal life. Her boyfriend Chris is working more regular hours, giving them time to be together.  Dulcie feels she’s making great progress with her thesis.  She’s found some leads as to the identity of the mysterious Unknown Author, thanks to some genealogical help from another student, and now not one but two professors have expressed interest in the work. It should be a boost to her career—unless one or the other of professors has an ulterior motive.

Since Dulcie’s thesis is on an 18th century gothic novelist, it’s only fitting that a few of the chapters begin with what could be an excerpt from that author: vivid descriptions of stormy skies and sickly dawns, lurking Evil, ghostly presences, sputtering tapers, and ghastly howls in the ebon darkness.  It’s no wonder that Dulcie’s imagination sometimes runs away with her.  In the real world, though, things are no less dramatic: Stella Roebuck, the prima donna presenter who dresses to mirror her subject matter, seems determined not to let anyone upstage her.  There’s also some gossip that she has at least two ex-lovers attending the convention.  And there is a LOT of gossip going on! Like most places, academia seems to run on rumor. 

Then of course, there’s the fact that Dulcie’s deceased cat, Mr. Grey, is still hanging around to keep an eye on his favorite human kitten.  She hears his voice at odd times, offering cryptic advice and comfort.  Her current cat, Esme, also communicates—but definitely on her own terms.  She is, after all, a Principessa.  Dulcie’s mother also gets into the act, calling with warnings gleaned from dreams, tea leaves, and other such methods. 

This entry in the series reminded me of a traditional village mystery.  A reader doesn’t need to know much about literary criticism or academic settings to enjoy this one, and many of the clues are handled the way Agatha Christie would have done:  through gossip.  The trick is to sort the true from the false.  There’s a small population of suspects in one general area, and almost everyone can be a suspect.  It’s just all draped with some otherworldly trappings, though the mysteries are NOT solved through supernatural intervention. As with most of my favorite books, it’s the characters I enjoy most.  Dulcie is the modern day gothic heroine, sometimes rushing in or jumping to conclusions, while trying to be logical.  Chris is the steady hand, ready to help.  The cats are a delight, especially Esme who, like many cats, perceives herself to be the center of the universe and gets her dainty little nose out of joint if this isn’t recognized. The supporting cast members always add their bit, from Dulcie’s New Age mother to Griddlehaus the librarian. (You knew I’d have to mention the librarian, didn’t you?) I did have the sense that groundwork is being laid for the next book, but this doesn’t interfere with the pleasure of reading this one.

Finally, I really like the way that Simon pays sincere homage to the gothic tradition while having a lot of fun with it.  Some books end up making it all way too silly, too over-the –top, but Simon never does.  There’s no deep message, unless you want to say that it’s to enjoy books and literature for what they are.

As regular readers will know, I’m one of those who prefers to read a series in order. However, I think this is a book that can be read and enjoyed without having read others in the series.

The other titles in the series are:

1. Shades of Grey
2. Grey Matters
3. Grey Zone
4. Grey Expectations
5. True Grey
6. Grey Dawn